Page 338 of How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother
I push my hands into my pockets and turn to face her, shrugging in acknowledgment.
Joni presses her palm to her chest. “Does she know?”
I huff out a laugh. “No. I—no.She’s clearly not interested.”
“What makes you say that?”
“I’ve seen her three days this week, and I’ve tried to talk to her every time. She’s polite, but otherwise, she’s totally indifferent. If I talk to her, she talks back. That’s pretty much it.”
Joni stares. “That’s it? That’s all you have to go on?”
“That feels like more than enough.”
“Flint. Just because she isn’t fawning all over you doesn’t mean she isn’t interested. She’s a guest when she’s here, which means she’s probably trying to be respectful of your time and not demand any unnecessary attention. Anything more than that might seem presumptuous, and I get the sense Audrey isnotthe presumptuous type.” She tucks a strand of platinum hair behind her ear and scoots forward on her seat. “I’m not saying shedoeslike you,” she says. “But Iamsaying you might have to give her a little more to go on if you want her to know youdolikeher.”
“Something like asking her to fly to Los Angeles and attend a movie premiere as my date?”
Joni shrugs. “It can’t hurt to try.”
“And you think this would actuallyhelpmy cause if I want Audrey to like me? Exposing her to the press, the fans, the relentlessly rude paparazzi? This will sell her on the benefits of being with someone like me?”
“Well, when you say it like that, it sounds like a terrible idea. But Flint, that’s not all your life is. It’s a pretty small part, actually. And if she just gets to know you, she’ll be willing to deal with all the attention and drama.”
“Or she won’t,” I shoot back. “And then what?”
Joni’s shoulders fall, and she frowns. “I guess that’s true,” she relents. “But if she’s scared off by a single movie premiere,honey, she’s not the woman for you anyway. Maybe this will be a good test.”
I rub a hand across my forehead, suddenly feeling so tired. “I don’t want a test. I want a normal relationship.”
“I know you do,” she says, her tone gentle. “But Flint, you haven’t had a normal life in years.”
I leave the window and drop onto the couch beside Joni with a weary sigh.
She’s at least right about that much.
Without saying anything, Joni slides her iPad onto my lap. There’s a long list of bullet points on the screen. “Just look it over,” she says. “Give it some thought.”
I sigh and pick up the iPad.
The plan isn’t complicated. We would start with a couple of photos on my Instagram account of me and Audrey hanging out around the house, maybe swimming in the pool, but the photos wouldnotshow Audrey’s face. She would just be an unidentified woman spending time with me. Over the next few weeks, up until the premiere, I’d post a few more times, making it clear I’m seeing someone, still without revealing Audrey’s identity.
I like this part of the plan because it will keep Audrey out of the limelight as long as possible. Her life will continue as normal—something that wouldn’t happen if the photos were to give any hint as to who she is. The internet wouldn’t need more than her face to dig up everything there is to know about her.
Finally, Audrey would attend the premiere with me, and we would act very much like a couple.
“Who knows?” Joni says as I hand her back the iPad. “Maybe after spending all this time together, you won’t even have to fake it on the red carpet. You can justbea couple.”
“You know, when I moved back to North Carolina, I thought I was leaving all the Hollywood drama behind,” I say.
“Claire’s too persistent to just let you go, Flint,” she says. “But I really think this plan will work. And it’s so much better than Simon’s idea.”
“What’s better than Simon’s idea?” Nate asks as he ambles into the room. He hands Joni a plate holding the most beautiful tomato sandwich I’ve ever seen. “I brought you dinner.”
“Did that tomato come out of my garden?” I ask, my stomach rumbling loud enough for both of them to hear.
Nate lifts an eyebrow. “Maybe?”
Joni takes a huge bite. She lets out a groan while she chews. “Oh my gosh, this is delicious.” She grabs Nate’s shirt and tugs him down for a kiss. “Thank you,” she says, and I look away. Sometimes the two of them are sweet. Sometimes they’re completely ridiculous.
