Chapter 40
ALEX
“You’re good at making up shit, Hades,” I confess, laughing at the crazy quotes she has on some pictures. She actually made graphics with the lines I used on her a couple of years back. “Those are some serious pick-up lines.”
“Corny,” she says. “I can’t believe you used them.”
“What? They were good?” I look annoyed, but when I reread them out loud, I can’t help but laugh. “I just can’t believe you remember them all.”
She nods. “What do you think?”
“So tomorrow, you’re posting what happened yesterday?”
“Next Sunday,” she says, taking her tablet back. “We set a schedule. Wednesday and Sunday.”
“What’s going to happen when you let go of this impressive guy who managed to score a date with you?” I wiggle my eyebrows. “And who’s hot?”
“They don’t need to know if there’s a real happy ending,” she declares, hiding her smile.
“You’re still going to find your person, right?”
She nods. “Yes, I just want that part to be mine. Look, yesterday was great, but it’s something I don’t want to share with the readers.”
“Why?” I ask, trying not to get upset.
“It’s a ‘what would Hannah Bell do moment,’” she answers. “I had fun. It was great. I could make a quirky, fun article about our burrito sushi. They’re a delicious, gastronomic abomination.”
“We’re having those for lunch, yesterday was Chinese.”
“Yeah, but burrito sushi sounds fun. You described them so well that I can write about it.”
“Okay?” I frown. Where is she going with this?
She nods and continues, “Our challenge to watch all the Marvel movies, and how you have a crush for Captain Marvel.”
“Dude, I’m not the one pining for an old guy. Seriously, Dr. Strange?”
She grins. “Cumberbatch is hot.”
“You should at least go for Pratt or Hemsworth.”
“Everybody likes a jock, not me.”
“Athletes are smart, too,” I protest.
“Not important,” she says, waving her hand. “My point is I’m not going to share that with my readers. It’s too private. Mine. Would people swoon and cheer for us after I mentioned I fell asleep in your arms?”
She shakes her head. “That’s mine, something Hannah wouldn’t care to share. I don’t want to tell the world about those things.”
Wait, is she swooning and cheering for us?
I scratch my head because I feel like I’m missing something that matters, and if I let it go now, it can be catastrophic.
“Does June know about it?”
She shakes her head. “She’s going to ask who the guy is and... you don’t want to go there, do you?”
Where is there?
I feel lost in this conversation. A part of the article makes me feel like we’re getting somewhere. This conversation doesn’t clarify anything.
“What if I don’t care what June knows?” I ask, considering the words.
“Is it wise to tell her anything?”
I feel how we’re teetering between the words. “Maybe not yet.”
She nods. “Great, I’m going to polish it, add some funny comments, and send it to Ethan for his review.”
“Does he know about our arrangement?”
She shakes her head. “This doesn’t have to go beyond the two of us.”
“Ready to go for lunch?” I ask.
She rubs her stomach and nods.
“Let me get my jacket.”
She studies me, and her silence worries me. I feel like she’s hiding something from me. For now, I’ll let her keep the secret. Did she find someone to date for real?