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“I’m sorry, Aubrey”

I look over at him He watches me with blue eyes full of…empathy?

“It could have been worse”

“Really? How so?”

“Are you kidding? He could have been in debt, too Then I would have been responsible for everything As it was, I just had to make sure he was taken care of, which was my job He raised me”

“Where are your parents?” he asks

“Dead” I shrug “I don’t remember them Do you have your parents?”

“They’re living, but I don’t speak with them,” he replies “My best friend, Sabrina, is my family She lives here in Seattle with her husband”

“Oh, nice So, they’re close by then Are you fil a movie here?”

His lips twitch “No”

I nod and look away, determined to mind my own damn business

“I’ me

“From what?”

Zane clears his throat and shifts in his chair “Do you not keep up on pop culture?”

“Not really I don’t even have social media”

“Well, there was a scandal There always is, really But, this tiet lost for a little while until it blows over”

“And your family is here” I nod “That makes sense But can I be honest?”

He sends me a wary look “Sure”

“You’re like…Zane Cooper I picture you living in a big house with open spaces, a pool, and servants”

He shs “I have that in LA And I like it There weren’t any houses for lease in the area I want to be in Rina and Ben live just down the way, so I can walk to their place I like the area And this condo is new, nicely furnished, and came with a surprise roommate”

I gri else”

His eyes narrow “Why?”

“Because you paid in advance for the whole tiot here first”

“So, finder’s keepers?” He cocks a brow “I don’t think that works on homes, Aubrey”

I laugh “Probably not I’rateful that you let me stay At least, until the landlord refunds me the money I paid him I told him that I knew he’d been double paid He wasn’t thrilled that I figured that out”