Page 18 of The Price of Fame

“You should really answer your phone or your door.”

She jumped, screaming as James came up beside her.

“What have I told you about coming into my painting room?”

He stared, with his mouth agape, around her room. “Holy shit, Kylie, you do know what day it is?”

Kylie bit her lip as she counted back her days.

Jamie sighed and shook his head. “It’s Saturday afternoon. I’m here to take you to dinner before our dance class.” He pulled her to him. “You’re covered in paint.” James brushed hair off her face and rubbed her nose. “When was the last time you ate?”

She tried to remember. “I went to the bathroom. Fed Buddha, let him in, grabbed some chips and a bottle of water. I think earlier this morning.”

He pulled her slowly away from her room. “Come on. Let’s get you showered, and then we can go eat. Lucky I came early so we could have some time together.”

She nodded as he walked her to the bathroom and turned the shower taps on.

“Shower. I’ll wait for you.”

As soon as the water hit her, she started to wake and come together. She had been on a roll. The inspiration bug had hit her, and she couldn’t stop painting. Getting out of the shower, she turned it off, wrapped a towel around her, and walked into her room. After drying, Kylie dressed and met James in her living room, where he was talking to Buddha.

“How much longer do you reckon she’s going to be? I think she’ll take a while. She was covered in paint. What do you think she’d do to me if I went in and made sure she gets it all?”

“I would probably kill you.”

He turned to her, holding his chest as though she’d startled him.

“Come on, James, I’m starving. Let’s go.”

He looked her up and down, and his eyes widened. “When did you get that dress?”

She looked down at one of the new dresses she’d bought while shopping with Gemma. It was tight to her waist, and then it flared out. She loved how the colors blended together, cream and blue with black lace trim.

“You don’t like it? It’s new. I bought it while shopping with Gemma.”

He scrunched his face, showing his dislike for her friend.

“I seriously don’t get your beef with Gemma. Is it because she hasn’t fallen for your charms?”

James gave a mock shudder as they headed for the door. “No. Let’s just say she’s not my type.”

She laughed. “I didn’t know you had a type.”

“Oh, I do. They just don’t know they’re my type yet.” Kylie raised her eyebrows at his cryptic answer as he grinned and got in his car.

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