Page 320 of How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother
“Flowers,” she shoots back.
“Okay. What kind?”
She purses her lips. “Yellow ones are nice.”
“They are,” I agree. “But not nice enough to justify you stalking an innocent man just because he has a job that makes him famous.”
“I thought you didn’t like him,” she says sulkily. “Now you’re defending him?”
I lean against the sink, arms folded across my chest. “I’m defending his right tonotbe accosted at local businesses just because you’ve seen him in a movie. That’s different from his ridiculous need to have seventy-five acres ofprivacy.” I load my plate into the dishwasher, then move back to the table to gather the rest of the dishes.
“So whatareyou going to do about the squirrels?” Lucy asks. “Are you sure they’re only living on his land?”
“Not necessarily. But so far, that’s the only place I’ve seen them. I could start asking around, see if anyone else nearby has seen anything. But considering the proximity of his land to the Henderson County border, and assuming that’s where they’re coming from, his property makes the most sense.”
“Will you try to go back?” Summer asks.
“I have to,” I say, a little too quickly. I temper the vehemence in my voice. “It’s my only option if I want to see how many squirrels there are and start tracking their movements.”
Summer’s expression immediately shifts from starry-eyed fangirl to grumpy, stern lawyer. Apparently, loitering at the Feed ’n Seed isnotin the same arena as actual trespassing. “Audrey, a man like that has a lot of money to fight legal battles. He let you go this time, but who’s to say he will next time if you trespass again? Especially if you no longer have the support of your university behind your efforts.”
Spoken like a true assistant to the district attorney.
I purse my lips to the side. Her reasoning is sound. If Flint Hawthorne were to actually press charges, my university wouldn’t back me for a second. In fact, I’d probably lose my job, though, if that’s going to happen anyway, what do I truly have to lose?
“Trespassing only carries a fine.Maybecommunity service,” I reason. “It’s not like I’d actually go to jail.”
“Youabsolutelycould go to jail,” Summer says. “Your sentence would be at the discretion of the judge, and with someone like Flint Hawthorne on the other side of the courtroom, I’m not sureanyjudge in Silver Creek would opt for leniency. It would only invite other creepers to Flint’s property, make them think that if you got away with it, they could too.”
“But I’m not a creeper,” I say.
“Tell it to the judge, honey,” Summer says.
I sigh, suddenly ready for this conversation—for my entire day—to be over. I move toward the hallway that leads to my bedroom. “I’m going to take a shower.”
“Audrey,” Summer calls, and I turn around, one hand propped on the door jamb. “Just be careful,” she finishes. “No squirrel is worth losing your job.”
What job?I think to myself, but if I complain any more than I already have, one of them will inevitably tell Mom and Dad, and the next thing I know, my parents will be racing up from Floridato plant their RV right in the middle of my driveway,just in caseI happen to need them.
I love my parents. I do. But this isn’t a problem they, or my sisters, can solve.
Finally alone in my bathroom, I turn on my shower and drop onto the closed toilet seat to wait for the water to warm up. I turn on my favorite classical playlist, then tap my phone against my knee.
I don’treallycare that Flint Hawthorne is a movie star. I didn’t care when I met him earlier, and I don’t care now. But my sisters have made me curious.
I open Google and search for a celebrity’s name—something I have literally never done before.
Oh my.
There are a lot of hits.
I click over to images.
And so. many. pretty. pictures.
Flint posing with his shirt off.
Flint on the beach.
