Page 46 of She's the Star

“I guess I didn’t fully grasp it until now but the Amber Hope you show the world is the real you. I didn’t know that was possible. My father and his friends, they’re…not fake, but they’re false somehow.” He shakes his head. “That sounded judgmental. Of them and of you.” He smiles sheepishly. “I meant it as a compliment. I’m impressed by your dedication and your authenticity.”

I link my hands together in my lap and let myself enjoy the praise. “Thank you. I’m lucky because I never had to pretend to be something else. The world likes me for who I already am. I love my life. The performing. The creating. I even appreciate the fame. So…that part is one hundred percent real.”

“But?” he asks as if he suspects there’s more.

“I don’t let them see when I’m struggling. Or when I’m sad. Or worried. And yes…sometimes even though I love it, it’s exhausting.”

He reaches over Maddy’s car seat and squeezes my shoulder. It’s a casual gesture probably meant to offer support or comfort, but his touch makes me think of our kiss.

I smile faintly, and even though I know I shouldn’t, I imagine leaning over and pressing my lips to his. It’s a pointless fantasy now that we’ve agreed not to kiss, but the thought is oddly pleasant anyway.

He flushes when he catches my gaze dropping to his lips and looks away.

“Slater,” I shout later that afternoon when my best friend appears in the doorway of my suite. I drop my water bottle on a chair and fly across the room, launching myself into his arms. He catches me and lets me kiss both of his cheeks before he sets me down.

“Ellie,” I say just as loudly once I’m on my feet. I wrap his girlfriend in a hug, and then drag them both into the room. They’re coming to my show tomorrow, but since I’ll be busy then, they decided to come by to see me today.

Slater shrugs out of his jacket, and as soon as I see what he’s wearing, I can’t help bursting into laughter. “I can’t believe you’re wearing it.”

During my last tour, he had a bloody nose and the blood dripped onto his shirt. Brian went to find him something to change into and the only thing that was left at the merchandise vendor was a tee with a huge image of my face prominently displayed.

“Ellie made me.”

“Lies,” she says as she unzips her hoodie and reveals that she’s wearing the same shirt. “Brian sent us a second one.”

My grin couldn’t stretch wider. “I love it. Thank you for wearing them.”

“We thought you’d appreciate it.” She nudges Slater. “You still haven’t worn it before a game, have you?”

I clench my hands together in front of my chest and plead, “Please wear it to one of your games.” I’d get a kick out of being plastered on his chest as he strolls into the stadium. So would my fans. And his fans.

“You do not need more publicity,” he tells me.

“That isn’t the point.”

“I’ll try to convince him,” Ellie adds with a chuckle.

Nolan enters the room. Maddy is asleep in the carrier that’s strapped to his chest. We have the whole floor, so he took her on a walk to explore while I was on the phone a little while ago. He doesn’t seem to notice Slater and Ellie as he comes to a halt in front of me. “Maddy was not impressed when Bruno tried to wrap a glittery ribbon around her head. Also, he gave me this for her hair.” He holds up a small bottle. “He thinks we need to make more of an effort with her curls.”

I take the bottle and toss it on the couch next to my water bottle. “He’s obsessed with her curls. Did you know he made me promise that I won’t let anyone else cut her hair?”

“Her curls are adorable. I say let them grow.”

“Right? Once I let him cut them, he’ll concoct a care routine that’ll be way too much work.”

“Are you going to introduce us?” Slater interrupts, forcing me to realize that Nolan and I are ignoring him and Ellie.

“Nolan Byrne,” Nolan says as he spins and sticks out his hand.

Slater reaches out and grips it. “Slater Jones. And this is my girlfriend, Ellie West.”

“Lovely to meet you,” Ellie says.

Nolan nods. “You too.”

And then nothing. No one speaks. It’s awkward and uncomfortable and— “Nolan is Maddy’s nanny,” I reveal a touch too loudly. “We met when I was stranded in that pool parking lot.”

Slater and Ellie exchange a glance.

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