Page 48 of Galata and Nutmeg
My smile falters and I’m frozen. Not breathing. Not moving. My hands start to shake so much so that I clutch them together to try and control them. “Holy shit!”
“You too good to smile for us, honey?”
“How did you and Kaan meet?”
“Are you the reason Kaan and Blair broke up?”
“How’s Kaan in the sack?”
I don’t got this.
I want to flee back inside when Nate magically appears beside me, shoving photographers left and right. Meanwhile, I’m hoping to not trip up in my heels and try to hide my face without looking like I was trying to. I probably look demented because Nate starts laughing, barging his way past the yelling photographers. “Have you looked at yourself in the mirror recently?”
We make it into the safety of the pub, and I wave at the owner as we dart through the door. “Ye mate’s already here, me darling. I put ‘er in the booth round back. No one be bothering ye back there!”
Its décor is typical English pub with wooden tables, mix-matched chairs, a dart board, and its regulars. And being one of those regulars does have its benefits. “You’re a lifesaver, Albie.”
Courtney looks up from her mobile when we slide into the booth. The look on her face says it all but that doesn’t stop her from telling me what she thinks. “Can I say that the just fucked look really works for you.”
“I’d rather you didn’t.”
Three ciders magically appear along with burgers for Nate and Courtney and a pie and mash for me. “I ordered the usual.”
“I’ve lost my appetite.”
Nate attacks his burger heartedly before continuing. “Have you been online? You’re getting alotof hate.”
I pick at my pie and mash sombrely. “The fans are not happy. The label is not happy. And I’m not too happy with myself right now either.”
“How’s Brynn?”
“Ecstatic.”
“And what about Mr Dirty? How’s he handling everything.”
I shrug my shoulders. “I dunno.”
“Where is he anyway?”
“Probably at Blair’s shagging her stupid.”
Courtney kicks Nate under the table. “Asshole.”
“What?” Nate rubs his shin and glares back at her. “He’s a rock star and this is how it goes. You meet said rock star. You shag said rock star. That’s the end of it.”
Courtney throws a dirty look at Nate. “You really shouldn’t be taking sex advice from Nate.”
“All I’m saying is that I’d be at Blair’s shagging her stupid if I had the chance.”
“You wish!”
“You wish!”
Courtney and I look at each other and start laughing. “Great minds!”
Nate scowls over his half-eaten burger. “Bitter, party of two!”
“Jealous, party of one!”