Page 384 of How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother
When it’s just me, I don’t worry. I smile. Maybe even sign a few autographs. But this time? All I want to do is move. Get out of here as quickly as I can and keep Audrey safe.
Audrey is all tension. Her shoulders are tight, her steps stiff. Her hand is gripping mine so tightly, I can’t even feel my fingers anymore. We’re about to exit the terminal, and the crowd outside security will be much larger than the one here, where we’re only dealing with ticketed passengers who happen to recognize me.
Out there? We’ll find the people whocamefor me.
I have no idea how many other photographers Simon tipped off, but word tends to travel fast. And if anyone who saw us on earlier flights posted on social media, it won’t just be photographers who are waiting, but fans. I’ll never understandthe lengths people will go to, researching flights, scouring the internet for any random mention that might give someone a clue about where and when I’m going to show up somewhere.
Audrey stumbles beside me, tugging at my hand just in time for me to reach over and stop her before she hits the ground. “Are you okay?” I steer her over to the wall, and Nate quickly steps up behind us, creating some semblance of a barrier between us and the passing crowd.
Audrey nods, even as she lifts her free hand, holding it up in between us. It’s trembling like a leaf in the wind. “Sure. Totally fine.”
I grab her hand and pull it to my lips, kissing it once, then again.
I never should have asked her to do this. “Hey.” I drop her hands in favor of cradling her face, urging her to look right into my eyes. “It’s going to be okay. Breathe with me.” She nods, and together we take a slow, deep breath. “I’ve got you,” I say. “I’m not going to let anything happen.”
“Okay,” she whispers. “Okay.”
We’ve only made it fifty feet outside security before the voices start. At first, it’s just people calling my name. Then the questions start.
Flint, who’s your friend?
New girlfriend, Flint?
Are you cheating on Claire?
How long have you been together?
What does Claire think about you dating someone new?
I look for Jasper in the crowd and immediately spot his trademark bright red baseball cap. We make eye contact, and I slow, leaning down to whisper in Audrey’s ear. “Look up and to the left just for a second,” I say.
She does, and hopefully that means Jasper gets a shot of us both.
The crowd moves with us as we make it outside, closing in, despite Nate’s attempts to keep everyone back. Now, people are yelling questions at Audrey.
What’s your name, sweetheart?
How did you and Flint meet?
Have the two of you slept together yet?
I hear her gasp after this question, and I tighten my grip on her hand, tugging her into my side and wrapping an arm around her waist. “Just ignore them,” I say close to her ear. “We’re almost there.”
Kenji is waiting in a dark SUV at the curb, just like Joni said he would be. He jumps out as we approach and opens the door, tilting his body to create as much of a shield as he can. With him on one side and Nate on the other, we’re able to slip into the car with relative ease. It’s hard to believe, but Kenji is even bigger than Nate. He’s got the shoulders of an NFL linebacker, but he’s got as much aggression in his entire body as I have in my pinky finger. I’ve never seen the man get ruffled. It’s why I like working with him so much. He just takes everything in stride. Once we’re inside the car, Kenji jumps in behind us as Nate moves back into the crowd to find Joni and retrieve our luggage.
Audrey exhales, her shoulders sagging into the seatback. “That was insane,” she says.
“More insane than usual,” I agree. I look at Kenji. “What’s going on today?”
“You’re going on, man,” he says easily. “Some big-time influencer posted a picture of you two snuggled up on the airplane, and it only took about five seconds to go viral.” He leans over me and extends a hand to Audrey. “I’m Kenji. Nice to finally meet you.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you,” she says.
Kenji lifts his expression to me, an eyebrow cocked. “Don’t worry. I only told her that you’re bigger than a tree but sweeter than a kitty cat. I didn’t reveal any of your scariest secrets.”
Kenji shrugs. “Just so long as you remember that no matter how much dirt you have on me, I willalwayshave more on you.” He pulls up his phone and navigates toPeoplemagazine’s website. The headline is big and bold, in bright red letters.Flint Hawthorne in Love?“If you wanted the world to know you have a girlfriend who isn’t Claire McKinsey? Well, you’ve done it.”
Kenji’s tone isn’t exactly judgmental, but it doesn’t need to be. He was never in favor of this whole scheme, not from the first time Simon mentioned it.
