Total pages in book: 196
Estimated words: 180438 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 902(@200wpm)___ 722(@250wpm)___ 601(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 180438 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 902(@200wpm)___ 722(@250wpm)___ 601(@300wpm)
“You bet your ass. Now feed me; I’m starved.”
She rolled away and got out of bed while I watched her. “There’s this nice little place I found here in the city that serves the best burgers. I feel like a big fat juicy burger dripping in ketchup and mayo.”
Her eating habits aside, her words caught me off guard. “You want to go out in public?” Why that should make my heart race is anyone’s guess.
“Why not? The cat’s already out of the bag.” I jumped off the bed and followed her, laughing into the shower. I don’t know what got into her, but I’m here for it.
Chapter 75
*Elena*
This impromptu date night idea turned out to be easier said than done; I soon found out. I thought I was ready, and I still am to some extent, but I’d underestimated the amount of attention our outing would garner. Since it was already so late at night, I foolishly thought that no one would be around, but I’d forgotten about the staff at the restaurant.
Since I’d been coming here for a while now, ever since I started shooting my series in the city, and no one had ever bothered me, and neither was there ever a write-up about my visits to this place, I thought things would remain the same. That’s one of the reasons I’d grown so fond of the place, that and the fact that the food was nothing to sneeze at, and it was one of the only places open so late at night.
But I guess it was too much to ask for them to overlook the shock of seeing Ryder and me together after everything that had been going on in the press lately. It would’ve been hard to miss the looks of surprise and the questioning looks thrown our way from everyone, diners and staff alike, as the hostess showed us to our table.
Ryder was being very protective, almost shielding me with his body as we were led to our table, and I know he was remembering how fragile I once was and how much I hated the attention we used to get wherever we went. But though I could do without the attention and just wanted to enjoy a nice evening with my guy, I was feeling anything but docile.
I knew when I made the decision to post that picture that something like this might happen, but I’d underestimated the haste in which it would occur. I thought it would be the next day, at least before the news broke of us being out and about in the city together, but no sooner had we been seated than my phone started going off, and within ten minutes, paparazzi were lined off on the sidewalk outside the establishment.
“Do you want to leave?” Ryder reached across the table to take my hand.
“No, it’s best if we just rip the Band-Aid off. They’re bound to find out sooner or later since there’s already so much speculation in the gossip columns. I just didn’t expect this so soon.”
There had been a lot of speculation in the beginning from some quarters as to whether or not the image had been photoshopped or whether my account had been hacked, but that soon ended when he posted his own picture. There were a lot of people rooting for us, but there were also those who were against us getting back together for one reason or another.
Now I was wondering if I’d been too hasty in releasing that photo. At the moment I made the decision to upload it, I had all but forgotten the mess that had been the last five years. All the lies and manipulations that had been played out in the press.
I’d been excited about our new beginning and had overlooked everything else that was bound to follow a move like this. For once, I wanted our relationship to be about just us, with no outside interference and no judgment from people we didn’t even know.
“If you change your mind, let me know.” He squeezed my hand, and we both looked at the menu, pretending not to be bothered by all the hoopla going on outside the plate glass window. I actually felt worst for the other diners than I did myself because these poor people hadn’t been expecting to have their meal interrupted by flashing camera lights from outside.
I’d been emboldened by the positive response to the picture I’d posted earlier, but I’d almost forgotten how invasive things could be when you put yourself out there like that. I’d also forgotten in my excitement how easily and quickly the adoring public can turn against you for the slightest thing; now I was almost wishing I hadn’t shared and had just enjoyed each other for the time being until our reunion became known some other way.