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“From this moment forward, you can’t trust any of them.”

“What?” She squints like the notion is ridiculous.

“Not when it comes to us. Hear me out,” I plea. “If you really want to keep us under wraps, we have to go completely off the fucking radar. No confidants. Just for the time being. Percy excluded.”

“Myhorse? Seriously?”

“Has to be this way.”

“But last night—” she starts, and I lift my hand.

“Last night, a few people noticed me leaving the party with a stunning but unrecognizable woman. With a party like that, it’s par for the course. That’s why I wasn’t worried.”

“Geesh,” she widens her eyes, “groupie point taken.”

“That won’t be the case the first time the media gets a clear shot of us together.”

“Why do you think I’ve been so paranoid?”

“We really had nothing to hide but our association before last night.”

“Now we do.” Her smile reappears.

“Yeah, baby, we do,” I grin back. “As much as I hate this next part, and I think you’re going to too, I don’t think you should attend any more shows for a while. Especially since my dad will be at a lot of them and lodging where the band is after.”

“You’re right. I hate it. Watching you play is my new addiction.”

“I want you there. I love singing to you, but seriously, Natalie, if you want this to remain a secret, we can’t let anyone see us together. And until we come clean with our folks, I’ll be doling out nondisclosures like candy. Even then, we really aren’t safe.”

“I am the media, Easton, so I understand,obviously, but not evenHolly?”

“It’s a good thing you didn’t tell her already and hear me out on why.”

She gestures for me to continue.

“So, you tell Holly but leave out the details ofwho.Guess who she’s going to tell?”

“No one. I told you she—”

“Until she accidentally slips up around Damon or during dinner with your parents. From any point—and I meanany pointat all—that you cave and confess, no matter who it’s to, it could snowball. Take it from me. The people you trust the most have peoplethey trustmost. Your life-or-death secret becomes a secret they have coffee over in hushed whispers.”

“Holly would never—”

I lift a brow.

“Damn, okay, I’ve got it.” She nods. “I see the logic.”

“Joel is the only human alive I truly trust to keep us safe, and we’re going to need him, a lot if we’re going to pull this off.”

“Okay, I believe you, and I adore Joel.”

“I know you do, Beauty. He feels the same.”

I unhook her seatbelt and pull her to straddle me.

“I’ll have to be all of it, your boyfriend, your best friend, and confidant. I’m fine with that, just until we come clean with our parents. Okay?”

She nods firmly. “Okay. Percy it is.”

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