Page 23 of Followed By the CEO

I scoff. “Why would she do that? Who would I tell? I don’t have a clue who she is other than your college roommate.” I use air quotes around the last two words.

Jimmy is hanging back, but I sense he’s on full alert once again now that Stella has left, and I’m alone with this man he doesn’t know.

“I swear to god, I did not date her. We both went to UCLA, and we’ve never been anything more than friends,” Hayden insists.

The harrumph I let out tells everyone in the vicinity that I’m unconvinced.

“Is this guy bothering you?” Jimmy cuts in. “Because I gotta get back in there for the next act.”

I thank Jimmy and send him on his way.

“If you don’t want to date me, why are you jealous right now?”

I turn to face Hayden, ready to wipe the smirk off his face. “I’m not jealous,” I croak, a little too defensive.

“No?”

“Nope. Not jealous.”

Hayden is not having it with my bullshit. “Let’s cut to the chase,” he says, resting one hand on my shoulder, electrifying every nerve down to my fingertips.

“Would it make you feel better if I told you I’m not seeing anyone else right now?”

“It makes no difference to me,” I say.

“I have a proposal for you,” he says.

“Oh god, I don’t get engaged before the first date.”

“I move fast so let’s go get a drink and call it a real first date.”

“What do you want, Hayden?”

Silence follows as Hayden squints at me and licks his lips.

“Fine, don’t tell me. I know you’re thinking of stealing my identity as soon as you murder me.”

“Baby, when I pay you a compliment, it’s the truth.”

Fine. Go ahead and smolder at me. I’m not falling for that.

“How did I know you were going to be here?” I say.

“Because we share a brain.”

“Hardly.”

“It was a really great show,” he tells me. “Let’s go get a drink.”

I tap my finger to my chin. “Let’s see, you follow me home from the airport, you infiltrate my audition and get yourself hired for a part, you show up to my dog park, you show up to my comedy show. You’re definitely a stage five stalker.”

“If you want me to go away, I will. I’ll even drop out of the commercial if that will make you happy.”

Yeah right. If Hayden drops out of the commercial, Susan will flip her lid. She’s already been texting me all day telling me what incredible footage she shot.

I can handle one drink. Outside. In public. Not because I’m scared of Hayden but because I’m scared that I’ll start to put my hands all over him the second we’re somewhere private.

“Hold on one second,” I say, whipping out my phone. “I just have to ask my neighbor to let Monster out one more time if I’m not coming home right away.”

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