Page 42 of To Hate Adam Connor

“It’s as if I’m not the lead actor at all,” Jason said, looking down at Olive. “You’re stealing all the spotlight, little one. Should I be worried?” Olive smiled up at him, and Jason must’ve taken that as an invite ’cause he leaned down and gently kissed her on her lips. I leaned back a little and sure enough, his hand was pressed against the small of her back. The dress was a success.

When Jason’s publicist came over with the private security hired by the studio in tow, the lovebirds had to break apart. Megan swept Jason away so he could do the last few interviews with his costar as Olive and I waited for him on the sidelines.

“What did Adam Connor want from you?” Olive asked as soon as Jason left.

“Nothing,” I said distractedly as I moved my gaze over to the paparazzi and the mass of fans lined up behind the red ropes. “I think I’m ready to go in,” I continued. “I’m starting to get anxious with all these people around.

“Don’t even try to change the subject on me now. What do you mean nothing? What were you talking about?”

I glanced back at Olive and noticed the security coming toward us. “He thought I was stalking him, so I said fuck you. That’s the gist of it. Happy now?”

“Why don’t you try and be nice to him so you two can get married and be my neighbor?”

I snorted. “Please. I’d die before I married that guy.”

“Mrs. Thorn,” the blond security guy said as he stopped next to us. He didn’t look that bad at all. Bulky arms, a white button-down, black slacks, slightly noticeable bulge…I didn’t go for blonds that often, but what better time to change things around, right? “We need you to get inside, please,” he added, holding his hand to his earpiece. Well, that was definitely sexy.

“What? Why?” Olive asked immediately, her eyes searching for Jason.

“What’s wrong?” I asked and the guy turned his attention to me. I tried to give him my best smile.

“Ma’am, we need to clear the area so the…”

He was still talking, but I completely tuned him out. Ma’am?

Are you frickin’ kidding me?

Are you frickin’ kidding me?!

Olive pulled me by my arm toward the entrance of the building. “Did you hear that?” I asked her in a loud voice as I kept looking over my shoulder. “He freaking ma’amed me! Did you hear him? Did you hear what he said?”

“I did,” she replied, laughing under her breath.

“Don’t laugh! This isn’t funny, Olive! This is all because of him,” I hissed. “He did this!”

“Who are you talking about? Jameson?”

“What?” I looked at her and shook my head. “No. It’s Adam Connor. He is bad luck. Whenever he is around, something bad happens. I hate him.”

“Here we go again…”

***

The movie was amazing. I had been the first one to read the book when Olive finished her manuscript, and sitting in a movie theater watching it all come alive was something I’d never forget. When it was over, I stood up and hugged my best friend, and we cried again. Then we laughed. Jason kissed Olive on her forehead, and I cried some more. And then we made it to the after party where there was music and hot guys and more celebrities. Surely one of them would have a killer dick, right?

I didn’t even get to look for my killer dick.

Soon after we made it to the industrial loft where the after party was being held, I got a text message from Jameson.

I was too scared to read it straight away.

Even though I tried my best to act like he had never existed around Olive, sometimes he would pop into my head out of nowhere and disrupt my day. This was the first time he’d actually contacted me after his departure.

Dropping my phone back into my purse, I broke away from Olive and Jason, leaving them chatting with a group of people, and found myself a dark corner so I could close my eyes and slow down my heartbeat.

Isn’t it the worst thing when your ex gets in touch with you when you’re starting to move on with your life? Isn’t it so inconsiderate of them?

I leaned my back against the brick wall and imagined myself on an empty road. I ignored the music roaring to life and quieted my mind. A sunny day, a gentle wind. A breath of fresh air. I forced myself to imagine Jameson standing at the end of the road. I still had feelings for him. Just a little more than a month before, I had thought he was mine, that I was different from my family. That my ending would be different than theirs. And I’d wanted that for myself. I’d wanted that for myself because Jameson had showed me it was possible, that it was okay to want that.

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