Page 75 of I'll Be the One

By then, it’s starting to turn light out, and in the pink and blue of the sunrise, I see the faint outline of the Hollywood sign on the hill next to us.

“Wow,” I say. “I didn’t know the sign doesn’t light up at night. Why hasn’t anyone thought of putting lights on the Hollywood sign?”

“Apparently it’s a safety hazard,” Henry explains. “The sign used to light up, but then it caused this life-threatening traffic jam a while back and trapped everyone in the canyon.”

“Of course traffic would be the reason. Why am I not surprised?”

“Hashtag LA problems.”

“Exactly.”

A strong breeze suddenly blows into us, sending chills down my spine. I shiver. “Okay, I don’t care what everyone says about LA people being wusses. Fifty degrees is still cold. I really should have worn something warmer.”

“Here.” Henry shrugs off his leather jacket and drapes it over my shoulders. “I don’t get cold easily. It gets alotcolder in Korea.”

When we’re back in Henry’s car, I say, “So.”

“So?”

“Are we a thing now?”

“Only if you want us to be.”

“I do.”

Henry leans in for another kiss, but my phone rings. I check the screen to see that it’s Mom. Of course it is.

I pick up.

“Haneul, why aren’t you home?”

Hearing her voice is kind of jarring, since I can’t even remember the last time she talked to me.

I hurriedly fish for the best lie I can think of. “Lana had to run errands in LA, so she picked me up really early today. Sorry I forgot to tell you. I was in a rush to get ready.”

“I see,” she says. “The competition is almost over, isn’t it? You should hurry up and finish so you can focus on your classes.”

“Hurry up and finish...” I repeat slowly. It’s amazing how few words it takes for me to wish Mom wasn’t speaking to me again. “Are you saying I should get eliminated on purpose?”

“Well, aren’t you tired of being on TV every week? You’re not—”

I hang up.Not today, Satan. Not today.

I try to pretend like nothing’s wrong, but Henry still asks, “Are you okay?”

I sigh. “It’s fine. My mom’s being a jerk as usual.”

“She still doesn’t support you?”

“Nope. She just told me I should drop out of the competition because she’s sick of seeing me on TV.”

Henry narrows his eyes. “She sounds a lot like my parents before I got my modeling contract.”

“Ugh, sorry you have to deal with it too.”

“It’s fine. They’re back in Korea, and I’m here.”

We stop to get breakfast at a diner, and then Henry drives me to the studio.

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