him. “I’m not running away.”
“This isn’t running. This is us going to an island paradise for a holiday we much deserve. It just happens to coincide with you getting a visit from a stalker who is going to be beat to death by me should he come in this house again,” Sam said.
I opened my mouth to protest, but Wyatt beat me to it.
“Now that you mention it, Sammy, I’m thinking I look a little pale. A tan is exactly what I need.”
Noah nodded. “Yep. I think I could definitely spend a week surfing.”
They all looked at me. I was outvoted. Shit.
TWO WEEKS LATER
“You’re doing laundry?” Mom repeated in disbelief. “Don’t you have people that you pay to do such menial tasks?” She paused. “You’re rich anyway, why wash clothes when you can just buy more? It’s not like you can wear them again. I’d have to disown you if you commit the crime of outfit repeating.”
I chuckled. “Yes, because nothing in this world is more terrible than outfit repeating.”
“Damn straight, sister. No wait, those shoes with the toes in them. That is much more terrible and haunting. If you ever wear those things, I’m going to tell the world you’re adopted,” Mom declared.
“Do you think you raised some sort of monster? I’d never do such a thing!”
“I know I raised a monster. One who eats kale and exercises ,” she spat the words like it was akin to kicking puppies for sport.
“Well, this monster has just been sent the most beautiful designer handbag that is one of only a hundred ever made. I thought it’d be perfect for my mother, but if she doesn’t want it—”
“I want it,” Mom snapped quickly. “Exercise and sip kale till your heart’s content, dollface. I’ll support you 100 percent, as long as I get that bag.”
I smiled. “It’s already on its way.”
There was a pause. “How are you, Lexie? How are you really? It’s been awhile since Drew’s death. It seems like things aren’t dying down. I’m worried about you,” she said seriously.
I leaned against my washing machine, running my hands through my curls. “Yeah, things aren’t exactly getting back to whatever normal is around here,” I admitted. “Which is why we took that little vacay.”
We’d only just gotten back from our trip to the Caribbean. One that Mom and Zane thought was purely a holiday away from the paps and to have a break. They would not find out about the photo. Ever. Zane would most likely drag me back to Amber kicking and screaming. And what waited for me there was arguably scarier than a stalker. Okay, it was tied.
I couldn’t worry them. I had professionals on the job.
Keltan was redoing all of the security, and Duke insisted on coming along with us, for my safety. Since we weren’t bothered the whole time, I teased him it was just because he’d wanted to work on his tan.
So we’d spent our time on a beach, sipping cocktails and tanning. Well, that’s what I’d done. The boys had roared around on jet skis, surfed, and did what boys do. I’d written a few songs but tried to turn my mind off by reading the stack of books that had been woefully forgotten in my busy lifestyle. Reading for pleasure was a luxury. I still found time to do it, in the wee hours of the morning. I couldn’t live without books just like I couldn’t live without music. But I couldn’t curl up for an entire day, devouring them. So, the beach getaway was bliss.
Now, it was real life. We got swarmed at the airport, and thankfully Duke was there.
Duke had officially been my full-time security since the incident of the person in the bushes and the subsequent photo. I felt kind of ridiculous having him hanging around all the time since nothing had happened in almost two weeks, apart from the fact that I got swarmed every time I left the house. The story of Drew’s death hadn’t left the front pages—well, not the story, but how I was tangled up in it. Especially with “sources” saying we were about to get
“This isn’t running. This is us going to an island paradise for a holiday we much deserve. It just happens to coincide with you getting a visit from a stalker who is going to be beat to death by me should he come in this house again,” Sam said.
I opened my mouth to protest, but Wyatt beat me to it.
“Now that you mention it, Sammy, I’m thinking I look a little pale. A tan is exactly what I need.”
Noah nodded. “Yep. I think I could definitely spend a week surfing.”
They all looked at me. I was outvoted. Shit.
TWO WEEKS LATER
“You’re doing laundry?” Mom repeated in disbelief. “Don’t you have people that you pay to do such menial tasks?” She paused. “You’re rich anyway, why wash clothes when you can just buy more? It’s not like you can wear them again. I’d have to disown you if you commit the crime of outfit repeating.”
I chuckled. “Yes, because nothing in this world is more terrible than outfit repeating.”
“Damn straight, sister. No wait, those shoes with the toes in them. That is much more terrible and haunting. If you ever wear those things, I’m going to tell the world you’re adopted,” Mom declared.
“Do you think you raised some sort of monster? I’d never do such a thing!”
“I know I raised a monster. One who eats kale and exercises ,” she spat the words like it was akin to kicking puppies for sport.
“Well, this monster has just been sent the most beautiful designer handbag that is one of only a hundred ever made. I thought it’d be perfect for my mother, but if she doesn’t want it—”
“I want it,” Mom snapped quickly. “Exercise and sip kale till your heart’s content, dollface. I’ll support you 100 percent, as long as I get that bag.”
I smiled. “It’s already on its way.”
There was a pause. “How are you, Lexie? How are you really? It’s been awhile since Drew’s death. It seems like things aren’t dying down. I’m worried about you,” she said seriously.
I leaned against my washing machine, running my hands through my curls. “Yeah, things aren’t exactly getting back to whatever normal is around here,” I admitted. “Which is why we took that little vacay.”
We’d only just gotten back from our trip to the Caribbean. One that Mom and Zane thought was purely a holiday away from the paps and to have a break. They would not find out about the photo. Ever. Zane would most likely drag me back to Amber kicking and screaming. And what waited for me there was arguably scarier than a stalker. Okay, it was tied.
I couldn’t worry them. I had professionals on the job.
Keltan was redoing all of the security, and Duke insisted on coming along with us, for my safety. Since we weren’t bothered the whole time, I teased him it was just because he’d wanted to work on his tan.
So we’d spent our time on a beach, sipping cocktails and tanning. Well, that’s what I’d done. The boys had roared around on jet skis, surfed, and did what boys do. I’d written a few songs but tried to turn my mind off by reading the stack of books that had been woefully forgotten in my busy lifestyle. Reading for pleasure was a luxury. I still found time to do it, in the wee hours of the morning. I couldn’t live without books just like I couldn’t live without music. But I couldn’t curl up for an entire day, devouring them. So, the beach getaway was bliss.
Now, it was real life. We got swarmed at the airport, and thankfully Duke was there.
Duke had officially been my full-time security since the incident of the person in the bushes and the subsequent photo. I felt kind of ridiculous having him hanging around all the time since nothing had happened in almost two weeks, apart from the fact that I got swarmed every time I left the house. The story of Drew’s death hadn’t left the front pages—well, not the story, but how I was tangled up in it. Especially with “sources” saying we were about to get
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