Aftershock: A Charity McAdams Novella by Elizabeth Storme

get tripped up by the celebrity lifestyle that so many covet.
    I study him as we settle into our seats opposite one another and again realize how incredibly thankful I am for second chances.
    “That was insane!” I say quietly, once the hostess has walked away from our table.
    “Yes, a real treat,” he replies, sarcastically. “Not exactly how I wanted our first night out together to go down. I was really hoping to avoid the circus.”
    “Is it always like that?” I ask, slightly afraid to hear the answer.
    “No, not always. But more often than I would like,” he answers. “Are you sure you’re ok?”
    Inside I am still a little shaky from the whole mess but I don’t want Brandon to feel worse than he already appears to. “I’m ok. It just caught me off guard a little.”
    He stares at me for a moment. “Really? You just got mauled by paparazzi. It’s ok to be pissed off about it.”
    I shrug. “It’s alright, really, I’m fine. Let’s just enjoy the night.”
    “Alright,” he says, continuing to watch me for a moment longer before he flips open the menu and starts to look over his options.
    I take the cue and start perusing my own menu, trying not to gasp at the prices that seem to get higher and higher as I keep scanning down the list. There are appetizers that cost more than the shoes I’m wearing! Granted, they were purchased on clearance a few years back at an outlet store. But still…this is insane!
     
     
    We enjoy our (incredibly overpriced) dinner and linger over a shared dessert before we decide to try and brave the storm waiting just outside the front doors. The crowd seems to have dispersed slightly since the time we arrived but there are still pictures taken and a few fans even ask for autographs. Brandon is silent as he guides me to the car. Once I am safely tucked inside he does stop and sign a few things and thanks his fans before getting in next to me.
    In the backseat I slip off my shoes and pull my legs up on the seat and snuggle into Brandon and release a slow exhale.
    “Thanks for being so great tonight, that was not an easy situation,” he says, pressing a kiss to my temple.
    “Part of the life right?” I say, offering him a smile, hoping I look more confident than I feel about the whole thing.
     

Chapter Fifteen
    “You’re famous!” Ashley squeals into my ear.
    “Correction, Brandon is famous, I was just standing next to him,” I say, switching the call to speakerphone and laying the phone down on the end table next to the couch.
    Ashley had called to tell me that one of the entertainment news shows had a story about Brandon and his “mystery brunette” with pictures of us leaving the restaurant last night.
    I locate the remote and flip on the TV but by the time I find the right channel, it’s too late, the spot is already over and the hosts have moved on to the next bit of juicy Hollywood gossip. I flick the TV off again and settle onto the couch. In some ways I’m glad to have missed it. I’m not sure I’m fully ready to face the reality of seeing my picture splashed all over the screen.
    “But you’re with him! You’re part of this world now, all the glitz and glamour!” She counters, her voice still high pitched with excitement.
    “Ash, they don’t even know my name. I’m not a part of this life, I’m just caught in the crossfire,” I say with a sigh.
    Sometimes I think it should have been flip-flopped. Ashley should be the one dating a celebrity and living in L.A. She would thrive in a situation like this. She loves fashion and would revel in all the drama and excitement the Hollywood life has to offer. She’s also scrappy and tough enough to deal with the pressure and attention.
    “Well I could call and offer an anonymous tip if you’d prefer! I could be the inside source that feeds them all the details, at least you know I’d tell it right,” she jokes.
    “Yeah,” I reply, halfway listening, halfway still caught up in my own thoughts as I