Page 57 of Sunrise

"Do you two plans to do the long-distance thing when you get back to Hollywood?" Ned asks, his eyes still on the paper in front of him, so I know he doesn't see Kade stiffen.

"We've talked about it, but we'll see where it goes when the time comes." I hear myself answering but don't realize I've said the words because my mind is racing.

The last questions make me choke up. I know all this has to come to an end, but the thought of him leaving and going back to California is almost more than I can take right now. Thankfully, the interview ended after that.

As I step out into the fresh air and with the warm sun on my face, I start to feel a bit better. Kade takes my hand and smiles.

"Why don't we go get a donut? I could use some sugar after that," he says.

We have a few hours before the video interview, so I agree. The moment we round the corner to Main Street, the buzz picks up, and everyone is looking at us.

"Smile." Kade leans over and whispers in my ear before kissing my forehead.

I look up at him, and then I do smile because the smile on his face is contagious. Several church ladies walk by us and pat my arm, telling me how cute he is or congratulating me for landing such a “big whale in a small town." That last one I know is a veiled Southern insult, but it's okay. I know it's from a place of jealousy.

Before we even make it to the bakery, Jessica steps in front of us with a catty smile on her face.

"Great," I mumble under my breath but plaster on that smile.

"Kade, this is Jessica. Brynn and I went to school with her," I tell him.

Kade squeezes my hand like he catches on to my less than enthusiastic greeting. He doesn't let go of my hand to shake hers, but just pulls me in closer.

"I loved your last movie," Jessica purrs, placing a hand on Kade's arm and not missing a beat.

Kade steps back just enough so her hand falls from his arm. She gives him a little pout. The kind you know she's stood in front of a mirror for hours practicing.

"I can show you around town if you'd like. I know all the hidden local places." She tries to rest her hand on Kade's arm again, which he expertly avoids.

I try not to snicker, but I whisper his way. "It's not her fault she wasn't raised right." I guess I was a bit too loud because her eyes narrow on me.

"Well, I think we should leave that to my girlfriend, don't you? Besides, Lin has done an amazing job showing me around so far." He turns his blinding front cover, panty-dropping smile on me, and my insides turn to goo, and I couldn't form a full sentence if I tried.

Jessica turns and eyes me up and down.

"I hope you kept the receipt for that top." She smirks.

I know this game. I learned it well growing up in the South. When the mean girls can't get what they want, they attack you in any way possible, starting with trying to steal your boyfriend. And when that doesn't work, they attack your appearance. It should bother me, but then I just remind myself Kade is giving me orgasms and not her, and I don't care. But I have a few of my own retorts tucked away.

"Honey, I just hope you don't catch pneumonia in those shorts. They sure look... breezy." I purse my lips and shake my head in fake concern over her shorts that are so short the bottom of her butt cheeks are hanging out, and you can see the bottom of her pockets. Which really, why is that a trend?

Her eyes snap up to me, and Kade bites his lip, trying not to laugh.

When Jessica sees this, she stomps her foot. "Grrr." She growls, then stalks away.

A few people within hearing distance of us have big smiles on their faces, and I just shake my head. When I look at Kade, we both bust out laughing.

"I'll take a shot of whiskey with my donut now." I sigh.

"If we didn't have another interview this afternoon, I'd make that happen," Kade says.

He wraps an arm around my waist and leans in, giving me a chaste kiss before leading me into the bakery. They are already talking about Jessica's failed flirting attempt, and they don't try to hide it from us. We just get our donuts and slowly make our way back to my car in the newspaper parking lot.

"One more interview. Are you ready?" Kade asks.

"Ready as I'll ever be, I guess."

Chapter 26

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