Page 98 of My Lucky Star
“I guess.”
He took my hand and Emir guided us to the door. Melis hugged me goodbye. “Görüsürüz. We’ll meet again.”
“Thank you!Tesekkürler.” I smiled proudly as my brain unearthed the right word, which I hopefully pronounced correctly.
Melis’s smile grew wider. “Perfect! You’re ready.”
I didn’t feel ready, but it didn’t matter. It was time to step out in public. Time to smile and wave.
Chapter 34
Cem
“SOHO HOUSE.” EMIR TOLDTarik when we all dashed into the car.
“Yok!” I cried, louder than I’d intended. “Not there.”
“What do you mean?” Emir turned around on the front seat and peered at me like I’d lost my mind. We were speaking Turkish, but he still lowered his voice. “It’s exclusive, which means it’s safer. You’ll pose for some photos on the steps going in.”
It all made sense, but I was feeling more than a little antagonistic. “I want to be by the sea.” I tapped Tarik on the shoulder. “Take us to Villa Bosphorus.”
He started driving, but glanced at Emir, conflicted.
My brother’s shoulders crept toward his ears. “It’s too open. I don’t like it. I already tipped off a couple of reporters about Soho. They’re good ones, the ones who didn’t write about your... you know. They’ve earned this.”
“I don’t owe anyone anything fornotexploiting me at my weakest moment! Fuck that!”
Emir scoffed. “What’s your solution then? Random strangers taking photos of you as you eat? We are doing this to get you photographed.”
He was right, but I felt irritation swirling in my gut like a swarm of bees and couldn’t stop. “The pics will be unflattering either way, but at least we get to look at the ocean. And I’m sure the paps are more than happy to drive if you tip them off again.”
“But we haven’t made a reservation—”
“Then make one!” I shot back. “You’re supposed to be my manager, not my... parole officer.”
Silence fell between us and Tarik drove around Beyoglu, turning left, then left again, until we circled back to our starting point.
