Page 47 of Between the Lines

I turned to Shaw with a grin. “I don’t know…it looks like caking to me.”

Shaw sucked his teeth. “Nah, Alec can’t handleVanity. That’s my boy, but…that’sVanity.”

“He can maybe work withVanessathough.” I laughed. “Especially when you factor in his character. Jude could definitely pull VanityandVanessa any day.”

“Really now?” Shaw grinned. “So you still like ‘em a little rough around the edges, huh?”

“I said he could pullher, notme.”

“So the blogs are all wrong about y’all, huh?”

“Oh my God, don’t do that!”

The news cycle hadjustturned over enough that nobody was talking about my parking lot incident anymore. And my imagined romance with Alec had run its course in record time—Stella’s little rant, and the subsequent speculation over whether it was because of Shaw, had overshadowed it. Aside from the little I said about it onArnez and Arizona, I hadn’t spoken another word about it, and of course neither had Shaw.Shewas still yapping here and there, but Chloe had my Twitter fingers on lockdown.

I wasrighton the cusp of the supposed beef not being hot news anymore and couldn’t risk anything new happening or it would be right back on front street.

Which was so,somassively annoying to me.

I didnotwant or need the drama—a ledge Shaw among other people had already talked me down from, and I was cool now, but the fact remained.

I just wanted to make a good show.

And, we were well on our way—a sentiment the folks in charge clearly agreed with, since they were hosting this little get-together to celebrate as we were heading into premiere.

We’d reached the threshold Charlotte had been buzzing about—five episodes through filming and editing. The premiere date was already set—Nolanhad set it, and publicized it—but she’d made it clear that if the schedule wasn’t right, there wouldnotbe a premiere.

We hit it though.

Which meant, as long as we stayed on trend, a new episode could be released every week, without having to do the breaks watchers hated so much. It was common with shows like ours that were still being filmed as new episodes came out—shit happened.

Butnoton a Charlotte Fox show.

Between her and Nolan, things were kept in great order—which was why we could celebrate now.

And we most certainly did.

Notoverdoingit, but I didn’t feel bad allowing myself to let loose and indulge in the laughter and lightheartedness of the night.

And…the liquor.

Again, not overdoing it, not doing too damn much—I’d aged out of that, or at least, I liked to believe so. As such, I stopped myself when that little faint buzz of dizziness hit—but of course, not soon enough to not loosen my tongue.

Which was why, despite knowing better, I said, “If only the blogs knew how right they were about other things though…”

Shaw raised an eyebrow. “Things like what?”

“You know exactly what,” I countered, taking another sip from the icy plastic cup in my hand.

“Nah, be explicit.” He stepped in closer, smelling like fresh laundry and leather, wearing the very smirk that had gotten him into my panties that very first time, years ago. “What do they have right?”

“Me and you.”

“There’s a me and you?”

“There used to be—and they figured that out ‘cause of your little girlfriend,” I answered, pushing the hair back from my face—more out of nerves than anything else.

“It was never like that, I told you.”

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