Page 46 of The Princess and the Paparazzi
“Go ahead and talk. It’s safe now,” she says.
“Hi, Kenna!” I say. “How was the spa? Did Rafe and his mom end up going?”
“I’ll get to that,” Kenna replies, “but first—Georgia, can you ask Xander if he can rec a dog trainer for Rafe Barzilay’s dog? He needs to be discreet.”
“That is not the first word that comes to mind when I think of my brother.” Georgia inspects her nails.
“Is this for Rafe’s dog?” I ask. “Good call. That mutt needs to learn some manners. She’s a humper.”
“Yeah,” Kenna answers. “Rafe is worried about her tendency to bolt, and frankly, so am I. Xander is familiar with her. He groomed her when the shelter brought her in.”
Georgia looks shocked. “Wait, Rafe Barzilay adopted a dog from the Ephron Shelter and I’m just hearing about it now? How is it possible that Angie hasn’t shouted this from the rooftops?”
“You wereoff the grid,” Kenna says, accusatorially.
Georgia shakes her head in disbelief. “That’ll teach me to go anywhere.”
“Speaking of going anywhere,” Kenna says, “Lorelei, you failed to mention your car is manual.”
“What’s the problem with that?” I ask.
“I don’t know how to drive a stick shift!” Kenna sounds exasperated.
“No problem,” I say. “I’ll have another car sent over. I’ll just tell them I didn’t like this one and request an automatic. Want me to get you a Maserati?”
“You can do that?” Georgia looks impressed.
“Anything is possible,” I say, smiling. I feel my phone buzzing in my pocket and dig to see who’s calling. Rafe. I decline the call and search my phone for the car rental company.
Kenna sighs. “I don’t know, Lorelei. Honestly, I’m feeling a little overwhelmed. It’s clear that Rafe doesn’t really want me around his mom and his kid. Don’t bother with the car. I think it would be better if we could switch back sooner. Rafe was right in saying this could get messy.”
Dammit, Rafe. I’m going to throttle him. Later.
At just this moment, I spy Noah hobbling briskly by the pet boutique, presumably on his way back to the diner. I wave but he doesn’t see me. He is so intent on getting back. To me. And is that what I think it is? It is!
It’s a printout of his whole adventure!
“Let’s table this for a bit?” I say. “Something important just came up. I’ll text you later tonight.”
“But Lorelei!”
“Later, I promise!” I shove my feet back into my shoes, crushing down the heels and not even bothering to do the laces. Turning the lock, I let myself out and scuffle-dash down the street, trying to catch up.
“Hey Noah! Hang on a minute!”
kenna
Uncle Nick’stext wakes me from a deep sleep.
Sorry to bug you, sweetie.
I check my phone. It’s 7 a.m. Normally, I’d be up by now, but the blackout curtains, Duxiana mattress, and bazillion thread count sheets, not to mention the ambient mister thingy, are all very sleep inducing. At least I know where I am this time when I wake.
Heads up. The realtor wants to stop by the diner tomorrow with a potential buyer. They’re interested in the house, too.
Ok. What time?
I wipe the sleep from my eyes.
