Page 50 of Too Little Too Soon
He needed the public—specifically his stalker—to believe he and Ava were madly in love already, not at the beginning of a romance. That left too much room for interpretation. He didn’t need that woman to think maybe she could try to weasel her way between them.
He swung his arm around Ava’s shoulders and guided her toward the door. “Let’s go.” He probably sounded too cheerful, but that was easy to justify.
No more stalker, right? Yay!
They stepped out into the hall, and the security team flanked them, leading them through the corridor swarming with media, fans, employees of the venue, and the bands. He sensed as well as saw cameras being lifted; knew he and Ava were being captured in quick snapshots and short videos.
He grinned and used his arm around her shoulder to pull her even closer to his side.
Twenty minutes later, Ava untangled herself from his embrace. “I need a minute.”
“What’s wrong?”
She arched her brow. “I just need to use the ladies’ room.”
“Oh. Right.” He leaned forward and gave her a quick kiss. “I’ll be right here, waiting.”
She rolled her eyes before walking away. Maybe he needed to rein it in a bit. He didn’t want her to call him on his bullshit in the middle of a crowd. Not only would that defeat the purpose, but it would also do exactly what Mitch warned they needed to avoid: give the band bad publicity.
Like they’d all been doing since the band entered the room, a fan inched closer and asked for an autograph and a selfie. “I was kinda hoping to get one with you and your girlfriend, man,” the fan said after snapping the pic. “She is your girlfriend, huh?”
“She is,” Travis confirmed.
“She’s hot. Not what I’d expect, though. Nothing like Suzie Q.”
Travis was getting really sick of people referring back to Dog Daze. Why couldn’t they focus on the here and now? That’s what he was doing.
“Yeah, that’s the point,” Travis replied, hopefully not too tersely.
The guy clapped him on the back like they were buds and moved off to ask for a picture with Lacey and Parker.
He glad-handed for a few more minutes, but Ava had been gone for much longer than it normally took to use the restroom. He ducked behind two security guards so he could have a little privacy and pulled his phone and reading glasses out of his pocket,. He’d send her a text.
Instead, he got sucked into his social media accounts.
Holy shit, their fans had already taken off with the idea that he had a girlfriend. Besides the usual shots of the band on stage tonight—some damn good ones, he might add—there was picture after picture after picture of him and Ava. His arm slung around her shoulders. Him kissing her on the cheek. When he’d pulled her into his lap on the couch in the meet and greet room.
That was a cute one. She hadn’t been expecting it, and she’d laughed and gave a little yelp at the same time, and he was looking at her with adoration in his eyes. Definitely looked genuine.
Definitely helped reassure him that he was doing the right thing by letting her believe this sudden desire to be a couple was real.
Especially when he checked out the comments and the number of likes or hearts or whatever expression of appreciation that particular platform used.
A pair of sexy legs stepped into his line of vision, and he glanced up, expecting Ava. It was Maria, which was disappointing but also gave him an idea.
“Hey, Maria, come here.”
She altered her path. “Yes?”
He waved his phone. “Have you seen all these pictures online of me and Ava?”
She furrowed her brow. “Yes. I haven’t said anything yet because I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about your personal life being exploited online like—”
“I think it’s fucking great,” he enthused. “Do you think you can use any of these pics for marketing for the band?”
Mitch had the right idea. Wouldn’t it be something if his relationship went viral like Holly and Sam’s had? How fucking cool would that be?
There’d be no way his stalker could hide from the reality of the situation. He was taken, and she needed to back the hell off.
