Page 153 of How to Win the Girl

“The public eye?”

“Yeah, Duke is in the press a lot. He’s a big deal.” He actually does sound humble this time, if not a bit embarrassed? But that can’t be right.

Drake is proud of his brothers, this I know for a fact. Who wouldn’t be?

I had not known his brother was in the press, let alone a lot. I don’t watch football, don’t know who the players are, and don’t know if they stay on the field or do celebrity things like galas and movie premiers.

Basically I wouldn’t know a pro football player if I was sitting on his face.

“I didn’t know that. Is it bad if I admit I have no idea who your brothers are?”

“No, that’s a good thing. It means you didn’t go on a bender googlin’ shit, and you didn’t get all starry-eyed from what you found. I can smell a fame chaser a mile away.”

“Is that one of your special talents?” I laugh, bending at the waist to glance at my pizza in the oven.

The cheese is melting, and the top is beginning to brown.

“I suppose it is.”

“I’m sorry that’s part of your reality.” I sniff the air, stomach growling. “I can’t imagine living like that.”

“Why are you apologizin’? You haven’t done nothin’.”

“I know, I’m just saying. It felt strange being in the café having hot chocolate and watching people watch you.”

“They weren’t just watchin' me. They were watchin' both of us.”

Worse.

That’s way worse.

Something I’d have to get used to, I guess.

“It’s natural for people to be curious.” He allows. “It’s another thing when they invade your privacy and shit like that.”

“Does that happen? Do people invade your privacy?”

He snorts. “Hell yeah. All the damn time.”

“How?”

“Give it enough time and people will be takin’ your picture while you’re tryin’ to eat. Or take a piss at a urinal.”

“You’ve had dudes try to take your picture while you’re peeing?”

“Yeah, selfies. Like, ‘Bro, can we take a picture?’with my dick still in my hand.”

“Are you joking?”

“Would I make that up?” He laughs. “Improv isn’t one of my talents.”

I laugh, too. “Besides not wanting to date a gold-digger, what are you looking for?”

“I’m not thinking about kids right now or nothing like that, but someone who likes to cook and shit would be nice. I bake, but I don’t cook.”

Hold up.

I stand in the middle of the kitchen, glancing around. “You bake?”

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