Noah and I race down the back alley just like the last time, except now, thereโs a heavy dread in the pit of
my stomach. If there are as many as Mabel says, it means theyโve had some kind of confirmation that Iโm here and they wonโt let up until theyโve gotten the pictures they want. Which reminds me.
โNoah,โ I say, tugging him to a stop. โYou canโt be seen with me. I need to take your truck by myself and you can get a ride with Annie.โ
His brows stitch together and his jaw tightens. โWhy?โ
I look down to where our hands are clasped together. โThis is why. If you donโt want your life to change, they canโt find us together.โ My voice shakes. โTheyโll take photos from a hundred different angles, and tomorrow morning, youโll be all over social media and tabloids.โ
I expect him to drop my hand. Iโm preparing for the loss of it. Instead, his grip tightens and he answers, โIโm going with you.โ
โNoah!โ
This time he breaks our hold and crowds me, cupping my jaw in his hands and looking fire into my eyes. โIโm not leaving you. I thought I could keep this temporary butโโ
He breaks off, shaking his head and kissing me hastily. Nearly painfully. Itโs the most exquisite torture. โI donโt want it to be over between us. Iย canโtย let it be over.โ
Iโm breathless with hope. โWhat are you saying?โ
โIโm saying fears be damned. I want a relationship if you do.โ
โI do!โ I say so fast he was barely able to finish his sentence.
โBut youโll have to be patient with meโโ โI will!โ
โโbecause itโs going to take some time for me to get used to the distance thing. And I still need to be around to take care of my grandma so I wonโt be able to visit you much.โ
I go up on my toes to wrap my arms around his neck. โWeโll figure it out. And Iโll give you so much patience, youโll be overwhelmed with how benevolent I am. But, Noah, are you sure? Just last nightโโ
This time he cuts me off. โLast night, I held you in my arms and realized Iโd be an idiot to ever let you go. Not only an idiot, but Iโd be miserable. I could never forgive myself for letting you get away.โ
I shake my head frantically, smiling and trying not to cry. โMr. Romantic.โ
โMr. Ridiculously Lucky.โ
โShush. I told you not to encroach on my nicknames.โ
He grins and his eyes lower to my mouth. โSo is that a yes? Youโll officially date this lowly pie shop owner?โ
โAs long as you never refer to yourself as that again, yes.
Absolutely times a million.โ
He kisses me once more and slides his hand up my arm before taking my hand and continuing our escape down the alley. โWeโll figure out the details when we get home.โ
Home.ย The sudden burst of joy I feel hearing that word nearly trips me.
But when Noah and I surface from the alley, we immediately realize our mistake. Somehow they knew this is where weโd end up, and all sorts of paparazzi and media are gathered in the parking lotโwaiting for us. My heart lurches and I try to turn back before they notice us, but Iโm not fast enough.
โThere she is!โ โRae Rose!โ
โRae, over here! Whoโs the guy?!โ
โIs it true youโve been having a love affair with a pie shop owner?โ
Theyโre all shouting and racing toward us. Noah grips my hand firmly and looks down at me. โWhat do you want me to do? Do we make a run for it?โ
I swallow and allow myself one second of anger before I train my face into an impassive expression for the flashing cameras. I cover my mouth and angle my face up to him so they canโt read my lips. โWe need to get to your truck. Donโt say a word to them other than asking them to move as we walk.โ I wish I could have had more time to prepare him for how to interact with the media, but thereโs no better way to learn than as you go, right?
Holding hands and keeping our gazes down, we walk toward his truck. But the paparazzi are hungry today and they form a barrier around us, taking advantage of my lack of security.
โExcuse me. Move. Let us through.โ Noah is doing a valiant job of trying to get me through the pressing maze of media, but theyโre not budging. I keep tugging on his hand because I can feel his rage building and Iโm afraid heโll do something rash like shove the guy whoโs currently putting
his camera about five inches from my face and yelling questions at me.
โWho are you with right now, Rae?โ Heโs so close I smell what he had for lunch.
โBack off,โ Noah barks at him, but he doesnโt relent.
โIs he your new boy-toy? Are you finally veering away from your rich and successful type?โ Heโs trying to provoke us into an answer, and I can feel that Noah is close to snapping.
Noah angles his shoulder in front of me so he can make better eye contact with the paparazzi. โI said back off and let us through.โ
All the others are closing us in as well, shouting questions and begging for a comment, but theyโre not asย in- our-faceย as this man. โSure thing, big guy. Just answer my question and Iโll back right off. What makes you think an average guy like you is good enough for a worldwide star like her? Care to comment?โ
Panic seizes me at his question. Iโve been cornered like this before in my career, and itโs terrifying each time, but Iโve never heard a paparazzi say something so cutting or intentionally insulting. Also, something about his question is niggling the back of my mind. Like Iโve heard it before.
Is this how it will always be for Noah? The media constantly reminding him of his place? This time itโs me who is about to snap. I ball my fistโto whatโpunch him? I think so, because in the next moment, Noah is covering my fist with his hand and when I look up at him, he shakes his head the tiniest bit.ย Donโt do it.
To make things worse, new voices enter the mix. โHey! Get away from them. Leave our girl alone!โ
I look over my shoulder to the sound of Mabel and Harriet, along with Phil and Todd yelling angrily at the
paparazzi.ย No, no, no.ย They need to go inside. Thereโs no reason anyone else should get dragged into this breach of privacy, but theyโre relentless until their voices are heard and half of the flashing cameras turn in their direction. This story is getting juicier and juicier for them by the minute.
But then two familiar blacked-out SUVs whip into the parking lot and blare their horns. As soon as they come to a stop, I see my usual bodyguards jump out and race toward the paparazzi, followed by Susan until theyโre at my side.
โAre you okay? Letโs get you out of here!โ she says, and my guards provide coverage for me and Noah as weโre guided through the crowd, pushing them back in the process.
Iโve never been so happy to see Susan and her jet-black bob in my entire life. I could kiss her matching pantsuit.
โGet back,โ Will, my head bodyguard, says forcefully and everyone complies because Will looks like a street fighter youโd never want to cross. He also makes the very best gingersnaps Iโve ever had and is a wizard with a travel sewing kit, but Iโm thankful this zoo of paparazzi doesnโt know that.
I jump in the SUV first, quickly followed by Noah. He settles close to me on the bench and puts his arms around me. I breathe in his comforting scent. โAre you okay?โ he whispers close to my ear.
โBetter question, are we okay?โ I ask, because Iโm terrified that Noah is rethinking everything after that run- in. That our relationship will go down in history as the shortest ever lived. I know he has all kinds of trust issues already, so Iโm afraid what that man said today is going to change his mind about us.
To my shock, he lets out a soft laugh through his nose and grins, kissing my forehead. โItโll take more than that to
get rid of me now. The only personโs opinion I care about is yours. If youโre still up for โdating an average man,โ I am still in.โ
I sag against him with relief just as Susan steps up into the SUV and takes the bench facing us. โAre you two all right? Youโre lucky we got here when we did.โ The door shuts and immediately the cries of the paparazzi are blessedly mu๏ฌed.
But when my eyes lock with Susanโs, realization knocks into me. I suddenly remember where Iโve heard that guyโs question before.
โSusan, whereโs Claire? Sheโs usually always with you.โ โOh.โ She pulls a face. โSadly, I had to let her go. Just
wasnโt doing her job well anymore.โ She shrugs, and a boulder settles in the pit of my stomach. Something is not right.
The ride home is quiet as we all settle and process. The other SUV hung back and blocked the exit of the parking
lot so we were able to make it to Noahโs without being followed. Will drops us off close to the front door, and then backs down the driveway again, angling the vehicle so that no one can enter the driveway if they find us. I should feel safer with my team around me again, but I donโt. At least not withย allย my team.
Noah and I are thinking in tandem. We both watch Susan closely as she pulls out her cell phone, registers the lack of service, and then tells us she needs to walk back down the driveway to give Will instructions. โGo ahead and pack your things, Rae. Weโre going to leave as soon as
possible so we can get you safely back in Nashville before they find you here.โ
She doesnโt wait for my answer because Susan is used to me complying without hesitation. When the door shuts behind her, I head into the kitchen where I pick up the phone and immediately dial my mom.
โDo you think Susanโs timely appearance was fishy, too?โ Noah asks.
โYep. And her assistant told me the other day that things are going on behind my back that I donโt know about. Itโs time to get some answers.โ
The phone rings several times and I bounce on my feet, anxious to talk to my mom before Susan returns. Noah tells me heโs going to step outside to give me privacy and keep Susan away for a few minutes.
Finally, my mom answers. โHello?โ โMom, itโs me.โ
Her voice is level ten cheery. โAmelia! Hi, sweetie! Itโs so good to hear from you. Whatโs going on? Iโm at the beach so you might not be able to hear me very well. Listen to this ocean today. Itโs roaring!โ
โNo, Mom. Iโโ
She removes the phone from her ear and is extending it toward the ocean. I know because it sounds like Iโm practically inside a wave. โMom!โ I yell a few times. โI need to ask you a question! Put the phone back on your ear!โ
โDoesnโt that sound amazing? Wish you were here. Oh, the sun is incredible today. And Ted is here, too! Do you want to sayโโ
I cut her off before she hands the phone off. โMom, this is important and Iโm in a hurry. Did you tip off anyone from the media to where I am staying right now?โ
I have never once confronted my mom after sheโs done this. In the past when Susan would tell me that she confirmed it was my mom leaking the stories, Iโve silently stewed and pulled further away from her. But now, I need to know.
The line goes silent. At first I think itโs because sheโs guilty, but when she speaks again, I realize that she sounds hurt instead. โNo. Of course not. Why would you think Iโd do that?โ I canโt answer right awayโtoo many responses are swirling around my head. But apparently my silence speaks volumes. โAmelia, I donโt know where this is coming from, but I swear to you, I would never sell a story about you to a magazine. Never in a million years.โ
My gut twists. I shut my eyes trying to sort this outโand all I keep coming back to is the fact that the aggressive paparazzo said nearly word for word the same thing Susan said to me over the phone a few days ago. It is possible that someone from the town called a magazine and told them where I am. Butโฆitโs rare for the media to all gather like they did today. Like it was organized and planned. Someone would have had to go through a lot of trouble to orchestrate the ambush todayโand I really donโt think anyone in this town would have done that to me. Thereโs only one person who has been upset by my time here in Rome and would want to smoke me out of hiding.
โMom,โ I say, swallowing against a suddenly dry throat. โWhy arenโt we close anymore?โ
I hear my mom release a sigh, and I think itโs one of relief. โI wish I knew. Iโve wanted to bring it up for a while now, but didnโt know how. Is it me? Did I do something? Because I want to know and make it right if I did.โ
I might have thought it was mostly her fault a few days ago, but now, I donโt think sheโs the only one to blame. I
should have spoken up long ago. Questioned my mom about the tabloid stuff instead of just blindly accepting everything Susan has ever told me. I wish I had fought for my relationship with my mom instead of quietly stepping back from it. Iโm finding my voice now, though. โI think we have a lot to talk about and sort through, but I canโt get into it all right now. I just need you to know, I miss you a lot. Andโฆโ My voice hitches. โI love you. I want to get back to the sort of relationship we used to have.โ
She breathes in deeply and then sni๏ฌes. โI want that, too. Yes, call me back when you can. Or we can FaceTime. Or Iโll fly to wherever you are. You name it! Iโm justโฆโ Sheโs cryingโI can hear it in her voice. โIโm happy you brought it up. Things have been so weird between us, and sometimes, Iโve wanted to call you and catch up, butโฆIโve chickened out because Iโve gotten the impression that you donโt want to talk to me anymore.โ
โThatโs because I thought you were selling stories about me to tabloids.โ As well as the constant money requests and mooching, but I donโt feel like now is the time to mention that. Not sure Iโm even ready to admit my feelings about it to her yet.
โNoโhon. Please believe me. I have never once contacted anyone from the media and tipped them off to anything about you. I love you too much to do something like that.โ
โI believe you,โ I tell my mom because I really do. I can hear the earnestness in her voice. Plus, too many other puzzle pieces are falling into place. โBut, Momโฆis there anyoneโeven a friend you might have told that Iโm in Rome, Kentucky, right now? Your boyfriend, maybe?โ
โNo, I havenโt even told him.โ She pauses a moment. โButโฆactually. I did tell someone.โ
โWho?โ
โSusan,โ she says, and it makes my pulse jump. โWhen I called her to help me set up the flight, she told me how worried she was about you and afraid something terrible had happened since you hadnโt checked in. She asked if Iโd heard anything and so I told her what town you were in because she sounded really freaked out. Was that wrong? You normally tell Susan everything.โ She sounds so concerned. History suggests that sheโs only showing this worry because sheโs afraid Iโm going to cut her off financially. But in light of everything Iโm learning today, I wonder if thatโs not true. I wonder if some of the wedge between my mom and me only exists because of the woman Iโve given too much power over my life.
Thereโs no time to answer her question. I have a few more that need answers first. โMom, a few years ago, for your forty-fifth birthday, did Susan ever send a car to pick you up for the surprise weekend away I planned for you?โ
โWhat?โ She breathes out. โNo. I had no idea you did that. In fact, I thought you forgot about my birthday that year.โ
I see red. Susanโs fingerprints are all over my relationship with my momโand although itโs my fault for delegating so much to that woman, I thought she was a safe place. Turns out, she sabotaged my relationship with my mother. How could Susan do that to me?
โI actually had planned a fun getaway for us, and Susan told me when I sent a car for you that you declined, sayingย youย already had plans with your friends.โ
โOh, Amelia. You must have been so hurt.โ
I laugh but itโs not in amusement. โYou must have been, too.โ
โWellโฆโ She lets it dangle.
My mom and I still have so much to talk through, and I need her to understand that only contacting me when she needs something has been hurtful. But first, I want to hear her side. Maybe Iโm not seeing the whole picture after all. Maybe she has been reaching out and Susan has been getting in the wayโmaking a point to tell me when my mom asks her for something so sheโll look worse.
โSusan also told me you declined my invitation to join me for the first few U.S. dates of the tour. Was that true?โ
โAbsolutely not. I would love to come to those concertsโ she never called me.โ
I feel like I could punch through a wall right now. A Susan-shaped wall.
โMom, Iโm so sorry. I thinkโฆugh, I think this is my fault. Iโve let Susan have too much power in my life, andโฆIโm pretty sure sheโs been purposely getting between us.โ
Now I think back to all the times Susan encouraged me to not confront my mom, but to just cut off communication with her, and I want to scream. How could I not see it? How could I let so many years go by like this without my mom? I had completely gone to sleep on my own life. Not anymore.
โOh, honโitโs not all your fault. I should have questioned things, too. Reached out to you even when it was hard. Iโm so sorry, Amelia.โ
โItโs okay, Mom. Weโll figure it out. Iโve got to go, right now. But Iโll call you tomorrow and we can talk through some more of this. Oh, and youโre absolutely invited to those concerts, okay? I want you thereโI love you.โ
โI love you, too, Rae-Rae.โ My heart cracks openโbut this time with hope. Maybe my relationship with my mom isnโt so far gone as I thought.
I hang up at the exact moment that Susan walks through the front door, Noah hot on her heels.
โWhatโs going on here?โ she says, looking over her shoulder at Noah. The sharp edge of her bob whips her jawline. โWhy was he trying to keep me out of here?โ
โYouโre the one responsible for the paparazzi showing up today, arenโt you?โ I ask Susan as she walks in.
Sheโs so stunned by my accusation that her purse falls off her shoulder and hits the floor. After blinking several times, she clears her throat and bends gracefully to retrieve her purse. โIโm going to pretend you didnโt just throw that horrible accusation at me, and instead, help you get packed like we discussed.โ
โYou discussed it, not me. And Iโm not leaving.โ I say this calmly, while anger pulses through my veins. Noah steps past Susan and crosses the room to stand beside me, putting his hand on my low back. Itโs such a supportive gesture without trying to handle anything for me that it jostles the release mechanism on my tears.ย Not now, emotions.
Susanโs eyes drop to where Noah is touching me and she sighs with annoyance. โLet me guess. He is the one who planted this idea in your head?โ She scoffs. โSo typical. Rae, open your eyes and see that heโs not right for you. In fact, have you stopped to think that maybe heโs the one who told the photographers where to find you? Or maybe that money-sucking mother of yours. We both know that sheโโ
โEnough.โ My voice is sharp as the crack of a whip. โI just got off the phone with my mom. It wasnโt her. In fact, itโs never been her, has it? Youโve been leaking stories about me to the tabloids for years and using my mom as your scapegoat. Also, how many of thoseย money-sucking requestsย you tell me she makes actually come from her?โ
โThis is ridiculous. Youโre going to trust your momโthe one whoโs been using you for yearsโover me?โ
โYes.โ My reply comes instantly and Susan looks like I just impaled her. Noah presses lightly against my back. Quiet solidarity. โI know it was you, Susan, and now I know youโre responsible for so much more than I ever realized, so you can cut the shit. And thanks to finally talking to my mom about all this, I know that youโve been meddling in our relationship and purposely not relaying messages and making up lies instead.โ I shake my head at how obvious it seems to me now.
Susan crosses her arms and I have the strongest urge to push them back down by her sides, because thatโs Noahโs Surly Pose and she has no right to it. โYouโre wrong. Your mom is the one who continues to lie and let you down. Iโve always been the one to take care of you.โ
โNo, Susan. Youโre fired.โ The words glide right off my tongue, and suddenly, I feel lighter than Iโve ever felt before. Like my feet might lift off the ground.
Susanโs mouth falls open. โYouโve got to be kidding me?โ Her eyes bulge. โI have done nothing but bend over backward for you the last ten years! I have gotten you the best gigs. Major deals on your contracts. The best endorsements. I have single-handedly grown your career, and you wouldnโt be anywhere right now if it wasnโt for me!โ
โIf you had truly cared about me, you would have been looking after my well-being, too. Noticing that you were working me into the ground. That I was so lonely without my mom. But instead, you were so consumed with making more money that you just used me. You used me and you pushed the most important person in the world away from me.โ
She stares at meโno, glares at meโfor two beats. Her eyelids are twitching from withheld rage. โItโs him, isnโt it? Is he pressuring you into this? Heโs brainwashing you into thinking Iโm the problem.โ Sheโs grasping at straws, but itโs too late. I can see the truth perfectly now.
โStop. You need to go.โ
Susanโs lips tremble but not from tears. Itโs pure anger. โYouโre making a mistake.โ
I shrug. Even if I am (which Iโm not), itโs my mistake to make. It feels incredible to allow myself to follow my gut again. โThis is your thirty-day notice since thatโs what is in our contract. But consider it a paid vacation because I donโt want to see or hear from you over the next thirty days or thereafter.โ
She grips the strap of her purse so tightly, her knuckles go white. โIโll leave, but you need to know that youโre wasting your life out here, and that manโโshe spits those last two words while nodding in disgust toward Noahโโwill only bring you down just like your mom was doing. Believe it or not, what I did today was for your own good.โ
โSo youโre admitting to being behind the paparazzi ambush today?โ
Susan takes a second to think it over, and when she decides she has nothing left to lose, she nods. โYeah. I did. And Iโd do it again in a heartbeat because I could tell you had deluded yourself into thinking this place could be your new home. It never will, Rae, because your life and his life donโt mix.โ I grit my teeth against her words. โSo I brought what would have inevitably happened anyway to you a little soonerโwas that really so wrong? Was it so terrible to force some space between you and your mom who were so obnoxiously inseparable? I mean for shitโs sake, Rae, you were attached to that womanโs hip when I found you. You
always listened to her advice over mine, and she held you back. So yes, I meddled a little, but it was necessary to help you achieveย yourย dreams.โ
I take one step toward her. โGet out.โย Before I throw something at you.
Her nostrils flare once, and then she turns around, chin held high as she leaves the kitchen.
โActually, wait, Susan!โ She turns around hesitantly. โSend me Claireโs number the moment youโre back in service. Iโll be hiring her immediately as my own assistant.โ I have no doubts now that Claire was fired because of what she uncovered about Susan. And I could really use her help now as I begin the process of finding a new manager before the tour starts.
Susan rolls her eyes and then walks away, muttering, โGo to hell, Amelia,โ before the door shuts behind her.
Well, at least I know sheย doesย remember my name.
And then sheโs gone. Only when I see her disappear past the window do I spin around and sag right into Noahโs chest. He wraps his sturdy arms around me and holds me close, pressing his lips to the top of my hair. โYou were incredible.โ
Iโm trembling now and my legs feel like theyโre going to give out. The adrenaline is wearing off and Iโm left feeling raw.
โIโve got you,โ Noah says, scooping me up and carrying me back to his bed where he lays me down gingerly.
โSheโs wrong, you know?โ I say, looking up at him with wide eyes. โWeโre going to be great together.โ
He tucks a blanket around me and kisses my forehead, lips lingering in a soft, delicate press. โI know.โ
Noah climbs on the bed beside me. He sits upright against the headboard and retrieves a book from his side
table, and then he does the most incredible thing: he reads aloud to me. All week Iโve asked him to and he said no. But now he is, and his voice is rumbly and comforting in the most perfect way.
My heart quivers and I press a kiss to the outside of his bicep. His eyes glide like a smooth caress over my face and my hair and my neck until he focuses his gaze on the book again and continues reading aloud from his boring, nonfiction biography. Itโs wonderful. I wouldnโt change a thing.
We have so much to talk about, so many decisions to make, but instead, I let myself rest in this moment and lean my head back against the pillow, smiling as I run my fingers up and down his arm while he reads.
Maybe he wonโt have to have a Gregory Peck face after all?
