Page 28 of Yellow
I lifted my hands in a gesture silently saying, “What?” and in return she gave a pout before she got in on the passenger side.
“A gentleman would open the door for me,” she scolded.
“I thought you said you were strong and capable; so why would you need me to open doors for you?”
“I don’t. It’s just that I appreciate men with good manners.”
Revving up the motor, I put the truck in gear. “Don’t confuse me with one of your suitors, okay?”
She turned her head looking out the window. “My suitors…” she muttered.
“Oh, I’m sorry, should I say your fans?”
“I don’t date my fans.”
“Who do you date then? Except for crazy guys like Niko?” I regretted saying it the moment it left my lips. People came to me to feel better – not to be judged. I could hardly recognize this juvenile, immature part of me.
Chloe didn’t answer but kept her gaze fixed on the road.
“How long were you with him?” I asked, and this time more sympathetically.
“Two years.”
“And before him?”
She leaned her elbow on the window frame and rested her head in her hand. “I’ve mostly dated other celebrities.”
“All men?”
That question made her turn her head and give me a puzzled expression. “Maybe you’re on to something. Maybe I should consider being with a woman instead of a man. Let me think about that.”
I laughed. “If you came out as a lesbian, your male fans would collectedly grieve for weeks.”
“Why?”
“Didn’t they vote you in as the sexiest woman alive or something?” I said and cringed inwardly when my tone came out laced with irony.What is it about this woman that brings out the worst in me?
“Oh, that. It’s just a title, really,” she said. “I’m pretty sure if any of my fans could see me like this, they would strip me of that title at once.”
“See you like what? What do you mean?” I asked.
She pointed up and down her body. “Like this, Adam. Without the make-up and the sexy clothes.”
“You still have make-up on. I saw you put that stuff on your lips and eyelashes.”
“Lip gloss and a bit of mascara hardly counts.”
“Some men would prefer you like that.”
She scoffed. “Yeah, right.”
“It’s true. Not every guy prefers women with heavy make-up. Some of us like natural beauty.”
She shook her head and obviously didn’t believe me.
About two miles from the cabin my phone started beeping.
“Ahhh… you have a connection to civilization,” Chloe said dryly. “You have no idea how much I miss my phone. I only have this basic model that my sister Faith gave me. I can’t read mail or go on social media.”
