Page 116 of Booked on You
“Now, when can we expect you both for dinner?”
“Soon,” I say, and Scarlett’s eyes go wide.
Her dad chuckles. “Don’t feel obligated to make any special trips. Finish your book, relax some, then come visit. We love you.”
“Thanks, Daddy,” she says. “Love you, Mom! We’re going to eat breakfast now.”
“Bye! Nice meeting you, Ezra,” her parents say over each other.
We end the call, and Scarlett’s pretty eyes meet mine. “You’re good.”
“Pretty sure they love me now.” I reach for my coffee.
“Who doesn’t?” She picks up a piece of bacon and it’s the perfect crispness.
Before I can respond, loud shouting from the front of the house makes me freeze.
“Did you hear that?” I ask.
It continues, and I move down the hallway toward the living room with Scarlet trailing behind me.
“Oh no,” Scarlett whispers as she catches a glimpse of the sidewalk full of people with cameras. “Are those paparazzi?”
I peer through the blinds, shaking my head in disbelief. “Yep. And Millie’s out there yelling at them.”
Millie stands on my front porch, her back to the door, waving a bright pink pastry box like it’s a weapon. She’s shouting at the photographers lined up along the street.
“Go on! Get! Get outta here,” Millie hollers, pointing toward the road. “You’re vultures, every last one of you. Leave my nephew alone!”
Cameras click, capturing every animated gesture Millie makes. The woman doesn’t believe in wasting food, but she might start throwing pastries if need be.
I swing open the door, pulling her inside.
She’s huffing, her cheeks flushed with frustration as I shut the door behind her. “Those nosy jerks have zero manners. You’d think they’ve never seen two people dating before.”
Scarlett is both amused and embarrassed. “Hi, Millie.”
Millie’s face softens, and she holds out the pastry box with a kind smile. “Good morning, sweetheart. I brought stress-relief cookies.”
Scarlett laughs, taking the box and setting it on the table. “You’re my hero.”
Millie glances between us, hands resting on her hips. “You know, I’m still a little salty about this news breaking. Imagine the look on my face when I heard about my favorite nephew’s new girlfriend from TMZ instead of from his own mouth!” She moves toward me, grabbing my cheeks.
“Millie, I’m sorry. The paparazzi showed up out of nowhere, and we had to post something before?—”
She waves me off. “I get it, I get it. Doesn’t mean I have to like learning the news along with the whole world.”
“It was two in the morning,” I explain. “You’d have cussed me out.”
“You’re right.” Millie nods. “I think you two need to get out of here. There are people along the sidewalk on the other side of the house, too. Here you go.”
Millie reaches into her pocket and pulls out a set of keys with a seashell on the chain, then drops them in my hand. “Escape to the beach house.”
I swallow hard, knowing Millie hasn’t visited the home since her husband died. It was their special place, where they’d go to get away from all the noise.
Millie gives me a serious look. “Get away from the cameras and enjoy yourselves. Go right now. Pack your bags and take my car. It’s parked down the side street and is ready to go.”
Scarlett’s brows raise. “I have to write today. I’m on a tight deadline.”
