How To Die Famous by Benjamin Dean

Author:Benjamin Dean
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Published: 2023-07-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen JOYRIDE

Abel

I can’t be sure that Ryan didn’t see Hannah’s name on my phone. I try telling myself that even if she did, what reason would she have to know who Hannah is. I’m letting my paranoia pull me into uncertainty. I need to relax. But I also need to keep my phone in my damn pocket.

The text from Hannah tells me that the Daily Eye are going ahead with the story about Ryan and Ella fighting backstage at The Late Late Show. The only reason it hasn’t run yet is because the break-in story took priority. I’d fed back the details days ago, but now I’ve just spent real one-on-one time with Ryan and genuinely enjoyed her company, I feel even more guilty.

I take solace in the fact that I’d kept the specifics of the argument vague. All I’d said was that tensions were rising after the headlines about Ella’s new contract, and then I lied and said the argument had happened behind closed doors so I wasn’t able to hear it. Then I let Hannah connect the dots. It doesn’t take a genius to see the pictures of the lipstick message on Ella’s dress, hear about their raging argument backstage and assume the two are related. As I thought she might, Hannah had quickly jumped to the conclusion that Ella blamed Ryan for the fiasco. It’s not like a tabloid needed to confirm it was true, especially if it gave them a scandalous headline.

When there’s a knock at the door of my suite, I frown. I’m not expecting anyone. I check the peephole and see Lucky standing casually in the corridor, wearing a T-shirt that has no business sculpting his chest like that, with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

‘What’s up?’ he says when I open the door. ‘This place is starting to feel like a prison. Want to get out of here?’

It sounds like he’s looking to get into trouble – the good kind, nothing too scandalous – and there’s a glint in his eye that says I might be right.

‘What did you have in mind?’ I ask, even though I know for damn sure that whatever his plans are, I’m so in.

‘The sun’s about to set. My car’s parked out back. What do you say we sneak out for a night drive?’

It’s not breaking any rules, but it almost feels like it. The very concept of sneaking out means you don’t want to get caught after all.

‘Besides, you can’t come to LA and not break your In-N-Out virginity,’ he adds.

Like I need any further persuasion – I’m already stepping out into the corridor.

‘Milkshakes on you then,’ I say over my shoulder, heading for the lift.

Lucky grins and follows.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.