Page 10 of The Stunt
“Oh,” she says quietly. “Yeah, that makes sense.” Maybe I’m just delusional, but she almost looks disappointed with my explanation. I don’t have time to read into that before the car comes to a stop in front of the restaurant’s entrance. I look out the window to see several men and women holding cameras, waiting to get their shot. This is it, I guess.
Turning to Bella, I see some of the worry lingering from before. She’s nothing like I thought she’d be. From the outside, she looks untouchable. Like she has all the confidence and gives zero fucks about what anyone thinks. But underneath all of that, she’s just a regular girl who craves approval from the world. I want to be the one who tells her she’s enough.
“Let’s go over our game plan,” I say confidently. “We’ll get out and walk to the door. No hand holding yet. They know we’re coming, so they already have a private table reserved for us where the cameras can’t see. We’ll eat our dinner, then walk back out, hand-in-hand. That’s it. No big deal.”
She relaxes before nodding her head. “Yeah. Okay. Let’s do it.”
I give her one more quick peck on the lips, just because, before opening the car door. I step out first, holding my hand out to help her out of the seat. As soon as she’s standing, I drop her hand and shut the door. The flashes from the cameras almost blind me as we make our way toward the entrance. I know I’m supposed to keep my hands to myself until after dinner like Twyla said, but I can’t help myself. Placing my hand on the small of her back, I lead Bella the rest of the way down the sidewalk and open the door, ushering her inside.
Fuck, that was intense. And we haven’t even confirmed our relationship yet. I can’t imagine the pandemonium once we do.
“Mr. Moran. Miss Simon,” the hostess says as she grabs two menus and steps out from behind her desk. “Right this way.”
This is a pretty high-class place, but that doesn’t stop every patron in our path from gawking at Bella as we walk by. Just like Twyla said they would, some grab their phones and start typing away, no doubt alerting their friends and family of the fact that she’s here with me. Not gonna lie…I feel like beating on my chest with my fists. Bella Simon ismine. Even if it is all fake. They don’t know that.
The hostess walks us behind a partition that divides our table from the rest of the place and motions for us to sit. I pull out Bella’s chair, waiting for her to sit before I round the table and take my seat across from her. The hostess tells us our server will be right over before walking away. I immediately blow out a breath of relief. “Is it always like that?” I ask her.
She scoffs. “I wish. Twyla must’ve bribed the paps somehow for their silence. Normally, it’s complete chaos once word gets out that I’m going somewhere. I usually end up having to leave before I’m ready because it’s not safe.”
I can’t imagine dealing with that all the time. We deal with it to an extent, but it’s not even a fraction of what Bella goes through. Blizzard fans have no problem coming up to me and asking for an autograph or photo, but they’re cool with letting me go about my business once I give them what they want. I’ve never been forced to leave a place because of fans or cameras.
Just then, the server walks up beside us. “Hi. My name is Cassidy. I’ll be your server for the evening. Can I start you off with—with some drinks?” she stutters. She’s trying her best to keep her eyes from catching either of ours and I notice that she’s holding her pad so tightly, her knuckles are white. This girl can’t be more than seventeen.
“Hi, Cassidy,” Bella says cheerfully. “I’m Bella. It’s so nice to meet you.” The girl looks up at her, cheeks pink with embarrassment as a wide smile blooms across her face. “This is a beautiful restaurant. Have you worked here long?”
“I started about a month ago,” she says shyly. “My umm—my parents are the owners.”
Bella gives the girl a soft smile. “That’s really cool,” she says. “I’d love a memory from tonight. Would you mind posing for a photo with me?” The girl goes completely white, like she just saw a ghost.
“You want a picturewith me?” she asks, shocked.
“Yeah, if that’s okay,” Bella replies. “Mav, would you mind?” she says, handing me her phone.
I’m confused as fuck. But I take the phone from her extended hand as she stands up, putting her arm around the young girl. They both have big smiles on their faces as I snap the picture, handing Bella her phone back before we both take our seats. I stare in awe as she asks Cassidy for her Instagram, sends her a follow request, and DMs her the photo. The young server can barely contain herself.
“I should probably get your order in,” she says. “I’m sure you want to get back to your date.”
Bella looks at me. “Yeah, I do,” she replies, never taking her eyes off mine. I almost believe her for a second, she’s so convincing. I actually feel like she wants me with the way her heated stare is burning into my skin.
We give Cassidy our orders and she takes off, leaving us completely alone behind the partition. “What was the picture about?” I ask.
She smiles.She’s so fucking pretty. “I could tell when she walked up that she was a fan. I knew she wouldn’t ask for a photo, so I asked her for one instead. I just wanted to make her day.”
“You’re amazing, Bella. You know that?” It’s my turn to stare. Only I think I actuallydowant her. Shit, this wasn’t supposed to happen. I’ve only known Bella for less than a week and I’m already starting to feel things. Every day, I learn something else about her that I really like. But she’s impossible to read. I’m not sure if this is starting to turn into something real for her or if she’s just acting. I shouldn’t be worried about any of this. Twyla asked me to do this and I should be sticking to the plan.
Forty-five minutes later, I’ve paid for our meal and left a large tip for Cassidy. Bella makes sure to sign an autograph,leaving it on the table before we make our way to the door. She pauses for a moment, exhaling slowly before turning to me. We’re alone in the lobby, but the glass on the door is already showing me a preview of what awaits us outside. Paparazzi have lined the sidewalk along with at least fifty fans. It’s a small area, so they’re packed in tight next to one another as they wait for a glimpse of Bella Simon. Carlo, her driver and security guard, stands outside the door, ready to escort us to the car. I hate it. I want to be the one that protects her.
“Let’s do this, Songbird,” I say before grabbing her small hand in mine. I swing the door open, and all hell breaks loose. Cameras flash and fans start screaming as they all push their way toward us. Carlo has his arms wide, keeping them back so we can walk by. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.
Suddenly, we’re shoved from behind by the first row of people that were waiting for us as the ones behind them push forward to get a better view. Where I thought there were only fifty people, there were hundreds hiding off to the side. My only concern right now is getting Bella through this crowd safely. I pull her into my body, wrapping a protective arm around her as I push through. Fans are shouting at us so loudly; my ears are ringing by the time we make it to the car. Carlo has to push a few people back in order to open the door enough for me to help Bella inside, following her immediately.
As soon as the door closes, I have her face cradled in my hands, checking her for signs of distress. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” she says, looking a bit shocked. I don’t think she was expecting that mob of people any more than I was. “That was crazy.”
“That’s not normal, right?” I ask, relaxing into the seat now that I know she isn’t hurt or upset.
She sighs. “Sometimes. But I usually have more security when it’s a big group like that. I’m guessing my team didn’tanticipate that many people rushing over here in such a short amount of time. I hope it isn’t like that at the hotel.”
