Page 39 of The Love Raffle

Conner joined her seconds later. “Whoa, what’s wrong with you? We see celebrities every day and, in your case, you saw him recently. What are you fangirling for?” he said breathlessly.

Amber’s eyes followed the excited teens who were kicking clouds of sand into the air while zooming all the way to the other side of the beach. The same place most of its visitors seemed to take comfort. “He’s here?” she breathed, looking out for him. Why would Levi come out of his shell at this hour? Amber couldn’t find the guy despite searching all corners. There were so many people crowding that area but no— “There he is!” She pointed.

Levi wore sunglasses, a white open shirt, and some swim trunks. His hair blew in the wind as he chewed on some gum and signed people’s arms. He was accompanied by someone else the crowds were fawning over.

This person’s arm was hooked in Levi’s. She wore a pink one-piece under a silky robe.Fiona,Amber thought. Oh, how gorgeously her red hair floated in the gentle wind.

After Fiona posed with Levi for a photo with a fan, Amber grew subdued.

She saw Levi laugh when Fiona spoke in his ear. She wore a smile bright enough to challenge the sun, her hand wrapped loosely around his arm.

“Oop. There go the paparazzi.” Conner’s voice pulled her from the scene.

Her eyes followed the bustling bodies and the equipment they carried. Four men, two women. They blended right into the swarming bodies after speeding to the action. The sun had not yet sunk out of view, but their flashes were visible.

“Uh, Amber?” Conner’s hand appeared before her eyes.

Amber held it away, her eyes glued to Levi and the persona he projected for the people and fans.

“Wow…they look good together, don’t they?” she said absently.

Conner was lost by her words. “Yeah? But it’s all in the name of promo, right?” He leaned closer, befuddled by her reaction. “Wait, are you…jealous?”

Amber crash-landed back to reality. She blinked, her forehead creased with a frown. “What? No.” She strode off.

Conner hurried to follow, right on her heels. A line of tourists sped past them towards the commotion. It was always easy to tell locals from visitors. While residents tended to view LA for the cesspool of superficial wannabes that it was, tourists idolized it and approached every aspect with the wide-eyed wonder of a child.

“Then why are you being…” He made it to her side. “Weird?” He’d known her for a while now. She’dneverstruck him as the jealous type, but this behavior had “jealousy” painted across it in bold letters.

Amber gave room to the folks just catching onto the fanfare. They’d been leaning against the metal railing over the beach before it hit them. “I’m not. I’ve only had like what? A handful of dates with the guy? We’ve not even labeled anything, and he’s saidexplicitlythat that whole thing with Fiona is just for his movie, so it doesn’t matter.” Even so, her mind swarmed.

Conner wasn’t so sure she believed that. “Wait, you guys haven’t made it official? You said you were going to have another date.”

“Well yeah but…” Amber crossed the street with a hand out to stop a kid on a mini-bike from peddling into her. She made it to the knick-knack stores and turned at the corner. “Okay, Iguesswe’re dating but, uh, well, it’s not serious yet. I mean, it could lead nowhere, right?” She folded her arms, rubbing them self-consciously.

Conner kept her pace well but was winded with all the chatter. “Whoa…” He stopped.

Amber did too.

A slow grin spread across his face. “Was that last little cheeky date somehow…amomentfor you?” He wore a smirk of mischief, his arms outstretched.

“What?” Amber knitted her brows and cocked her head to the left. They were beside a rundown pizza parlor. She wondered briefly if it was set to be demolished.

“Don’t act clueless, come on.” Conner giggled girlishly. He flicked his wrist with a sassy flare—quite out of character for him. “Did you look into his eyes and see a future with him? Is that what happened? Are you crazy in love?”

“Huh?” Amber stepped back, searching the active sidewalks and streets for a clue as towhatConner was talking about. “You mean myseconddate with Levi?” she whispered, closing the gap between them. She directed a thumb at her back, still catching the squeals and babbles of his countless fans. “You want to know if that made me ‘fall in love’?” She used air quotes.

Conner did not let up. “You were actingprettyjealous a moment ago,” he teased. “Something must have clicked, right? For you to storm off after seeing him with someone youknowhe’s just working with. You love Levi Marks—”

“Shhh!” Amber held a finger to his lips as idle strollers glanced their way. She held Conner by the arms and walked him to the parlor entrance. “You’re being really goofy right now, okay? It was just one more date thatwas notmandatory due to some crazy show he was forced into.” She kept an eye out for listening ears. Most who walked past gave them a brief look before minding their business. Did they somehow still recognize her? Had her five seconds of famenotrun out?For Levi’s sake, I hope it has.Wouldn’t discussions arise if she was in the same vicinity as Levi and Fiona?Amber, no one remembers you.

“Humph. I read an article last night that said—”

“Here we go.” Amber crossed her arms and turned to the empty pizza place.

“Second dates are when most people fall in love. So, it’s not far-fetched. Mm, not far-fetched at all. You don’t have to keep denying it.” Conner winked. “It’s okay if you’ve fallen already, Ambs. I want you to—”

“Just be quiet, okay, Conner?” Amber was like an overused scrunchie, worn and weary. “I barely slept last night, and our shift starts in like two minutes. You jumping to conclusions is giving me a killer headache.” She used the heel of her palm to soothe the front of her skull.

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