Page 161 (1/2)

“You can’t go to the hospital”

“I read the text Why not?” I still wasn’t willing to cancel the visit without soency reason

“Because Charlie wants ether It’s supposed to be another headline for et out of it”

“What do you mean?”

Luke’s PR er didn’t have the same hold over him as Jake had over s between us in the press He could keep up his end of the deal We only had four o Once ere on the red carpet at the CYAs this would all be out in the open I could go to his gae We could spend the holidays

together Go skiing All those things normal couples did It was four weeks away

“If you don’t go to the hospital then it’s not a fucking probleo and we don’t have to worry about it”

I didn’t like his tone None of it I narrowed my eyes “Excuse me?”

“Cancel it and this goes away for now”

“Why should I have to cancel a charity event? You need to tell Charlie you aren’t going to areement” I tossed that on the end, but I realized it was a mistake

“Do you think I’ to out us? Because that’s the opposite of what I’o to the hospital”

“You shouldn’t go to the hospital”

He groaned into the phone “If you go, I have to go If you don’t then there is no story This is on you, Alexa”

“It is not This isto see ine their expressions or how their hearts are going to feel if they find out I canceled? And ould I? There’s no good reason for it”

“The reason is to protect your precious ie”