But not anymore.
As she sipped at her wine, her eyes roamed and her attention wavered.She wasn't having fun.That much was obvious.
I reached across the table and gave her hand a squeeze. "Do you wanna go?"
She gave a little jerk. "What?"
I lowered my voice. "Anna, listen. There's something I wanna say, but I don't want to start now if you're not up for it."
She bit her lip. "I bet I can guess what it is."
"What?"
"You're mad about last night."
I frowned. "Last night? Why would I be mad?"
She leaned across the table and whispered, "Well, Ithoughtyou'd want me to come out and make a scene, like a jealous girlfriend." She winced. "But then when I saw the coverage, it didn't turn out so great."
I knew what she meant. Last night, Felicity had cursed up a storm. And yet,thatfootage had gotten only minor play while the other stuff, the footage of Felicity crying while I looked on, as if I didn't give a shit – which in truth, I hadn't – had gotten plenty of coverage.
And then, there'd been the bit of Anna trying to lure me back into the house –thathad gotten of plenty of play.
But none of that mattered, and the worry in Anna's eyes bothered the piss out of me.
"Forget it," I said. "You were great."
"Oh, please. I was awful, and you know it."
As far as acting, yeah, Anna wasn't the best. But I didn’twantan actress. I wanted someone real, someone who was genuine in every way that counted. "Listen, I owe you, okay?"
And I wasn't talking about last night.
Later on, we could discuss what I'd learned from Felicity. But this wasn't the time or the place, especially with Anna so off-kilter. I told her, "So the next time you want a favor, just name it, all right?”
Her brow wrinkled in confusion. "But why would you owemea favor?"
"Hey, you went above and beyond."
She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, in making a fool of myself."
Maybe.She'd been so fucking adorable, I could hardly stand it.What the hell had she called me?
Honey bun?
At the memory, I had to smile. "Hey, the cameras loved you." As that word left my lips –love– I froze in my seat. The cameras didn't love her. ButIdid.
I'd suspected this for nearly a week, maybe longer. But now, I couldn’t deny it, even to myself.
Holy fuck.
I was in love.
With Anna Burke.
"Actually," Anna said, "I’m pretty sure the cameras thought I was crazy."
If she meant anyone who saw the footage, she might be right. But they didn't know her like I did.
Hell, until recently, evenIdidn't know her. As I sat there, staring at the girl who'd turned out to be the opposite of everything IthoughtI knew, a slow anger built deep in my gut.
That fucker.
