Whatever he decided, I’d support him. After all, I wanted nothing but the best for my…friend.
Chapter
Eight
Skylar
“Heyyyy sexy,”I said as Ego climbed into my car.
He chuckled that deep, rich, beautiful sound that had the masses dropping to their knees in worship. “Shut the fuck up, man.”
Putting a hand to my chest, I batted my eyelashes at him. “But I’m just so honored to be in your presence. You’reEgo.” I fanned myself.
He took off the baseball cap and sunglasses he’d been wearing in an attempt to disguise himself and groaned. The lack of colorful makeup he usually wore helped, too. “I don’t need any of that from you.”
“Tell the truth.” I poked him in the side. “How far did you make it on the train before someone recognized you?”
He slumped back into the seat, closing his eyes. “Five minutes. Then I spent the next two hours signing autographs, taking pictures, and begging people to say that they saw me somewhere, anywhere, other than the train coming here.”
“I told you to have a car service bring you down.”
“I know, and you were right. I just wanted to experience it, you know? See the view and all that shit.” He sighed, rolling his head toward me and opening his eyes. “You look good, Skylar. Healthy. The fresh air must really be doing you some good.”
I gasped. “What does that mean? I always look good. And healthy? What am I, a horse?”
He laughed, and I stuck out my tongue at him. “It really is good to see you.”
Reaching over, I grabbed his hand and squeezed. “You, too. I’m happy you’re here. You’ve needed a place to escape.”
“You didn’t tell anyone, right? That we’re?—”
“Cousins?” I giggled. “Nope. I want to see if anyone realizes.”
“I can’t believe you never told Chance we were related. He’s your bestie.”
“Have you ever told anyone?”
He scoffed, affronted. “Of course not.”
“Of course not. We agreed to keep it to ourselves for a reason. Chance knows what a piece of work my dad is, and you’ve worked hard to hide your past from the world.” I squeezed his hand one more time. “If and when you want to tell any of my friends we’re related, I have no problems with that, but I will forever keep that secret for you.”
“Thank you. You’re the only person I can trust with everything. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
The words were right, but the sad loneliness lurking in the depths of his fathomless orbs hurt my heart. He’d been through too much in his life, more than anyone should ever have to bear. I’d hoped his fame would help heal some wounds, but it didn’t look like it. Hopefully, his new sanctuary in Willowhope would soothe his soul the way it had mine.
“You ready to see your new place, Ego?”
“Ah. No. Stop. When we’re alone, you have to call me something else. Anything else.”
Anything but the name his parents had given him went unsaid. It was a family name, one that had only ever meant pain and suffering to him. “Okay, snot-nozzle,” I said playfully.
He shrugged. “Believe me, anything sounds better than Ego all drawn out like a love letter.”
“Well, when you’ve bewitched the masses.”
“Ugh. I know. I’m so grateful to my fans, but…”
Pulling out of the parking lot to head down Main Street, I said, “But you need a break. You need to not be this alter-ego you’ve created.”
