Page 64 of To the Moon and Back

“Yes, please. Show me your city. I would also kill for some food.”

“Coming right up. All of it. I hope you like steak and lobster. Iknow a place.”

Lauren melted. “You have said all the right words and in a reallygreat order.”

Carly held up a victorious fist in front of her chest. “Nailedit.”

As they walked, Lauren stole glances at the paps who trailed them.“Is this normal for you?” she whispered. “All the cameras. I remember yousaying they were around, but so close?”

“Usually not this bad, but they camp out at the airport. Anyone travelinghas to come through here, so it’s a good bet they’ll spot someone noteworthy toharass on a daily basis. Today, they found me.” She shrugged.

“I’m sorry.” Lauren squeezed her hand just as video guy jumped infront of them, walking backward as he filmed. “Is she your girlfriend, Carly?”Carly tossed adon’tworryglance to Lauren, who seemed understandably uncomfortable, butsaid nothing to the paparazzo. “Does she know you’re washed up in this town?Maybe she wants to jump back on that plane.”

Carly held tighter to Lauren’s hand. “Could you give us somespace, please? I know you’re just trying to make a living, but we’d like to getmy friend’s bag and get out of here.”

“Your friend, huh? Looked like more than that, a minute ago. Hey,I’m making a better living than you are these days, though, right? What do yousay to a new line of work? I’ll talk to the boss for you. But you don’t looklike you’re smart enough to work a camera.”

“Why would you say that?” Lauren asked, puzzled.

“Cause your girlfriend here isn’t doing so well. A washed uphas-been who no one cares about.”

Carly gave Lauren’s arm a gentle tug to rein her in. The worstthing you could do was engage with these guys when their cameras were rolling.It was exactly what they were hoping for. Then you were raking in the views onthe TMZ homepage having a meltdown, and no one ever saw what came just beforeto provoke you.

“What do you know about anything?” Lauren asked, refusing to backdown. To her credit, she spoke with an impressive calm. “You’re a slug with avideo camera videotaping strangers in an airport.” He didn’t say anything,probably hoping she’d go on. Lauren sent Carly an apologetic look and wentquiet.

“Oh, I get it. You’re into washed-up women?” the same guy said.“Sad.”

“Just stop,” Lauren told him.

He didn’t. “Cause I know a few folks who could show you what areal good time is.” He grabbed himself provocatively with his free hand andlaughed. “Wanna have steak and lobster with me instead? I’ll make it worth yourwhile.”

That did it. Carly saw red. “You sad little asshole. Get the fuckout of our way, you sexually repressed piece of human waste. Do you hear me?”They stopped at the baggage carousel, and thank God, Lauren’s bag was alreadycirculating.

“No. Can you say it louder? Or are you scared now. I think I seeyou trembling.” He walked in a circle around Carly, all the while filming.People looked on, clearly disapproving of his actions, but no one stepped in.Typical.

Lauren grabbed her suitcase, and Carly took the handle, pulling itbehind them as they made their way out of the airport. The pap stepped intoCarly’s space, filming her from the side as they walked. “You’re upset thatyour girlfriend knows you’re a dumb loser, huh, Carly?” He stepped in evencloser—and now his jibes felt threatening.

She let go of Lauren’s hand, grabbed the lens of the camera, andgave it a shove. “Stay away from me.” She wasn’t happy with herself, but he’dgotten the best of her.

“Thanks, Carly,” he said with a smug grin and took off. She’d justbankrolled the lowlife.

She sighed as self-recrimination swarmed. She knew full wellthey’d edit her words to go with that shove, making it look like a volatile,unprovoked outburst.

“I’m so sorry, Carly. You okay?” Lauren asked, once they’d made itto the parking garage alone.

Carly shook her head. “I wish I hadn’t done that. It’s going to beonline the second he sells it.”

Lauren looked back at the building. “I’ve never seen anything likethat. That guy, he was so mean.”

“They’re like a pack of vultures. The second they sense a sliverof vulnerability, they attack. And I know better, dammit.” Carly shook herhead. “Guess I’m just out of practice.”

Lauren kissed her cheek as they arrived at the car. “It was myfault. I engaged first.”

“No. You’ve never experienced them before, and actually, you kepta very cool head. Color me impressed, as always.” Carly popped the trunk andloaded them up.

“Wait.” Lauren stared.

Carly turned. “You okay? What’s wrong?”

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