Page 136 of Movers and Shakers

“Of course.”

“You’re always full of surprises,” Ruth said, and I glanced over at her. The smile on her face was more curious than anything else. I knew Lila would have to play this perfectly if she wanted to escape with her secret untouched.

But Rose’s smile was so wide that I didn’t regret it.

“No one else can know,” I said. “But I figure if Tom trusts you, then I can too.”

“You’re lucky I’ve learned how to keep secrets,” Max said.

“Where did you learn that?” Selena asked. “I didn’t teach that to you.”

“Yeah, but I see what you do when you’re hiding something. Diversion is really easy.”

Selena sighed. “Yeah, that was gonna happen eventually.”

“How about tomorrow?” I asked.

The house nearly exploded with everyone sharing their plans. Ruth mentioned she would bring Lynn, Knox’s mom, and Max and Selena talked about what they would say. I leaned back and glanced at Rose, raising an eyebrow and giving her one more chance to back out.

But she looked just as excited as everyone else.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Rose

Barry drummed on the steering wheel as we drove back to his place.

“Nervous?” I asked. “Or excited?”

I knew I was. It had been too long since I’d met fans in person. I’d been working so much that I almost forgot what it was like tosee them. In the sea of the angry ones online, I was glad to see that some liked the album.

“I think my sister might figure you out.”

My mood instantly deflated. “What? Why?How?”

“She’s smart. Way too smart. And I saw the way she kept looking at you at dinner.”

“I mean, people look at me all the time.”

“Ruth is not most people. Plus, she saw us whispering before we brought up Lila.”

“What are the odds that she’ll figure out we’re one person, though?”

“I have no idea,” he said. “But I know it’s risky. You can cancel if you think this is a bad idea.”

“And disappoint Max? No way. Do you think the explanation of the coffee shop helped?”

“Maybe.”

“I could even mention the day I saw her as Lila to throw her off the trail even more.”

“That might work, but be careful. Be fully Lila tomorrow. She may not be watching every second, but she picks up on stuff.”

“I’ll do my best. I’ve been doing this for over ten years. I’ve got this. I’ll even have Juno come to tell me if I’m acting too much like Rose.”

That seemed to help. His drumming slowed. “I just don’t want to ruin this for you. This privacy you have, despite your fame, is . . . incredible.”

“Thank you, but I think it’ll be okay. Ruth will officially meet Lila Wilde tomorrow, not just running into her at Movers and Shakers. She’ll be busy with that.”

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