I wanted you to like me , too. Without knowing that. ”
“I did like you. I mean I do like you. But you really think knowing your r eal identity would change how I am around you?”
“I thought you said you understood the need for anonymity. If you really do understand, then you could answer your own question.”
“Point taken, but I’m not really into all that celebrity crap. I could n’t care less about who’s worth what and who’s dating who.”
“Me neither, but even though that’s good to hear, it’s exactly why you intimidate me.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“I mean that you actually think less of me because of who I am to the public.”
“I do not think—”
“Yes, you do. I could read you so easily at that brunch for my dad’s company. You were so appalled with people that have money and position.”
“Not even true. It’s the attitudes that go along with it that I don’t approve of. Some of those people don’t care who they step on to get them somewhere.”
“And you thought I was one of them.”
“I did. But you proved that you weren’t. And I’m sorry for judging you like that, but I’m really glad you’re not a stuffy suit-wearing schmoozer. I kind of like the real you, which is just a laid-back, friendly guy that my niece won’t stop talking about.”
There was silence for a few seconds before he said, “She has a crush on me, why can’t you?”
I smiled at his humor but shook my head to myself. Was I really going to answer that truthfully? “Maybe I do have a crush on you, but it means nothing at this point. I have a boyfriend.”
“ ‘ At this point .’ Yeah, I’m only hearing ‘Yes Jared, you have a chance.’ ”
With a laugh I said, “You can ask Zack and he’ll tell you that I’m really a bit commitment-phobic right now. I’m not ready for anything serious, and he agreed to take it easy on me.”
“Does that mean seeing other people?”
“No,” I scoffed. “I can’t even manage one at a time.”
He chuckled and I wasn’t sure what it meant. But he did say, “Okay, fine. I understand. But just so you know…I’d l ove to spend some time with you—even as friends, if that’s okay. If you change your mind let me know. And I hope you don’t turn down a ny future business propositions because of me since you’ve earned them on your own. I’ll leave it up to management to schedule you and I’ll stay out of it.”
“Is that your wounded retreat?” I teased.
“ Yes , and I’m gonna cry as soon as we hang up.”
“Aw, don’t do that.”
“You’ve given me no choice.”
“Just write a song.”
“I think I will.”
“Just don’t make me sound evil.”
He laughed . “Okay, I won’t.”
“And don’t use my real name.”
“ I can’t make any promises.”
Chapter Nine
“How can you like two guys the same?” Lexi scowled as she tied another balloon. “Why can’t you just pass one along to me? Besides, who is this Jared guy and how can he be cuter than hot soccer dad?”
I smiled because she still kept calling Zack “hot soccer dad.” But I didn’t want to get into who Jared was because Lexi was the type of person that celebrities tried to avoid.
“He’s the guy from my sister’s PR banquet, remember?”
“A suit? Aw come on, Taryn. That’s not you.”
“He’s not like that. He’s totally not like that,” I added , mostly to myself .
She looked at me carefully and then shrugged. “Okay, fine. So what is it about him that you like?”
I thought about that as I blew up another balloon. After letting the dizziness wear off I answered, “I just like how easygoing he is.”
“You said that about Zack.”
“I know.”
“Okay, so what else?”
“Uh, well, he just seems to like me for me.”
“Zack does too.”
I sighed. “See?”
“Okay, I get it. So they’re a lot alike. Then it’s gotta come down to two things: looks and careers. Who’s better looking, and who’s got
“I did like you. I mean I do like you. But you really think knowing your r eal identity would change how I am around you?”
“I thought you said you understood the need for anonymity. If you really do understand, then you could answer your own question.”
“Point taken, but I’m not really into all that celebrity crap. I could n’t care less about who’s worth what and who’s dating who.”
“Me neither, but even though that’s good to hear, it’s exactly why you intimidate me.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“I mean that you actually think less of me because of who I am to the public.”
“I do not think—”
“Yes, you do. I could read you so easily at that brunch for my dad’s company. You were so appalled with people that have money and position.”
“Not even true. It’s the attitudes that go along with it that I don’t approve of. Some of those people don’t care who they step on to get them somewhere.”
“And you thought I was one of them.”
“I did. But you proved that you weren’t. And I’m sorry for judging you like that, but I’m really glad you’re not a stuffy suit-wearing schmoozer. I kind of like the real you, which is just a laid-back, friendly guy that my niece won’t stop talking about.”
There was silence for a few seconds before he said, “She has a crush on me, why can’t you?”
I smiled at his humor but shook my head to myself. Was I really going to answer that truthfully? “Maybe I do have a crush on you, but it means nothing at this point. I have a boyfriend.”
“ ‘ At this point .’ Yeah, I’m only hearing ‘Yes Jared, you have a chance.’ ”
With a laugh I said, “You can ask Zack and he’ll tell you that I’m really a bit commitment-phobic right now. I’m not ready for anything serious, and he agreed to take it easy on me.”
“Does that mean seeing other people?”
“No,” I scoffed. “I can’t even manage one at a time.”
He chuckled and I wasn’t sure what it meant. But he did say, “Okay, fine. I understand. But just so you know…I’d l ove to spend some time with you—even as friends, if that’s okay. If you change your mind let me know. And I hope you don’t turn down a ny future business propositions because of me since you’ve earned them on your own. I’ll leave it up to management to schedule you and I’ll stay out of it.”
“Is that your wounded retreat?” I teased.
“ Yes , and I’m gonna cry as soon as we hang up.”
“Aw, don’t do that.”
“You’ve given me no choice.”
“Just write a song.”
“I think I will.”
“Just don’t make me sound evil.”
He laughed . “Okay, I won’t.”
“And don’t use my real name.”
“ I can’t make any promises.”
Chapter Nine
“How can you like two guys the same?” Lexi scowled as she tied another balloon. “Why can’t you just pass one along to me? Besides, who is this Jared guy and how can he be cuter than hot soccer dad?”
I smiled because she still kept calling Zack “hot soccer dad.” But I didn’t want to get into who Jared was because Lexi was the type of person that celebrities tried to avoid.
“He’s the guy from my sister’s PR banquet, remember?”
“A suit? Aw come on, Taryn. That’s not you.”
“He’s not like that. He’s totally not like that,” I added , mostly to myself .
She looked at me carefully and then shrugged. “Okay, fine. So what is it about him that you like?”
I thought about that as I blew up another balloon. After letting the dizziness wear off I answered, “I just like how easygoing he is.”
“You said that about Zack.”
“I know.”
“Okay, so what else?”
“Uh, well, he just seems to like me for me.”
“Zack does too.”
I sighed. “See?”
“Okay, I get it. So they’re a lot alike. Then it’s gotta come down to two things: looks and careers. Who’s better looking, and who’s got
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