Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 125213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
“It’s not unimportant — but then again, I did have you to cheat off of, so there was less pressure.”
She rolled her eyes, but I could see it in the little curl of her lips, in the way her shoulders weren’t quite as stiff as before — I’d distracted her.
Mission accomplished.
There was already a crowd of paparazzi and fans surrounding the building entrance when we pulled up, and Isabella shared a look with Rina before they were sliding their sunglasses on and preparing to run inside as quickly as possible. Two security guards flanked the back door, waiting for James to knock on the window and give them the go ahead.
I was used to media attention and fans, but this was different. Before a game, I might have some kids, a group of drunk dudes, or a gaggle of women hanging over the gate at the arena begging me for an autograph. After a game, I might have to do a couple interviews or keep my head down as I made my way through the underbelly of the arena and the parking lot until I could get to the safety of my car.
But this was complete and total madness.
There were fans who were innocent enough in that crowd, sure — young girls with their parents, teenagers recording on their phone and praying for a selfie, women Mia’s age who had followed her since before she was really discovered.
But there were also crazy fans who would shriek and cry and throw themselves at the line of security guarding the entrance to the building. There were those who would scream nasty things at Mia, and those who would throw gifts they’d made in an attempt to get just one second of her attention. Add in that those fans were behind a wall of people with giant cameras and a paycheck to claim, and it was anything but safe.
I ground my teeth together as we got ready to face them, hand finding Mia’s and wrapping it up tight on the seat between us.
She blinked, staring down at that place of contact before her eyes slid up to mine.
Fuck, she was breathtaking.
It didn’t matter that her long, dark hair was a ratted mess, or that she had bags under her cerulean-blue eyes. It didn’t matter that she was in an oversized jogger set, complete with a hoodie that swallowed her slight frame. It didn’t matter that she didn’t have on a fleck of makeup, that she wore high-top sneakers instead of heels, or that her lips were a little chapped and raw, like she’d been chewing on them.
She was stunning — like always.
It was moments like this that made me think of her when we were younger, of how she made it impossible not to want her even when she wasn’t trying. Something about her had always called to me, like a hot, homemade soup, or a warm nook in a snowstorm.
She was comfortable, and cozy, and safe.
She was also incredibly sexy without an ounce of effort.
And, of course, she was completely unattainable.
“Ready?” Rina asked Mia.
Mia nodded, sliding on her own sunglasses, and Isabella looked at me, arching an eyebrow.
“I got her,” I promised.
With a nod from Glo, James knocked on the window, and when the door flew open, Rina climbed out first before she, Glo, and Isabella flanked each side of the car door — three tiny things trying to serve as extra protection.
The New York City summer heat was stifling.
The screams were deafening.
The lights were blinding.
And I tugged Mia under my arm as soon as we were out of the car, doing my best to guard her from all of it.
“Mia! Over here!”
“Oh my God, that’s him! That’s Aleks!”
More unhinged screams.
A flurry of camera flashes.
I held Mia against my chest, but instead of hiding against me, she stood tall, smiling at everyone as we passed. I wanted to shield her, to cradle her in my arms and make sure no one got a single fucking look.
But she didn’t want to hide.
“Love the jumpsuit, Mia!”
“Yeah, Mia, who are you wearing?”
“Aleks! Aleks, can we get a kiss?!”
“Mia, what do you have to say about Garrett Orange’s review of your album?”
“Has Austin heard the album yet?”
“Does Austin know about you and Aleks?”
“When did it all start, Aleks?”
“How does it feel to be dating the biggest pop star in the world, Aleks?”
“Mia, what made you go for a bad boy this time?”
I couldn’t help but smirk at that one, eyeing the reporter who’d said it, and that made them smile and snap a picture before I could school my features.
Mia slowed our gait even as security struggled to keep the fans and paparazzi at bay, but her hand fisting my shirt at my hip told me she was more on edge than she let on. Her smile was wide and confident as she waved at the fans behind the line of cameras, and she even stopped to sign a few autographs and lean in for a selfie. She ignored every question being screamed at her, but she made sure to take her time with the fans.