Page 24 of (Not So) Famous in Paradise

At the end of the night when I walk back to my apartment above the garage, Carly’s car is parked in the driveway, which is a huge surprise. She lives an hour away in Florence, where she’s going to the university. Usually, I’m the one who makes the drive to see her, but I didn’t have time this week.

Surprise visits aren’t like her, so the fact she’s gone out of her way to come see me means a lot. Even though I wonder why she didn’t come over to Mom and Dad’s, a rush of adrenaline ripples under my skin. Sometimes I wonder if we’re going to last. Then she does something like this and wipes away all my doubts.

Sure, this is the first time she’s done anything this big, but it’s got to be a good sign that our relationship is headed in a direction we both want.

Except, when I walk inside, she’s sitting on the sofa with her arms crossed, and I know she’s not here because she missed me. Clue number one, her mouth set in a firm line. Clue number two, she doesn’t rush to kiss me, and three, when I bend down to kiss her, she gives me her cheek.

After a quick peck, I walk around the couch and sit next to her. “What are you doing here? I thought we weren’t getting together until next weekend.” I go to put my arm around her, but she puts distance between us.

“What am I doing here?” She uncrosses her arms and holds her phone to my face. “This is what I’m doing here!”

I blink, then look around the phone at Carly. “Am I supposed to be looking at something besides your lock screen?”

She huffs and pulls the phone to her own face, presses an app, then juts it back at me. “This!”

I blink. “Instagram? You came here to show me Instagram?” I think I know where this is going, but honestly, I’m too tired.

She huffs again and scrolls until she finds what she’s looking for. Then the phone is back in my face, and I see the picture of me carrying Georgia.

I let out a long sigh and close my eyes. “It’s marketing. That’s it.”

Carly is great, but she’s got a jealous streak. Every once in a while, it peeks out of its hiding place and things go sideways for a minute. Usually, I can reassure her she’s the only girl I want to be with, but in the weeks since Georgia has been home, those reassurances haven’t worked as well.

“Is this what being on the show means? You with your arms around Georgia? I’m going to have to see posts like this every day and see it on TV too? Do you know how many people have texted me, asking if we broke up?” She pulls her phone back and tosses it on the coffee table.

“Did you answertheirtexts?”

It’s a low blow, one I wouldn’t have inflicted if I wasn’t so tired. But she’s answered one out of every ten texts I’ve sent this week. I tip my head back and rub the bridge of my nose where I feel the beginnings of a headache.

When she doesn’t say anything, I open my eyes to see her glaring at me. “Zach, what’s going on?”

“Nothing’s going on. I’ve told you, Georgia and I are friends. Those pictures don’t mean anything except that we had a few moments of fun during a long, mostly boring week. I promise.” I pat the space next to me. “Come on. Let me hold you.”

Her shoulders sag, but she stays on her side of the sofa. “Really? Because the way she’s looking at you doesn’t look like you’re just friends. And why would she post all these pictures that make you look like a couple?”

“She didn’t post them. My cousin Stella did. Georgia hired her as her assistant, and part of her job it to handle social media accounts.” I close my eyes again because I can’t keep them open any longer.

I feel the cushions dip and open one eye to see Carly moving closer. She still looks upset, but her bottom lip pokes out in a pout rather than a scowl. When she’s close enough to touch, I slowly put my arm around her.

“I promise you don’t have anything to worry about. There’s no one else but you.” I tug her closer, and she nestles into me.

“When you told me you’re going to be a bigger part of the show, I was excited for us. The publicity will be so good for your real estate business.” Carly nuzzles closer and kisses my neck.

“I was even thinking, I could be your manager, if you want. We can totally leverage this opportunity by getting you on more shows.” Her lips move up my neck to my earlobe, pushing away questions about whether she likes me or likes what I can offer her.

“But I don’t like her pretending you’re her boyfriend, not mine,” she whispers softly before tugging my ear with her teeth.

“First of all, I’m not interested in any other shows. This one is hard enough.” The tugging on my ear turns to an uncomfortable biting, and I yelp.

“Secondly,” I say, rubbing my ear. “Georgia’s not pretending anything, especially being my girlfriend.” That thought is ridiculous. Why would Georgia ever want me for a boyfriend when she can have anyone? “She’s just being Georgia. We’ve known each other our whole lives.” I move in to kiss Carly, but she sits up.

“Why are you always defending her?”

“I’m not defending her. I’m telling you that we’re friends and that’s it.”

“Well, which would you rather have? Me for your girlfriend or Georgia for a friend?” Carly tosses her hair back and crosses her arms.

Now it’s my turn to put distance between us. Her words feel less like a question and more like an order, and my whole body tenses in response. There’s a reason I’m not in the military. Orders are not my thing.

---