She Signed Up to Win Her Ex, Then Was Paired With Her First Love novel · Chapter 17 of 24

Chapter 17: Declined

I woke up in Keith's bed with the sun in my face and his arm heavy across my ribs.

For a minute I let myself stay.

Then my phone buzzed on the floor, and it was Pia: "Press brunch at noon. Hotel on Sunset. Wear armor."

Vera and Ashton had flown back at dawn.

They were both at the hotel when Keith and I walked in, at a long table under a chandelier, with eighteen reporters and four cameras and a tray of tiny pastries nobody was eating.

"There she is," Vera said brightly, and stood to hug me.

She smelled like vanilla.

She whispered in my ear, "You look so rested, hon," and held on a beat too long.

We sat.

Keith took the chair beside mine, and his knee found my knee under the tablecloth and stayed.

A reporter in a green blazer was already leaning forward.

"Mara, the trailer has been out two days. How are you feeling?"

I opened my mouth, and Vera put her hand on my wrist.

"She's been through so much," Vera told the table. "I'm worried about her. We all are."

Her eyes were wide and kind.

"She's been alone in that house, and I think she's seeing things that aren't there. I've said to Keith, someone should check on her."

The reporter wrote this down.

A second one asked, "Seeing things like what?"

"Oh, I wouldn't want to say," Vera said, and leaned in. "She believes people are watching her. Recording her. She's very frightened."

Under the table, Keith's knee pressed hard against mine.

I looked at Vera, and I smiled.

It was the first real smile I'd given her.

"You're right," I said. "I've been very frightened."

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