Page 137 of Code Word
“Except they might start caring,” Steve said. “If there’s a paycheck for photos or videos.”
Ugh.
Back to this . . .
“Okay, so I’m only gonna say this once,” Maddox said, “and you can take it or leave it. But about going public. I know, believe me, I know. I’ve ranted at length about not giving the public and the paparazzi ammunition. And up until now, I’d stand by that.”
There was definitely abutcoming.
“But?” I asked.
“But if you don’t want security?—”
“We don’t,” I said, then winced at Steve. “No offense. It’s nothing against the security team or anything like that. It’s aboutneedingit. Being a rat in a cage again. That’s what we don’t want.”
“No offence taken,” Steve said. “I totally agree.”
Maddox nodded. “I get that. But what I’m saying is ifyoupost the pictures the media is willing to pay for, then you beat them at their own game. Photos’d be worth nothing to the papzz and the fans who treat you like a meal ticket if you drop them for free.”
“You’re saying we should go public?” I asked. “You? After everything you went through.”
He grimaced and half shrugged. “Well, yeah. That’s kinda the point. I get why you don’t want to. I do. But the rules are different now. You don’t have Arlo Kim trying to spin angles for profit, apologizing publicly for ‘disappointing’ fans. Fuck that. You guys get to choose, and if you don’t wanna go public, that’s more than fine. But...” he hedged. “Taking control and dictating what gets released is a fuck-you to the papzz, and that’s something I can get behind.”
Jeremy snorted and spoke to Maddox and Roscoe. “Remember when Luke posted that pic online with you two in the background? I thought Arlo was gonna have a stroke.”
Luke groaned as he covered his face with his hands. “God, don’t remind me. I still feel bad about that.”
I ruffled Luke’s hair, and then I pulled him back so he wasleaning against me. I slung my arm over his shoulder, my hand falling over his heart. I gave his pec a squeeze for good measure. “I dunno,” I said. “I kinda thought we’d just post wedding pics and kill the internet once and for all.”
Luke laughed and Jeremy chuckled, but no one else did.
I didn’t. Because I wasn’t joking.
Everyone’s eyes were on me, and Luke sat up and turned to face me. “You were joking, right?”
I shook my head and looked him right in the eye. “Nope. I’d marry you in a heartbeat.”
Luke blinked.
No one made a sound.
Luke blinked again. “Is that something you mighta wanted to talk to me about first?”
“Sure.” I took his face in my hands and kissed him. “Marry me. This weekend, while everyone’s here. On the beach.”
He stared at me, eyes wide. “Blake.”
“That wasn’t a yes.”
Holy shit, that wasn’t a yes . . .
“Oh. Well, I mean, you don’t have to. I just thought... you know. Well, I... fuck.”
Luke laughed and grabbed the front of my shirt and gave me a shake. “And that’s how you’re gonna ask me?”
I was confused... “So, is that a yes?”
He laughed again. “Yes. But,” he held up his hand. “Not this weekend. You gotta put a ring on my finger for at least a year first.”
