Chapter 11
ELEVEN
RYAN
It’s the next day—I’ve already brought Nora home.
I’m pacing out back, the ocean in the far distance. Short steps. Anxious steps.
Panic setting in.
Without thinking anymore about it, I dial my assistant. She answers on the second ring.
“Hey,” she says. “What’s up?”
“I need help. A lot of help.”
“Umm, why? Didn’t you have a date with Nora last night?” she asks. “Also, did you tell her yet?”
“Yes, and no.” I run a hand through my hair. “I’m never going to be able to tell her.”
“ Ry .”
“I know.”
“I don’t get it,” she says. “Why are you so scared to tell her?”
“I don’t want her to stop seeing me for who I really am. What if my real identity changes things?”
“With everything you’ve told me about this girl? Ryan, she could care less who you are.”
“Okay. Even if you’re right, a real relationship with her means she might inadvertently end up in the spotlight.”
“Why not give her the option to decide for herself if that’s something she’s okay with?” Kristen asks. “You really like her, I can tell. Why would you risk losing something special?”
“You know that I’m afraid of commitment,” I say, trying to find any excuse. “I’ll get back to LA and ghost her.”
“Mmm… something tells me that this time you actually might not do that.”
“Why? How could you possibly know?”
“You’ve made her the topic of conversation the last four times you’ve called me. You’ve hardly mentioned Jasmine. Ry, do you think that maybe, just maybe, you might be falling for this one?”
“But…” I pause, trying to think of something else to say, something that will make me assistant give me grief about this woman. Something that’ll get her to say that this whole thing is dumb. That I’m an idiot. That I’m moving on too fast just to get back at Jasmine.
Except—I’m not .
“Listen to me very carefully,” Kristen says. “I’ve got a plan, and this time, you’re going to tell her who you are.”