Page 16 of Blindsided

“Veronica, I want to talk about my stalker. Have you found anything in the old letters?”

She sighs, the annoyance at my interruption clear. “No. You get thousands, Talia. It’s going to take time to go through them. Honey, the police are on top of things. It’s going to be fine.”

“But what will I do when we get home? I don’t feel safe in my home anymore, Veronica.”

“Then we’ll find you something else. I’ve always said your apartment wasn’t suited to your station.”

I shrug. “It was my first home in New York. I love it.”

“You’ll love the new place just as much. Promise.” She pats my hand. “Now, we’ve got the photoshoot with that up-and-coming designer, Malcolm Holmes, then we’re headed to Paris. I know it’s a few days early for fashion week, but you were invited to a couple of pre-parties that you need to be seen at.”

A couple of years ago, this schedule would have had me buzzing with excitement. Modeling in Paris’s fashion week? A dream come true. And don’t get me wrong, I am excited. Fashion week is always a blast. It’s also a shit ton of work. It’s long days and even longer nights of putting on a show for the world. It’s pretending to be this confident model everyone wants to meet.

In all reality, I lean more toward the nerdy couch potato with a book in her hand.

I’d much rather be watching a movie on Matthew’s comfy couch than partying all night with people who view drug use as recreational and not the addiction it is.

And yes, I’m pretending that I didn’t just think about hanging out at Matthew’s house. I’ve been pushing every single thought about him to the back of my brain. I just need a little more time to shove my crush back down where it belongs. Then everything will be fine again.

Veronica and I finish going over the rest of my schedule, and then I go back to my room. As I’m trying to decide what I’ll have for dinner, my phone buzzes with a text.

Matty: Holy hot sex scene, Batman. Why didn’t you warn me?

Me: It’s a romance novel! You even called it porn. What did you expect?

Matty: To not get a fucking boner during my lunch hour at work.

An inelegant snort comes out of me at Matthew’s text.

Me: You need to work on your poker face. I can read that shit with a straight face.

Matty: What I need is for these two to stop dancing around the fact that they’re in love with each other.

Me: Keep reading!

Matty: Bossy, bossy.

I never imagined I would be texting Matthew Ellis about romance novels. The man is full of surprises, and I can’t wait to see what he says next.

CHAPTER8

Matthew

Tilly: Have you mastered intercontinental coffee making yet?

Me: ????

Me: It’s like six in the morning. My brain doesn’t brain this early.

Tilly: I NEED your coffee like my life depends on it. Please? I’m on my knees and begging right now.

Me: Well, that’s a visual I didn’t know I needed this morning. *wink*

Me: I wish I could magic some over to you.

Tilly: Get your mind out of the gutter.

Me: Can’t. It’s perpetually stuck there. So, I’m guessing you’ve had a busy week.

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