Page 2 of The Fangirl and the Playboy

“I know,” I whisper, then shake myself.

God, what a freak.

“I mean, hey,” I say in a rush, then take a slow breath. “I’m Willow Bardin.”

“Cool name,” she says with a half-smile as her eyes travel down to my boy-band T-shirt and ripped jeans before snapping back up to my face. “So, is there anything fun to do in this town? I’ve been bored to tears every day after we finish filming, and I could use a night out.”

My mind goes blank as I just blink at her for several long beats. She opens her mouth to say something––probably to ask me if I’ve lost my marbles––but I snap out of my catatonic state and words pour from my lips without thought or purpose.

“There’s a bonfire tonight down at the lake. I’ll be there with my friends, but we’re all sixteen, and I know you’re eighteen, so hopefully we won’t seem lame like a bunch of kids, and––”

“Sounds fun,” she says firmly, effectively cutting off my word vomit. “Mind if I bring Gavin?”

My eyes dart past her to the tall, dark, and gorgeous-beyond-what-should-be-humanly-possible Gavin Reese, who seems to be running lines with a production assistant. My heart starts to pound against my ribs as I imagine meeting him, talking to him, and trying to be normal in his presence.

Julia clears her throat, and my gaze snaps back to hers. She has a knowing smile on her face, like she knows exactly the kind of meltdown my brain just suffered.

“Sh-sure,” I spit out. “Bring him along. Do you know how to get to the lake?”

“We’ll figure it out,” she says, then gives me a little wave. “See you tonight, Willow Bardin.”

“Bye, uh, Julia Warner,” I call out as she turns and walks away. Then under my breath, I hiss, “God, Willow, could you be any more idiotic?”

Julia looks back at me over her shoulder and shoots me a wink.

Oh, my God. Kill me now. She heard that, didn’t she?

I watch as she walks over to the perfection that is Gavin Reese. As she speaks to him, she jerks a thumb over her shoulder in my direction. I can’t hear what she’s saying, but Gavin’s gaze snaps past her to pin me on the spot.

If I was catatonic when Julia approached, I’m downright comatose when Gavin’s eyes land on me. I can’t move. Can’t breathe.

My heart is racing, and it feels like there’s a bazillion butterflies flapping their wings in my stomach.

He stares at me for another beat, then the moment is broken when he looks back at Julia and gives her a slight nod. She bounces on the balls of her feet once, then holds up a fist. Gavin curls his fingers and bumps his own fist against hers, and she walks away, leaving him standing there, staring at the ground.

As I watch, his head snaps back up, and he spears me with that dark gaze once again. My blood turns to lava, particularly in the area of my face and chest. Gavin jerks his chin upward, acknowledging me, and I gasp before quickly lifting my hand and waving back at him.

He smiles, and I’m dead. A goner. Put me in the ground and shovel dirt over my shriveling corpse.

Then I spin and, like a scared little rabbit, dart away.

“Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God,” I chant as my quick steps accelerate into a full-out run the second I’m out of sight of the movie set.

Gavin Reese knows I exist.

He and Julia Warner are coming to hang out with me and my friends tonight.

Holy crap.

I acted like a maniac when Gavin looked in my direction. What am I going to do if he actually talks to me?

ChapterTwo

Gavin

It feels strange to be in Evening Shade after all these years. The convention was wonderful and chaotic, and I could honestly feel the love from the fans. But now that it’s over, and I very publicly left town with Julia before sneaking back to hide out in the house I’ve rented for the next couple of weeks, I finally have time to justbe.

To think.

---