Page 98 of No More Secrets

The limousine Lily sent for Lucas at the hotel she put him up at rolls to a stop in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood and a teeming mass of prepubescent, screaming kids. “Fuck me.” Lucas gapes at the crowd through the tinted window and swallows audibly. He’s already sweating, and he hasn’t even left the vehicle. His hand swipes across his forehead and returns damp. He rubs off the moisture on his thigh and considers telling the chauffeur to keep driving, but he’s already left the limo. And Lucas would hate himself if he missed Lily’s premiere showing.

His door opens, and the noise rises to on an earsplitting decibel. Lucas rears back when he notices everyone pointing at him and waving to get his attention. They’re probably trying to guess who he is. Lily told him this morning the studio had sent invites to half of Hollywood, touting the premiere as a family event. People those screaming kids could paw at, beg a selfie with. Perhaps snag an autograph from when he struts down the red carpet.

But he’s nobody. And he sure as hell doesn’t strut.

The best he’s done was buy a new pair of dark-washed jeans and steel-toed boots to go with his favorite Pearl Jam shirt. He got a haircut, too, rubbed in some product Olivia gave him, and styled his hair the way she showed him. A messy, textured look. Apparently, it makes him look hot. But what matters most, he’s dry.

He checks his watch.

Thirty-six days, eleven hours, and seven minutes sober.

His mental health has a ways to go, but physically, he’s never felt better.

Before him the red carpet stretches from the sidewalk to the gaping mouth of the theater. At the end actors dressed as Lily’s characters entertain the crowd. Banners fluttering in the afternoon breeze flank the entrance. Photographers snap photos of guests posed before a backdrop, a blown-up version of the movie poster.

He has to walk past all that.

For a wild moment flashbacks to Lily’s signing when the police tackled him rear to mind. His breath comes quickly. Fingers dig into the leather seat.

“Sir?” The chauffeur inches the door wider, impatient for him to get out. Cars have lined up behind them.

“Yeah.” He can do this. With a grunt he heaves himself from the limo and faces the crowd. He swears they scream louder when he does.

They have no idea who he is.

Then he remembers his stint at the signing made the news.

Head down, Lucas strides up the carpet, dodging outstretched hands. A girl hollers for a selfie, and a reporter sticks a microphone in his face. He keeps on walking.

Near the end of the aisle, a giant Tabby’s Squirrel grabs his arm and ushers him before the photographers. “What the—” It takes effort not to punch the ginormous plastic nose off the bobble head as he turns to face the cameras with a grimace. Flashing lights blind him. How does Lily stand this kind of attention?

He starts to walk off.

“One more, Lucas! One more,” they shout.

How the hell do they remember his name? He’s a nobody.

He holds up a hand to block his face and rushes into the theater. The front of the house is high ceilinged with a red-and-gold art deco aesthetic. It’s crowded, but not nearly as crazy as outside. Lucas breathes deeply, waiting for his heart to slow down, and looks around. He spotsLily right away. She’s all smiles and surrounded by people, her hand weaved with that of the man beside her. He’s tall with close-cropped hair and a button-down shirt with rolled-up sleeves. Boring, but Lucas likes the look of him. He especially likes how his entire focus is on Lily alone. He must be Kavan. And he adores her. For that he has Lucas’s respect.

Off to the side are Olivia, Blaze, and Josh. His sister sees him and waves him over. But before he can make his way to her, someone shouts his name. A body slams into him.

He looks down and grins. “Sunshine Girl.” Happiness lightens his chest. They’ve spoken on the phone about hers and Sophie’s plans for their summer move to California City, but he hasn’t seen her since his arrest.

“You made it.” Shiloh looks up at him, dancing on her toes.

“Told you I would. Ready to work this summer?”

She rolls her eyes and groans. “Buzzkill.”

He laughs. “Missed you, kiddo.”

“Can I meet her for real this time?” Dressed in high-waisted jeans, new Chucks, and aTabby’s Squirrelshirt, she can hardly contain her excitement. She glances over at Lily, but the woman approaching behind Shiloh has his attention.

Sophie smiles, and something tightens inside him. “Hi.”

The edge of his mouth draws up. “Hey.”

“Is that a smile?” Her grin broadens, and so does his.

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