Page 52 of Stars and Scars

“I don’t know. It’s not like I keep these kinds of things on a calendar somewhere.”

“It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?”

I roll my eyes. “Why does it matter?”

“People need human contact, Grayson. It’s a thing, look it up.”

“Right now?”

“No!”

She slaps my arm playfully.

“Obviously not while you’re driving!”

Charlotte cocks her head to the side and gives me a long, appraising stare.

“If no one’s hugged you in a long time, does that mean you haven’t had a girlfriend in a while?”

I scowl and shake my head.

“Relationships don’t exactly go with the spook job.”

A smile spreads over her face, as if she’s just won something.

“Yeah, but…you're not a spy any longer, are you?”

“That…”

I don’t know what to say. She has me cornered. Old instincts take over and I turn it around on her.

“Well, what about you? How long’s it been since you dated someone?”

Charlotte’s smile fades. Her brow furrows and her azure eyes focus on something far away.

“I’ve dated guys, sure.” She sighs, and stares up at the moon. “I had a semi-steady boyfriend back in high school. I haven’t dated much in the last few years because it’s hard to meet someone when you're famous.”

Now it’s my turn to stare incredulously.

“What?” she says when she notices my reaction.

“Wouldn’t being famous make it easier to meet people?”

“Sure, in a manner of speaking, but I don’t want to date a fan or a follower.”

“Why not?”

She purses her lips and mulls the question over for a mile or so.

“Well,” she says at length. “I guess it’s because they tend to think they know everything about me. People don’t understand the version of myself I present online isn’t exactly the same as the real me.”

I cock my brow, genuinely puzzled.

“I thought the whole point of influencers was that you’re a real person?”

Charlotte stares at me for a long moment. Then she snickers, which expands into a chest-shaking chortle.

“Are you kidding?” she says between peals of laughter. “No, influencers are essentially playing an amped up version of themselves. A character. I’m playing a role, Grayson. You really think I brush my teeth and sit there thinking about how good my toothpaste is if I’m not being paid to market it?”

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