Page 73 of She's the Star

My stupid heart skips a beat, but Amber chuckles and tsks. “All that I can say is you won’t be the first to know.”

Annabelle winks. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”

I smile politely, and Annabelle looks directly into the camera again.

“The Shimmer tour finishes in Dallas tonight and heads to Nashville tomorrow. If you haven’t seen Amber Hope live, you’re missing out. I’d tell you to purchase your tickets now, but you probably already know they’re sold out, so maybe next year?” She smiles broadly. “I’m Annabelle Singer. Thank you for tuning in. I’ll see you on the sidelines.”

The lights click off and the crew starts bustling around.

Before Amber and I can stand up, Annabelle leans forward. “You were perfect. Both of you. I’m more than happy to interview you anytime, anywhere, okay? Seriously, if you call me, I’ll make myself available.”

“I intend to keep a low profile. I meant what I said.”

She smirks like it’s adorable that I think I can keep a low profile. I’d like to argue with her, but I’m not an idiot.

TWENTY-SIX

AMBER

I’m giddy when I walk out of the conference room with Nolan’s arm protectively around my shoulders. The giddiness continues when we stop in front of the elevator, and he drops a light kiss on my lips.

“We’ll see you at the arena in a couple of hours,” he says.

I rub my nose against his. “Thank you.”

His eyebrow quirks. “For?”

“Being you.” With so many unfamiliar feelings rippling through me, I can’t help acting mushy. Every sappy love song I’ve ever sung makes sense now.

Nolan Byrne loves me.

He wants me. Not because I’m famous. Not because I can advance his career. And not because I look good on his arm.

“You don’t have to thank me. It’s safe to say I feel like the luckiest man alive.”

Cheesy. The giddiness surges again.

I kiss him one more time, and then while he gets on the elevator to return to Maddy, I sneak down the hall to the freight elevator, and follow the hallway to the loading dock so we can climb into the back of a black SUV. Brian gets in behind me and pulls the door closed.

We wait and about five minutes later, Mina joins us. She was watching Maddy and now she’s doing something on her phone, so she only acknowledges us with a glance and a quiet, “Hey. How’d it go?”

“Nolan loves me,” I confess, unable to stop myself.

I kind of can’t believe I told him. I didn’t intend to, but he seemed so distraught it slipped out. The fact that he feels the same makes me feel like a superhero.

Mina snorts. “Not news.” She drops her phone in her lap. “Wait. Did he tell you during the interview?”

“Of course not. I told him during a break, and he said it back.” I’m not sure which shocks me more—that I told him or that he feels the same.

“You’re surprised?” She squints at me. “The fact that he was there proves how he feels about you. He wouldn’t have allowed himself to be interviewed otherwise.”

Her words deflate my joy a little. They’re a reminder that I’m going to have to make sure that he doesn’t regret choosing to go public with me.

“The interview went well,” Brian says when I don’t respond. “The public will love it. Nolan was just awkward enough to be likeable. Annabelle’s producer is going to send the edited footage tonight. We can review it on the way back to the hotel after the show.”

I nod absently.

Nolan loves me.

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