Page 55 of You Belong With Me

She remains an account manager and copywriter, according to the Ad Hoc agency’s website. Meanwhile, Owen’s star is on the rise since he won an army of female fans in the acclaimed fantasy saga. The 32-year-old heartthrob has landed roles as superhero The Void in the forthcoming Warner Bros blockbuster and has signed up as romantic lead in HBO’s new series about a Manhattan restaurant,Your Table is Ready.

Another source close to both said: ‘He loves the fact she’s not impressed by his fame and treats him like any other person. Edie’s very down to earth and opted out of the starry lifestyle of red carpets. It’s clear she likes him for himself.Everyone is amazed by how hard and fast Elliot has fallen, but it’s obvious she’s very good for him.’

Reps for Owen confirmed the relationship when we contacted them, saying: ‘It’s early days, but they’re very happy.’

‘My God,’ Edie said, looking up.

‘What?’

‘I think every word of this story might be true.’

‘Hahaha.’

‘Except my house was £370k.’

She looked at her phone charging on the bedside table and scrolled through a waterfall of notifications so long, it’d take minute after minute to get to the end. The most recent was Richard. She unlocked and opened it.

Not one but two mentions of the agency? I’d like to shag Elliot Owen myself. R x

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It was all very well thinking she didn’t hate the exposé, but Edie realised soon after that she needed to warn innocent bystanders. It was a crash course in Being Elliot Owen.Sorry I have unleashed this pack of hounds and grisly scrutiny upon you, purely because you happen to know me. It is not my fault, and yet it is, at the same time, my fault.

You could be technically blameless and feel completely responsible at the same time, it turned out.

She called her dad first, hoping he was less likely to get grief now she wasn’t under his roof. He was blessedly unconcerned. Having no social media, no streaming services, an old mobile phone that he treated as a walkie-talkie, going to the cinema once a year and taking only a hard-copy broadsheet, Edie wasn’t sure he even grasped how famous Elliot was. Which she liked, as long as it didn’t leave him unprotected.

‘No fear, darling daughter, I will treat any members of the fourth estate as I do the callers who are convinced I need to switch broadband provider. Are you having a nice time in London? Oh good. Give my fond regards to Elliot, won’t you? Sorry, got to go – the Tesco delivery van’s just pulledup. Thank God I have some milk again – I’ve been stuck with your sister’s nut juice. Now I am out from under her yoke of oppression, I have snuck in some orange Penguins, too. It’s like Caligula’s Rome here.’

Meg was trickier.

‘I think there was a man outside in a car with a camera, but he’s gone now. You’re coming back to Nottingham today? But not the house?’ she said nervily, and Edie felt awful admitting she was at a hotel until Monday.

‘We can stay at the house if you’d feel safer?’ she said, to vigorous nodding from Elliot.

‘Hmm, no thanks. You and Elliot grunting and rubbing on each other every time I leave the front room.’

‘I’m sure Elliot and I could observe a no grunting and no rubbing rule, if need be.’

Vigorous head shaking from Elliot.

Meg said it was fine and being around their ardour would be worse than door steppers. Edie recognised this concession as her sister’s gruff version of consideration.

Edie reassured Meg that any pests would only be interested in photos of the actual girlfriend, hoping that was true. She was also aware that Meg had the capacity to give paparazzi serious trouble.

‘Even if she hits them with an umbrella, your sister kicking off doesn’t really feed any narrative they want to tell,’ Elliot said, once Edie was off the phone. ‘It’d play too much ashere we are, harassing her family. And our being prepared to confirm we’re together means Lillian can do deals with them, so try not to worry too much. I know it’s easier said than done.’

‘Are you used to this?’ Edie said. ‘Does it ever feel usual?’

‘Erm … I wouldn’t say it ever feels usual, but it starts to follow patterns and vague rules. When you can predict it, it’s slightly less overwhelming. Remember that writer bothered my gran though? They always retain the capacity to disgust you.’

Edie had a flood of follow requests on Instagram, shoals of unknowns trying to add her on Facebook, and her mobile flashing constantly with unknown numbers.

‘This is the worst of it,’ Elliot said, squeezing her hand, as their people carrier wove its way into central London traffic. Fancy five-star places had fancy car parks, which meant you didn’t need to leave by the front door. ‘You can’t be the new girlfriend forever.’

‘Oh, good luck to the next one.’

‘That’s not what I meant, and you know it! What do you want to do tonight? Free choice, completely up to you. I’m at your service,’ Elliot said. ‘I more than owe you.’

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