Page 74 of Beyond the Fame

“You were always there for me. I think you were the reason I was able to function. You let me help with the Tyler’s Team organization and that kept me connected to him. So while I’ve apologized for the words I said to you, I don’t think I ever thanked you. Thank you for being the sister I never had.”

Lana hugs me and I melt into the understanding and acceptance she’s offering me. I sit back and sag my shoulders, relieved to get all that off my chest. My guilt over the things I said to Lana never faded, but the more she brings me into her life, the more that guilt chips away.

“Did you know your brother kept all the stories you wrote?”

My eyes lift to find Lana’s hazel gaze. “He did?”

She smiles. “Every single one until you stopped writing them in middle school. He kept them in a pile on his desk in college and any time he was sad or homesick, he’d pick one up and read it. I actually think I have them in my Tyler trunk, in my garage in Malibu. You should come by and get them before you fly back to New York.”

My heart skips and tears well in my eyes.

“He never gave up hope that you’d start writing again.” She points at my laptop. “And here you are, writing again.”

I glance at Jensen. He's still pacing, one hand running through his hair, the other holding his phone to his ear.

“Tyler told me I’d one day find someone who supports and challenges me. He told me I’d find the person who I can truly be myself around.”

Lana follows my stare.

“If you think that’s Jensen, you should tell him that.”

“Don’t you think it’s too soon?”

“I think it’s about damn time.”

Chapter 19 - Jensen

After nearly three hours, the original article was taken down. My parents’ firm also sent out cease and desist notifications to the few organizations that picked up the story. It’ll take longer to go through all the social media posts that people made, but eventually, those will be taken down as well. My parents are now working on finding out who leaked the video in the article.

The good thing is it’s no longer being circulated by big media. The bad news is we’re getting tons of requests for interviews to try to confirm the details of that article so it can be rewritten and posted. Which means the paparazzi will be even worse these next few weeks.

It’s nothing new when it comes to this project. The movie took so long to get made; articles were written speculating the cause of the delay. The production company would only say it was due to creative differences. Sometimes the directors who bowed out would hint about Rebecca being difficult when questioned about it. This time, the issue is the video taken on set.

Mylan and Lana rescheduled their return to L.A. by a day, sending Gram and Pa back without them. Eloise stopped in before her flight. She gushed about her date tomorrow with DJ Kels aka Kelly. I've never seen the small woman so happy. She’s always quiet and reserved. I know Mylan cares about Eloise like a sister, and the prospect of her finding a partner has both him and Lana thrilled.

Everyone around me seems to be finding a partner.

I’ve never imagined a life where I’d settle down with anyone. I never thought I was good enough. But she makes me want to be good enough.

Rebecca has been avoiding my stares all afternoon. When Lana mentioned hitting up a farmer’s market, Rebecca jumped at the chance. But with the article about us, there was no way we’d be able to do that without being seen. Of course, Lana and Mylan brought disguises. They started wearing them while traveling a year into their new relationship in an attempt to hide from paparazzi.

Lana chose to wear mom jeans—rolled thickly at the bottom—a white t-shirt reading Hawaii in rainbow colors on the front that she bought in the resort’s gift shop, oversized glasses, and an oversized straw hat over a curly blonde wig. Mylan’s blond wig is a mullet. He's wearing a mustache, white-wash jeans, and a white tank top that says Metallica.

They are so ridiculous; I swear.

Rebecca chose a baggy blue dress covered in a colorful floral design and a bobbed black wig with bangs. She topped the look with a big floppy hat and sunglasses. Mylan had another mullet wig, black instead of blond, so I wore that paired with a pair of khakis and a plain gray t-shirt that had the sleeves cut off.

We are so ridiculous.

But it worked because no one has paid us any attention in the past hour we’ve been here. Well, I wouldn’t say that. The paparazzi didn’t give us a second glance when we walked by them out of the hotel, but now, as we stroll through the market, people are giggling and whispering and staring at the rednecks in Hawaii.

It’s something old me would have been embarrassed about but now I feel alive with the adrenaline pouring through my body. Rebecca is having a blast as well, walking arm in arm with Lana ahead of Mylan and me. They've been talking up a storm, laughing like they’re trying to tell the most jokes in a row.

She's happy.

Then why won’t she look at me?

“What’s wrong?” Mylan finally asks. He must have sensed I was questioning everything. Or maybe he noticed my hands balled up at my sides.

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