Page 20 of Paparazzi Perfect
Smirking, we stepped around empty bottles and people passed out across the large living room while she gave me a quick tour. Evidently, her roommates had thrown a party the night before.
“Give me a sec, I need to grab a few things. Back soon,” she whispered, disappearing down the hallway.
I leaned against the wall, waiting, as my thoughts drifted.
I’m having such an amazing time. Why do I have to leave sosoon—
My phone buzzed. One of the girls stirred, then rolled over and drifted back to sleep.
KARLOS: Don’t be late arriving in Sydney. You have obligations to fulfill.
A flicker of resentment prickled in my chest at the reminder of what was waiting for me. SolStar.
KARSON: Save the lecture. I get it.
Ivy returned to the living room, phone in hand and bag slung over her arm. We padded silently toward the front door and stepped out into the sunlight.
“Oh no,” Ivy said. “I just checked my messages and found out why Ethan was a no-show last night. He got locked in the bathroom at work with no phone reception. He was stuck in there until the cleaner arrived.”
“That’s rough for Ethan,” I said with a smile.
“Yeah, the poor guy. It’s not all bad, though,” she said. “If he hadn’t gotten locked in there, we never would’ve met.”
“Well, that would’ve been a real shame. And just so you know, I noticed you waybefore we sang together. Just sayin’,” I said, watching her circle around to the other side of the car.
“And just so you know,” she called over her shoulder, “I noticedyouway before we sang together. Just sayin’.”
A ripple of satisfaction flickered through me… she’d singled me out in that crowd.
“Sorry about the chariot.” She patted the roof fondly.
“Nothing to be sorry for.” I looked over it slowly. “It’s a classic.” The old car had dents, peeling paint, patches of rust, and a missing passenger door handle. “Who needs a handle?” I joked as I climbed in through the driver’s side and slid across to the passenger seat.
“That’s what I always say.” She laughed, hopping in beside me. “I hope you like fresh air. The air conditioner died before I even bought this car, so you’d better open the window.” She gave a small shrug.
“No problem.” I lowered the window before it jammed halfway down. I gave it a solid thump, and it slid open the rest of the way.
The engine spluttered, and somehow, as we pulled away, I was exactlywhere I wanted to be.
5
THE HIKE
KARSON
Twisting and turning through corkscrew bends, the old car crept down the road toward the national park. We sang along to a song neither of us knew as it blasted through the speakers, which somehowstill worked.
Dense green rainforest pressed in on both sides of the road, creating a tunnel that made it feel like we were entering another world. The music—and our off-key, laughter-filled attempt to sing the lyrics—finally came to an end.
“I want to show you a special spot of mine when the sun goes down, we can watch the fireflies from there, if they come out tonight.”
“That sounds incredible. Count me in,” I said with a smile, already looking forward to sunset… and whatever else she might have planned.
Focused on the winding road ahead, she steered through another sharp bend while I braced myself against the door. A new song flooded through the speakers, by the time the chorus hit, we were singing along badly, laughing as our voices collided.
I sang into my air mic, then passed it to Ivy, our hands brushing for a second too long, the last notes fading as she whistled and cheered.
“You’ve got quite the voice, Karson. I got lucky finding you in the crowd.” Her gaze lingered long enough to heat my skin.
