Page 104 of Anyone But the Superstar

She arranged for my family to get VIP access on their NASA tour today, something that made me a hero in my niece’s eyes. But still, I opted to stay back in and watch her skip from one module to another, more comfortable in the non-VIP tour area.

‘It’s no problem really.’ Em shrugs. ‘Truth be told, the mock-up isn’t really that off-limits to visitors. I just didn’t trust the crew not to wander.’ The look she gives me clearly telling me she remembers when she caughtmewandering.

Embarrassed, I chuckle sheepishly and return to watching Mary skipping beside Park In-Su. ‘Well, yes, thanks for arranging the tour.’ I smirk at my brothers’ obvious jealous expressions as they look at Bell and Alice, who are watching the handsome astronaut pick Mary up so she can reach the buttonson the next module. ‘But also, for keeping my secret this whole time.’

Em was the opposite of surprised when I called her, telling her who I was and then having the audacity to ask her for favors.

Her ‘did you really think NASA gave out security badges without doing background checks?’ made me question how I was smart enough to graduate college.

I nudge her shoulder with mine. ‘Andfor letting me look over the Neutral Buoyancy Lab footage.’

The second of the favors I asked of her.

Thankfully, I was right in thinking that if the NBL kept underwater cameras running, it probably had above water cameras running as well.

‘No problem.’ Em leans against the railing. ‘It made for an entertaining lunch break.’

I smirk, the footage of Sylvie, aka Coral Halter Top, attaching her sparkling hair clip to Ron’s back belt loop and the resulting aftermath was vindicating, if unsurprising.

‘So.’ Em’s eyes meet mine with unspoken support. ‘Are you gonna tell him?’

I don’t have to ask to know she isn’t talking about Coral Halter Top. Having sat next to me when the NBL security footage played, Emily bore witness to both the proof I expected along with something I hadn’t.

‘Maybe.’ I look through the glass once more, something moving fast through the leftover film crew catching my eye. ‘I guess, first I have to decide what to do about—’ Recognition hits as I narrow in on the quick-moving person below. ‘Is that Ron?’ Anxious sweat blooms on my forehead as I scan the rest of the large building, both worried and hoping to see dark, wavy hair, my hand fluttering near my jean pocket where my phone with its three missed calls from Felix rests. He didn’t leave a message orsend any texts, so I don’t know if he was calling to rip me a new one or apologize but him reaching out made me oddly feel better.

However, I only asked Emily for the VIP tour after confirming with David that the principal cast had finished and left for California.

Running into Felix is not part of my plan. Not only am I not ready to talk to him, but I’m also worried that with my family here, someone might realize the woman Felix Jones kissed on set was none other than Elizabeth Anne Moore, a socialite to rival his supposed fiancée. And while I’m no longer hiding who I am, I don’t want to chance giving Camilla a reason to spread more lies or make good on her threats about Felix’s mom.

Em watches the deceptively quick director cut through crew breaking down equipment, a look of expectation in her eyes. ‘Ron stayed to make sure they had what they needed to recreate sets as accurately as possible back in the studio.’ She cuts her eyes to me. ‘But all the actors left.’

Dropping my damp forehead on the glass in front of me in relief, I watch Ron come to a stop in front of the very person I was planning to speak to later.

With gestures as violent as they’d been when Mike was attacking his rear end, Ron confronts Sylvie. Even from my position twenty-plus feet overhead, and without the benefit of sound, I can tell Ron is not happy. And that Sylvie is totally fired.

‘Did you do this?’

Em’s eyes remain laser focused on the drama below. ‘You ever heard of the saying, don’t mess with Texas?’

I push off the glass, the expression on Em’s face right now, one of an evil mastermind watching their villainous plan unfolding, is a bit frightening. ‘Uh, yeah.’

Her smile grows, causing me to return my attention to thegovernment security agents escorting a crying Sylvie out of the building.

Apparently satisfied, Em dismisses the scene below with a flutter of her lashes. ‘Well, you don’t mess with NASA. Not while I’m around.’ She nudges my shoulder. ‘And you don’t mess with my friends, either.’

I gaze in admiration at the petite public relations manager. ‘You’re pretty awesome, you know that?’

‘I know.’ Not a hint of conceit in her voice. Just pure confidence. ‘And you’re pretty awesome yourself.’

‘Yeah.’ I nod, for once accepting the compliment. ‘I am.’

Felix

‘We need to talk.’

Head down over my phone on the way to my car, I startle at Jack’s greeting. And then at the person standing in front of his Tesla parked in my drive. ‘Amanda?’

‘Hi, Felix.’ She looks gaunt, nothing like the sparkling girl-next-door romcom queen I’m used to.

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