“Can you find out his name for me?” Alex nods and walks over toward him.
His eyes go wide as Alex approaches. He quickly looks at his friend for help, but she’s talking my ear off. I’m not listening, I can’t. I’m studying him and his reaction to Alex. He opens his mouth to speak and they shake hands. He looks so nervous and out of place. I want to rush over there and talk to him, just to hear his voice.
Alex comes right back to me, the look on her face is priceless. “His name is Ryan Stone and he’s extremely shy,” she whispers. I look at him out of the corner of my eye. He’s looking at me, but looks away as soon as I make eye contact.
“Excuse us for a minute,” I say to his friend. Alex and I move to the side, away from unsuspecting ears. “He’s cute, Alex.”
“Very. What are you thinking?”
I look back toward Ryan. He’s still watching me, but this time doesn’t look away. “After party in my suite,” I say to Alex without breaking contact with Ryan.
“Ian is going to flip,” Alex reminds me. She’s right, he will, but I don’t care. I want to know who this Ryan is and this isn’t the place.
Looking back at Alex, I shrug. “We're here for three days. I want to meet some locals. He can’t fault me for being hospitable.”
“Oh, sweetie,” Alex says as she pulls me into a hug. “He’ll fault you for anything that he didn’t suggest.” Alex chuckles. We talk about who to invite and I say screw it and invite all of them over. Maybe I can let loose tonight.
“Listen up,” Alex says loudly. The music is turned down and the chattering stops. “As you know, Hadley loves her fans and is happy you guys came out to the show tonight, so we’re extending an invitation for her after-party. If you’d like to keep your evening going, come see me.”
Ian storms over to me and grabs my arm, pulling me into the corner. “What are you doing?”
“What?” I ask innocently. “I’m not tired and want to hang out. It gets sort of boring for Alex and me just hanging out with each other.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. You’re Hadley Carter. You don’t get to just invite people over to your hotel whenever you want.”
I rip my arm out of his grip. “Thanks for reminding me, but in case you’ve forgotten, I sign your paychecks.”
“You pay me to protect you.”
“No, Ian, I pay Jones to protect me, Anal Anna to do my hair, make-up and pick out my clothes and you to handle my affairs. I’m an adult. If I want to have people come over to a hotel room that I’ve paid for, I can.”
Ian rubs his face, clearly set off by my little temper tantrum. “I don’t get you sometimes, Hadley. One minute you are itching to get home and the next you’re doing something like this. I’m looking around here and can’t fathom how any of these people interest you. Each one is beneath you.”
“Really? Is that my uncle or my manager talking?”
“Both.”
I look around and try to see the image he’s seeing: I see a mom and daughter; girlfriends who are laughing and meeting others, something I’ve made happen; and I see Ryan, sitting in the corner, content to let his friend bask in meeting a celebrity. I look back at Ian and shake my head.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t see what you’re seeing. I’m here for three days and if I want to entertain, I’m going to.”
Alex signals that we are all set. When I look at her and nod my head toward Ryan she nods and smiles. I’m about to get to know a fan, something I’ve vowed I’d never do.
“Alex says everyone is ready to leave. So I’d like to go now.”
Ian walks away and starts talking animatedly with Jones. His eyes get big as he looks over the people. If anything I should’ve consulted with him first, but I wasn’t thinking. All I really wanted to do was get Ryan alone so we can talk. Somehow I don’t think he’d open up in a room full of girls.
But maybe he’ll open up when it’s just him and me on my balcony. At least that is what I’m hoping.
CHAPTER 5
Ryan
When Alex announces that everyone is invited back to Hadley’s suite, I groan. I’m not interested in hanging out with people I don’t know, but Dylan will want to and I can’t let my disposition affect her happiness. She earned this.
I am worried about curfew though. My parents are expecting me home at some point and it’s already approaching midnight.
Dylan comes bouncing over to me when Alex says it’s time to leave. She pulls my hand into hers. The grin on her face must be hurting because it’s been permanent since Hadley walked into the room.
We rush to her car, running through the now-empty parking lot. Dylan cranks the radio once she has the car started and pulls out of the spot. I roll down my window and let the breeze wake me up a bit. I can’t help but laugh at Dylan; her attitude is infectious.