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Chapter 17

REID

I arrive at the restaurant with Richter and one of the production assistants "Reservation for Richter, party of eight," she tells the maître d, whose eyes widen when he sees et our table ready as Graham and Brooke come in, followed by Emma and her parents Her mom is hot

At a circular table, Emma takes the seat between her dad and Laura, the PA, and I sit next to Brooke Graham is on her other side, of course, and she leans pointedly away from me and towards him

"Hi, I’m Chloe, Emma’s stepmother" She drops into the seat next to me

"And I’m Reid, her costar Nice to les I shake her dad’s hand as well, smile at Emma

"Emma," the PA says "Ready for tomorrow?"

"Yep, all set" Her smile is nervous, and I wonder why until half an hour later when Chloe is on her third glass of wine, talking toher inside voice Or any discretion whatsoever

She rests her chin in her hand, elbow propped on the table, and leans close "So what’s the wildest thing a woraph?" With her free hand, she’s playing with her distractively flashy earring, after which she rests her hand on --classic flirt mode She couldn’t be more Emma-opposite

I lean closer "Well, I once had a beautiful wo h-pitched, and when I glance at Emma, she looks ready to bolt Her pulse quickens at her throat and her wide eyes flick to Richter, Laura, Brooke

And then Grahah I can’t see his face frole She inhales slowly Her expression becomes more composed

Hmm

Richter asks her a question about her last movie, some holiday hter teaches her to play the violin Chloe’s conversation withthenore it If it was anyone else, I’d be aet to her As it is, I findto shield her, but I have no idea what to do The concept of using a personal filter in public escapes this woman

Brooke eyes Chloe briefly, then leans to Grahahs "Don’t you think so?"

Without replying, Grahalass and then Eh she’s considering its effectiveness as a weapon Or a suicidal device Her eyes connect with Grahaain

I don’t like this at all

Ehtmare When I look at my father, he seems tolerant of his wife’s behavior rather than uess I never will Towards the end of the meal, Chloe bats her lashes at Reid, loud and effusive over so he’s just said His expression is veiled, but not enough forChloe the way a scientist would exae new species Oh God

What does a panic attack feel like? I can’t breathe, and my heart rate is erratic, it’s all over the place, I wish I was dead My director is sitting here, andat ain, his eyes sy I take a deep breath Tell ht has to end eventually

Then Reid announces that he’salong 6th Street "Eht?"

Before I can reply, Chloe says, "Of course she’s going! Oh, Connor, can we go, too?" She does her wind-up le him

I pull my phone out in the taxi while Chloe blathers to my father about how cute and sweet Reid is

Me: FML Chloe is co with us Where is my invisibility cloak?!?

Es here are not tall enough to leap froers that she breaks an ankle Or her pelvis

Ee to convince everyone that I sprainedmy tiive one My chance coht after ainst him, as far as I’m concerned

The hotel is only two or three well-lit blocks away Despite the semi-buzzed crowd and a few typical hey-baby corips htly from behind, I spin around, ready to shove the heel of uy’s nose

"Whoa, hold up" Grahaod, Graham" I wait for ht your ankle was critically injured" He s towards the hotel, side by side I didn’t see hi

"Well"

"Ah, creative subterfuge," he says, rehter froet a sarette and flicks the lighter "I probably left for the same reason you did"

"I seriously doubt that"

"Oh?"

Please, do notthese words into his brain He nods, holding the cigarette to the tiny fla towards the street to exhale The smoke trails behind hiht of as hypocritical?"

He givesto call‘huh,’ then I think it’s only fair that I call you on a little addiction called nicotine"

"Uh-oh" He takes another drag, stubbing it out before we enter the hotel "Yeah, I know you’re right"

Wow That was easy "So what are you going to do about it?"