Page 99 of Seeking Stars
"I do, I just never thought— and I should be able to—"
"Well, let me prove you wrong," he said, a challenging smile breaking over his face.
She scoffed, but nodded. This time, her features softened authentically.
"I'm getting bad comments on social media and the cashier at the grocery store recognized me." She scoffed again, this time at herself. "I'm sorry. It's ridiculous. I'm just overwhelmed."
Liam could have laughed, but didn't.
"It's not ridiculous. I remember the first time I was recognized on the street. It felt like it all happened at once. This weekend— this was yourall at once."
She nodded. "Even with what happened after the TCA party, that was another world— I can expect that of Los Angeles, even here when I'm with you but— somehow— if it happens when you're not around, if it's online, if it's the paps outside of my building— then it's about me, not you. I'm being looked at, too."
"Try not to get sucked into it, okay?" he said. "Remember, the comments are not the true sample of your fans, only the most extreme ones."
"Okay. I'll do my best."
"Did any paparazzi get close? Did they harass you?"
"No one harassed me, I just— it felt like I was in a fishbowl. It was uncomfortable."
"Has Diana said anything?"
"Nothing yet, but it's still early in LA," she tried to joke.
He smiled. It faded. "I hope these two weeks go by in a flash."
"Yeah, it'd do me well to hide in your house and edit until I can't think of anything else."
"Hide for a little while, if it'll help, but come out for air, okay? The paparazzi will tire, and you'll have space again. Then you pack and come to LA."
"Thanks, Liam. You're… you are…"
"Far, and I hate it."
She laughed. "You're amazing."
"We'll survive this, okay?"
"Okay."
***
Ana heard from Diana that evening. It probably signaled trouble, when her agent called her on the phone instead of sending another email.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Ana. I need to check in with you."
"Sure. What's up?"
"It's the Liam McMillan thing. My team has let me know there's still a lot of content out there about you and him. He visited you, didn't he?"
"He did."
"Are we still pretending that I believe you when you say you're not involved with him?"
Diana's words were stern on the line and they hit her like a punch. One thing was to hear the disapproval, and another to be seen as a liar. Ana didn't appreciate any of it.
