Page 35 of My Lucky Star
I couldn’t help laughing. “She speaks excellent gibberish with a Turkish accent. You should hear her!”
Emir wasn’t amused. Aria gave me a half-hearted smile before her attention returned to the photo, her brows drawn together. “How do you think Burcu will take this?”
I hitched up one shoulder. I’d been deliberately avoiding that question. “I don’t know. I stopped trying to contact her years ago after she repeatedly ignored me. She’s got my details if she wants to get in touch.”
The salads arrived. Aria tucked into her meal, and I followed her example.
Emir ignored his food, busy on his laptop.
When we’d nearly finished our meals, he finally pierced a piece of chicken with his fork, only to be pulled straight back to his screen, eyes widening. “The story is out.”
Aria looked up. “What?”
Emir stared at his screen, clicking away. “Three, four, no wait... five stories about Cem and Burcu being back together. There’ll be more soon.”
“Good stories?” I asked hopefully.
Emir gave me a reassuring nod. “For the most part. There are some questions as to whether this is only a publicity stunt, but once we post a few more pictures—”
“Have they approached Burcu’s agent?” I asked.
Emir’s fingers tapped on the touchpad, a nervous habit. “I’m sure they’re trying, but no one’s made a statement on her behalf. Yet.”
“What if they deny everything?” Aria seemed visibly tense, cleaning her salad bowl with a piece of bread. I’d never seen anyone finish a meal so thoroughly.
Emir’s finger-tapping intensified. “They probably will, but who’s going to believe them? People only believe what they want to believe.” He shot me a meaningful look, then turned to Aria. “Hopefully, the photos do their job either way and remind people of why they love Cem.”
He looked at me like he was trying to remind himself of the same thing. I rewarded them both with a pouty look. “What? I’m super loveable!”
Emir’s eyes sharpened, staring at the screen. He turned it to me so I could read. “An email from the Epic Studios’ PR lady, asking for details on your romantic getaway. They are thrilled to see you with Burcu and hope you are happy together.”
I leaned in to read the email, which sounded like she was desperate for confirmation of some kind. “Wow, they’re following us closely. Isn’t it early morning over there?”
Emir opened another tab with time zone information. “Yeah, 8 a.m.”
“Sounds like she’s fishing for more information.”
“She’ll get some, along with the rest of your fans, as soon as we get some more photos of your romantic getaway.” He stretched the words ‘romantic getaway’ in a mocking way, and I felt a little hurt, because that’s exactly what those moments at the waterfall had felt like, and I craved more.
“Should we take a selfie here?” I suggested. “The vineyard backdrop looks amazing.”
Aria ran her fingers through her hair. “I need to go to the bathroom to redo my makeup.” Her hair had dried into soft waves and her skin glowed.
“You look perfect,” I told her, my voice cracking a little.
Emir shot me a sharp glance. “She needs to wear the hat. And add some color to those lips. Burcu would never leave the house like that.”
“Absolutely.” Aria wiped her mouth on a napkin and left the table.
I watched her walk away, hips swaying in the figure-hugging blue dress.
Emir slapped the back of my head. “Could you be more obvious?”
I huffed. “What?”
“You’re leering. I get that you’ve been celibate for like... a week, and I know you’re a dog, but seriously.”
“I’m not leering! And it’s been at least a month.”
