Page 60 of Deeper

“I didn’t like that post, and I’m happy you said something for me.” Especially since he never stood up forhimselfin the past. “In all seriousness, thank you, for stepping out of your comfort zone and standing up for me. For more than just me.”

“You’re always going to be protected around me, I promise. I’ll always defend you, Bianka.”

Outside of Victoria, I couldn’t imagine anyone willing to take on the world for me. The fact that Zander did so easily meant more than I could say.

To keep my emotions in check, my mind drifted back to his singing. “And when you said you were writing a song about me, I had no idea you were serious.”

“Do you like it?”

“Holy fuck, Zander,” I let out. “I love it and you don’t even have a chorus. I usually always wait for the chorus before I decide, but I love it already, I really do. In fact, we’re playing your music right now in the store.”

“I hear it faintly,” Zander said.

“You should stop by sometime and gain me some cool points with my coworker. She’s actually a big fan.”

“Funny how that works out, huh? Everyone around you is a fan, and you aren’t.”

“I’ve since been persuaded otherwise.”

Zander’s chuckle made me hot, made me wish I were there with him instead of working. “Give it time. My fans can be damn near as good as the cops. They might find you. Zandies can be a bit obsessive. I didn’t want to out you or say your name until I knew you were comfortable with me addressing you,us, in public.”

He was respectful. “Zander?”

“Yes, Bianka?”

“I’m kinda, entirely, scared right now,” I admitted.

The line was quiet for a while and I feared he was going to take a step back.

“Do you trust me?” he asked when he spoke up.

Did I?

Thinking about it, from our beginning, he stuck his neck out for me, sweetly stepping in with the scalpers, not letting me get potentially trampled in that chaos of the riot outside The Warehouse, and even now when he defended me on air. I didn’t know where this could go and if it would last, but one thing I felt deep in my gut, was trust.

“Yes,” I said.

“Then no matter what comes our way, I’m going to be with you, protecting you, so long as you’re along for the ride.”

12

STILL GOT TIME

It didn’t blow up overnight. In fact, my identity was still a mystery a few days after news broke out.

There was a woman who had come forward, claiming to be me, and really, it was laughable at best. Fame was the deadliest drug of all.

What wasn’t funny was the fact that Victoria and I still hadn’t talked. I’d tried calling and texting her Wednesday, only to be ignored. An hour later she shot me a text.

Sorry for the delay. I finally got a full schedule this week. Beyond BOOKED & BUSY. We will talk as soon as I get a min

As Friday evening rolled around with no word from her, I told myself to give her the weekend before meeting with her face to face.

Long after I got in from Angles, I sat curled up on my couch flipping through the TV, debating on ordering a pizza or not. Extra-large cheese sounded good. I once went through a phase of not eating red meat and swapped out my beloved pepperoni for cheese, and it became a quick fave.

I was about to sift through my Postmates app when my cell phone rang.

Zander was calling.

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