Page 33 of Hit Me With Your Best Shot

I lean back in the booth, crossing my arms as I study her, in no hurry at all. “Plan for what?”

Her eyes widen as she lowers the menu enough to shoot me a pointed look.

“Maybe the fact that your face—and mine, by association—is currently trending on every social media platform? Is this us laying low?” She lifts the menu again, her eyes scanning as she chatters on. “By the way, Ilovethe part in your press release where you describe me as a ‘family friend.’ So thoughtful.”

Oh, yeah.

That part.

“I didn’t write it—I only approved it,” I mumble, leaning back in the booth. “Mostly.” I sigh. “Okay fine I didn’t actually read it ‘coz I trust Danica to do her job.”

Her head bobs up and down in exaggerated agreement, her expression impossible to read behind the menu.

“Nothing screams ‘family friend’ like a guy smushing his face against the glass for a woman he’s supposedly not interested in.”

I scratch the back of my neck, trying to come up with a rebuttal that doesn’t sound like total bullshit.

“We didn’t have a ton of options—I told Danica we were neighbors, and you’ve met my sister, so…” I trail off, watching for her reaction.

“Uh-huh,” she says without looking up, focused on finding something to eat.

I lean forward, resting my elbows on the table. “Look, the press needed something—something that wouldn’t make your life harder.”

She finally sets the menu down, her gaze locking onto mine with the kind of intensity that makes me sit up straighter.

“And you think calling me a ‘family friend’ makes my life easier?”

“Would you have preferred ‘mystery woman’?” I counter, raising a brow.

Her face scrunches up in mock disgust. “Ew, that’s horrid. Like something they’d say fifty years ago, back when people still wrote letters instead and didn’t have the internet.”

I laugh, relieved the mood is lightening. “Exactly. I was doing you a favor.”

“Oh, yeah.Hugefavor,” she snorts dryly, picking up her glass of water. “What on Earth would I do without you?”

“Probably live a much quieter life,” I admit with a grin.

“Eh. I don’t mind the excitement. My life is pretty boring.”

I lean forward, resting my arms on the table. “Alright, enlighten me. What is it you do, anyway? Danica was asking.”

“Oh,Danicawants to know, does she?”

“Hey, I’m just the messenger,” I reply, raising my hands in mock defense. “You’ve got her all curious. She’s trying to figure out if you’re a threat to my public image or, you know, just a regular person.”

Austin rolls her eyes, her lips quirking in amusement. “Wow. A threat to your public image. Little me?”

Yes, little you.

“Are you secretly plotting my downfall, or do you have a boring day job like the rest of us mortals?”

She tilts her head, pretending to think. “Let’s see. I do own a black hoodie and sunglasses, which are basically prerequisites for an evil mastermind. But no—no secret plotting. Sorry to disappoint.”

I motion impatiently for her to go on. “And when you’renotpreparing for world domination?”

“I’m a professor.”

I pause.

---