Page 58 of How to Kiss a Movie Star
“Wait, they think I’m Claire?” Flint and I didn’t talk about that potential assumption, but it makes sense. You can’t see my face. If the woman in his pictures could be anyone, why not Claire McKinsey?
“He makes it clear in the caption he’s with someone from home,” Lucy says. “And there are already a billion replies to that one comment saying it’s absolutelynotClaire in the photo.”
Still, I feel like Flint needs to know evenoneperson is making the assumption. I grab my phone from where it’s charging on the nightstand and send him a quick text.
Audrey:So, I know you said not to read the comments, and I’m not. But my sisters are, and they say people are speculating about whether the woman in the photos is Claire. Is that a reason to worry?
His response comes through almost immediately.
Flint:People will speculate about everything. But we’ve added an element of doubt. That should be enough to keep the story under control.
Audrey:Okay. I won’t worry if you aren’t worried.
Flint:I’m not worried.
Flint:But Audrey? Don’t even let your sisters read the comments.
Audrey:Clearly, you don’t know my sisters.
Flint:Then don’t let them read any of them to you. Promise me?
I look up at my sisters who are both staring at Summer’s phone like vultures hovering over a dead raccoon on the highway.
“Okay,” I say. “Time for bed.” I stand up and usher them toward the door.
“No, no, wait, you need to hear this one!”
“I don’t need to hear anything,” I say. “I promised Flint I wouldn’t read them, and that means not letting you read them either. At least not to me.” Well, Iwillpromise Flint. Just as soon as my sisters have left me alone.
Summer clutches her phone to her chest. “He made you promise? That’s so sweet.”
I nudge Lucy’s shoulder, making her walk backward to the door. “I guess if you can text theactualcelebrity, there’s less thrill in reading comments about said celebrity,” Lucy says.
“Exactly. So if you’llexcuseme, I’m going to text him right now.”
They pause in my doorway, twin images of wide-eyed wonder. “I can’t believe this is your life,” Lucy says.
I smile and start to close the door, pushing gently until they finally get out of the way and I hear the click of the latch. “Goodnight!” I call through the door, locking it for good measure.
Back on my bed, I snuggle under the covers and pull up the text thread to Flint. He texted again in the time it took to kick my sisters out of my room.
Flint:Audrey? Don’t make me come over there and talk to your sisters myself.
Audrey:They would be thrilled if you did. But all is well. I kicked them out. And I promise—I won’t let them read me any more comments.
Flint:You really don’t have your own Instagram account?
Audrey:I really don’t. I’ve never felt like I needed one.
Flint:How do you stay in touch with people? Keep up with what everyone is doing?
Audrey:I’m sure it will shock you, but as someone who mostly prefers the company of wild animals to people, I haven’t exactly accumulated a lot of people to keep up with.
Flint:Come on. Everyone has people.
Audrey:I have my sisters. But I live with them, so I don’t need to follow them on social media.
Flint:But you have TikTok, right? To follow your parents?
