She should have been used to this by now, to people voting online about a total stranger’s life—a stranger who happened to be her. But after feeling like she might actually have started to pull away from that life during the past few weeks, dealing with the celebrity spotlight again felt worse than ever. Had it just been last night after Maddie’s party that she’d told herself she didn’t care about the paparazzi anymore? Had she actually been foolish enough to believe that they were tired of trying to get interesting shots of her?
Now she realized just how wrong she’d been. Photographers must have been lying in wait for her...or someone from her dorm had heard the commotion, taken the pictures, and decided to make some quick cash by selling them. But that wasn’t all, because beneath the picture of the two of them were several more pictures of girls Sean was reputed to have dated before Serena. Pretty girls. Really pretty. And probably with normal lives that didn’t go off like mines in a minefield from one second to the next.
“Stop thinking crazy thoughts,” Abi said, clearly reading Serena’s face. “He’s not interested in any of those other girls.”
“I know,” Serena replied. Still, it wasn’t easy to see photographic evidence of what a player he’d been, particularly on a day when it was getting harder and harder for her to pretend that she was going to be able to stick around. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him—of course she did—it was more that she hated the thought of him holding himself back from fully living life because of her. Especially if her career spiraled off the way it always had before, from photo shoot to fashion show and now to movie set, and she couldn’t come back to Stanford anytime soon...
“Last night with Sean,” Serena said, needing to share the wonder of it with her friend, “was amazing.”
Abi smiled at her the way she imagined a sister would. “Of course it was. Not just because of how hot your boyfriend is, but because he loves you.” Abi took the phone out of her hand and threw it on the bed. “I know all of these pictures, these gossip stories, upset you. But they don’t matter.”
“I know they don’t, but there’s still the movie thing to deal with.” Serena shook her head. “I know complaining about having a part in a Smith Sullivan movie is crazy.”
“Pretty much every girl on the planet would sell her soul to get to be around Smith,” Abi agreed. “But you can’t beat yourself up if you dig libraries more than hot movie stars.”
It felt good to laugh, even a little. It felt even better to be understood. “Speaking of libraries, I really need to get ready for my presentation.”
“You want to run it by me?”
“You’ve already been so amazing,” Serena said. “Dealing with having me as a roommate, answering endless questions about things anyone else would already know about by now, and then my mother yesterday. So even though I appreciate your offer to be bored to tears by my presentation, I think you’ve done more than enough for me already.”
“It’s what friends are for,” Abi said with a little shrug that proved just how much she meant it. Clearly, none of the things she’d done for Serena had been a big deal for her. Because she was a nice person.
Wanting so badly to do something for Abi, too, Serena said, “I meant to tell you about meeting Sean’s brothers.”
“Oooh, tell me everything.”
“Justin looks like his carbon copy, but even though I think they’re pretty different as people, it would be a little weird if you dated him. However,” she said to quell Abi’s disappointment, “his oldest brother Grant was there, although he might be a little on the serious side for you, too. But Drew…”
“Oh my God, Drew Morrison left his tour to come home for his sister’s birthday party?”
Serena nodded. “He’s a bit of a player, I think. More than a bit. But I still really liked him.” She smiled at her roommate. “And he’s pretty darn sexy.”
“I don’t care if he’s a player, and I already know how sexy he is.” Abi licked her lips. “How long is he going to be in town?”
“Wait a sec, I’ll see if I can find out.” Serena quickly texted Sean, hoping she’d catch him before he started practice. She smiled when he texted right back. “Until tomorrow. Sean says he has a private gig in the city tonight.” Serena sent him another note, hoping that she could at least give Abi this one small thing.
“What are you doing?”
She held up a finger as her phone buzzed again. “Hold on, he’s checking with Drew.”
“Checking? What’s he checking?”
Thirty seconds later, the text she was hoping for came through. “Drew would love for you to be his special guest tonight for the private show. He’ll come pick you up here at six if that will work.”
“Of course it will work!” Abi threw herself at Serena and hugged her so tightly she almost lifted her off the floor. “Oh my God, what am I going to wear?” She looked at her watch. “I’m barely going to have enough time to go to the mall and get everything else done.”
“Everything else?”
“You know, nails, makeup, hair.”
“Abi.” Serena wanted her roommate to have a good time, but she didn’t want her to end up hurt. “It sounds like Drew is always on the road. I don’t think he’d be good boyfriend material.”
Fortunately, Abi just laughed. “Don’t worry, I’m not in the market for a boyfriend. Even if the whole committed-and-in-love thing is totally working for you. But I’m definitely game for making out with a rock star.” She grabbed her purse and keys and blew Serena a kiss from the doorway. “Thanks again, you’re the best! And don’t worry about those stupid pictures, okay?” She poked her head back around the door frame. “Good luck with your presentation. I’m sure it will be amazing.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Ten minutes later, Serena was in her usual spot in the library, but she couldn’t settle down. Not when everything around her reminded her of Sean. Surprising her the day those first pictures had come out. Showing her the photographs—and a deeply hidden part of himself—in the archives downstairs. Picking her up to take her to play Frisbee Golf. Surprising her with the bag full of Stanford Football clothes and face paint for one of their normal dates...and her surprising him right back by launching herself at him at the top of the stairs and kissing him. And then, on their most recent Friday night date, being surprised when he’d unzipped her bag and found tequila in it.