Page 103 of My Lucky Star
I groaned. “But... jet lag!”
“We’ll keep it short. I booked you a hotel room a little outside of town, but we need to be discreet about it. I promised Burcu’s family that we wouldn’t get any pics that might impact her reputation. They were worried.”
Aria’s eyes narrowed. “How would us booking into a hotel impact her reputation?”
I sighed. “It implies we’re sleeping together. Makes her look... easy. People are quick to judge.”
“Let me get this straight. You show your ass to the world and that puts adentin your reputation. She is seen booking into a hotel with her boyfriend and that’s enough to ruin hers?”
I winced, my shoulders creeping up as I considered this.
Aria stared at me with her eyes flaming. “Double standards!”
“Totally agree.” I meant it, but I couldn’t help smiling at her outrage.
“But we posted pictures from New Zealand! What do they think we did over there? Sleep in different hotels?”
“We kept the location vague,” Emir reminded. “I know there were some theories, but some fans still like to believe Burcu is a virgin.”
“Wow. Maybe we should have brought Emir along as the third wheel.” Aria nodded at my brother.
I made a face. Not seeing my brother’s permanent frown had been the highlight of our dinner.
“I can join you for the drinks,” Emir offered.
Before I could protest, Tarik swerved, taking a sharp left. I didn’t mind being thrown against Aria, my cheek planted right between her breasts, but Tarik’s words ruined my pleasure. “Takip ediliyoruz.We’re being followed.”
Emir gave instructions as we drove around in circles, trying to lose the tail. No luck. The black SUV was right behind us.
“Is someone following us?” Aria asked. It amazed me how much she picked up without translation.
“Probably the paparazzi. What should we do?” I asked Emir. “They’ll follow us to Soho. If it’s the bloodthirsty paps, they’ll keep following us, even after the drinks.”
I saw the tightness in Emir’s shoulders. “Could be the guys who published the rumor about your drug addiction and used that same, pixelated... um, penis shot for God knows how many—”
“Yeah, okay!” I didn’t need to revisit that memory.
“If we’d stuck to my plan, none of this would have happened.” Emir’s voice brimmed with annoyance.
“Well, it happened,” I barked. “What do we do?”
“I can’t shake these guys.” Tarik cast us a pained look, speeding down the bridge, bright lights flashing past.
Istanbul traffic was always bad. With so many cars on the roads, many of them driving erratically, even a skilled driver would struggle. Whoever chased us wasn’t subtle about it, willing to run red lights and cut in line.
I rubbed my forehead. “We’ll figure something out.”
Aria squeezed my arm. “If I was Burcu and we were out on a date, where would you take me? Back home?”
“I guess.”
“So, take me to Burcu’s house.”
“What do you mean? I don’t even know where she lives.”
“I bet the paparazzi does. And Melis. Ask her,” Aria stared at me, her brow raised. “If you drive me there, you’ll give them nothing unsavory to report.”
“She’s right.” Emir was already on the phone.
