Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75626 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75626 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“You don’t give yourself enough credit.”
I sigh and kiss her pouty lips. “I know, but still. I don’t feel famous. Maybe I’m used to it because I’ve lived the past few years with people always taking photos and videos of me. It’s something I’m used to. But I’m by no means a ‘celebrity.’”
“And it might be something I need to get used to, although I don’t want to,” she says. “I expect it when we’re together, but when we’re not, I don’t want these people following me wherever I go.”
“Understandable. I’ll tell them to stop.”
“You can do that?”
Shrugging, I look into her eyes. “I’m going to try. You’re someone I want to spend a lot of time with, and if it means pissing off the journalists in the area, so be it. Although”—I lean forward and stand with her—“make up sex is really, really fun.” Kelsey giggles into my shoulder as I take us into her room.
SEVENTEEN
KELSEY
We are going on to week four of the epic media meltdown. They’ve left me alone. They’ve left Alex alone. This is a relief. We are a couple, doing couple things when we’re together. Over the past month, Alex has shown me Portland, the way only a local could. He’s taken me to the Portland Saturday Market, which has quickly become my go-to place for shopping. As long as he’s in town, we go out to breakfast every Saturday morning. I think my favorite has been our Monday nights. He picks me up and cooks us dinner. Most of the time we eat outside, by the fireplace. Both of us are trying to prolong fall as long as possible.
I never asked him about the game he didn’t play in. The week after they came back from North Carolina was stressful for him. He didn’t need me, someone who barely understands the game of football, to ask him why he had to sit out. I remembered everything the commentators said that day and that was enough for me to know it was bad. I also didn’t bring it up because I feel like some of what happened to him is my fault. There wasn’t a need for me to be so hard on him when he did nothing wrong.
Basha comes up to my desk with a shit-eating grin on her face. Lately, she’s been extremely happy because one of her historical fiction novels debuted number one in the New York Times, and according to the agent on record, numerous producers are hot after the movie rights. When something like this happens, the publisher benefits greatly. For Basha, when she makes an offer on another book, she’ll be able to throw this tidbit out during the early stages of negotiations. It’s a win for everyone involved.
“You’re up to something,” I say to her as she hangs her arms over the wall of my cubicle.
“Your honey is a thirst trap.”
I rue the day I told Basha about Alex calling me honey. I couldn’t help myself. I’ve never been the type who needs a pet name, but when he says it, the sweet word drizzles in temptation. He makes me weak in my knees and then some.
Basha hands me her headphones and once I have them secured over my ears, she plays a video on her phone. It’s a short clip of Alex, from different days, wearing pretty much the same thing: gray or dark gray sweats and a hoodie. He’s either carrying a tray with two paper coffee cups on it or he’s walking somewhere. If I had to guess, he’s leaving my apartment. Once the video restarts, Basha presses the comments and points to them.
There’s a smile on my face when I see comments like:
Tiffanyregnier6: Alex Moore is my favorite human.
littleimps35: Protect Alex at all costs.
book_nerd13: How can you not like Alex Moore?
sailinfish: I love it when Alex dances in the end zone.
However, my eyes bug out of when I read things like:
Leskurk19: Alex Moore is fine as wine and I’m a drinker.
deelagasse: If his lady doesn’t husband him up, I’m going to.
demonaco_jade1231: Can Alex be any more adorable?
wendyywu13: Alex Moore = sexy beast.
amhaven_I neeeeeed Moore of Alex (y’all see what I did there?).
MBurz716: Is Alex dating anyone because I’m single and ready to mingle.
MelissaRose_4: My obsession!
eliayon: I want to be a Noah-Alex sandwich.
robin_a.k.a_kirst_kels_mom: Imagine being the ball that’s passed between Alex’s legs.
After the last one hitting a bit close to home with “Kels” I hand Basha her phone back. “I have no words.”
“People are hot for your man.”
“This is a good thing, right? Like I should be okay with internet strangers having a thing for him?”
Basha shrugs. “I’ve never been in the position you’re in.” She taps on her phone and then looks at me. “Are any of these comments true?”
I shrug and look away sheepishly. Alex is adorable. He is fine. But what they don’t cover are things they don’t know, like how when we’re watching TV or reading, he always drapes my legs over his or how he fluffs my pillow before we go to bed.