Page 105 of Reel Love

“I hate that you have to keep our relationship a secret.”

“I don’t know,” he glances at the water and then back at me. “I think there are perks to this arrangement.”

“Such as?”

“Stand up and I’ll show you.”

I make a show of deliberating, but then I’m at his side in less than two beats. He pulls me into an unexpected kiss, glances back at the water and then bends so his mouth is right up against my neck. “I get to date you.”

I giggle when his morning stubble grazes my skin. “And I get to date you.”

He pulls back and fixes his attention on the water ahead of us. “I’m pretty sure you drew the short stick on that one.”

“I am completely sure you’re wrong. And I love that you don’t know it.”

I stand next to him the rest of the ride into the harbor, stepping back when the dock is in view. We don’t kiss goodbye. This harbor is far busier than the private one on Marbella where there were plenty of boats, but we were nearly the only two people moving around at sunrise.

I step off the boat, only glancing back once to commit the image of Stevens standing there watching me to memory. Then I make my way down the dock to Tank who has a weirdly knowing look in his eyes despite the fact that his face is essentially as neutral as ever.

Two days.

I’ll be in LA for two whole days and then I can see Stevens again. In the meantime, I have to fake being in a relationship with Rex.

What is my life?

TWENTY-EIGHT

Alana

And there’s only one person

that makes me feel like I can fly … That’s you.

~ Hitch

Ahairstylist and makeup artist show up to my condo in the mid-afternoon. I’m dressed and ready by six when Rex arrives in his limo, or at least the one he’s rented for the night. The driver rings my bell and I take the elevator down three flights to the lobby and walk out onto the street. No one makes too much of a fuss about me in this neighborhood, but occasionally paps are around in hopes of catching me taking out the trash or something equally mundane and uninteresting.

Yes. I’ve had my share of tabloid photos dubbed,Yikes! Is Alana Graves Letting Herself Go?OrYou Won’t Believe What Alana Graves Looks Like After Her Breakup!Needless to say, I’ve learned to brush my hair, wash my face, and put on at least a few swipes of mascara before descending to the first story of my condo here in Hollywood.

The driver opens my door to the limoand I step in.

“You look beautiful,” Rex says from the seat next to me. He’s scrolling on his phone when he looks up at me, smiles and then returns to whatever he’s doing.

“So do you.”

He flashes me one of those grins he’s famous for. It’s star-quality, that’s for sure. But my fairy brigade doesn’t even make a rustle. Nope. It’s Stevens for me. My mind drifts back to this morning’s boat ride which seems like it was weeks ago in a world far away.

Rex and I make small talk along the drive about our upcoming projects and a few things we’re scheduled to do together before our movie releases.

When we arrive at the premier, Rex steps out of the car ahead of me to screams of his name and shouts from photographers. He pauses to wave at the crowd and then extends me his hand. When I emerge, the screaming amplifies. Shouts of “Alana!” ripple through the crowd. I turn my head to try to connect with as many eyes as I can, and then I focus on stepping forward with Rex. We walk the red carpet together, stopping at the points designated to answer questions from reporters representing all the major media outlets.

Most of the questions center around me and Rex and whether we are back together.

We stop in front of a reporter I recognize.

“Hello, Rex and Alana.” Her microphone extends between us. “Are you two back together officially?”

I look to Rex. Somehow it feels like less of a lie if he answers for me, even though I’m still complicit.

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