g came

tly still, staring at the ceiling. River was already awake. He hadn't slept much. His bo

th a man he was supposed to be faking a relationship with...

meone who'd trained himself not to take up space. Controlle

closet, and returned already dressed in a black button-dow

?" Jace ask

. "You breathe

look. "That's

the person next

ond, he smiled. "I'm told I sleep

faintly. "Fi

aiting with two coffees and a d

leek kitchen island. "One of them is a fanfiction about your for

ul," Jace

," she added. "River carrie

"At least I'm strong i

for tomorrow. He's pushing the narrative that

urprised,"

added. "If we're going to fight back, we

his coffee.

ust walking into a restaurant or looking cozy. You si

ened. "No

you don't take control

n his chair. "What

grew. "Leav

side were cue cards, talking poin

they

'd been "secr

kept it

the pages. "You want

s. The public loves consistency. If one of you says you met six mon

This just keeps

's in two days. The studio's secure and for the love of God, wear som

anything beige,

reed. "But maybe a sweater, Cashmere. Y

heels clicki

his temples. "I don't do in

m. "You're doing p

ire life on staying invisible. Now I'm the cente

nt to b

, jaw set. "Crane do

stretched. "Th

at him. "Pra

und, sitting with his arms folded ove

re se

on. I'm your fake

like he'd lost his

ed. "Clearl

. "I'm not going to sa

questions. Ho

. "You tackled an in

id. "Not the t

a private event as security.

nodded

ou said something

an eyebrow.

d dryly. "That's what

in slightly

hen I asked if you wante

something in Jace's voice tha

owed. "N

id quietly. "What ma

e hadn't expected that question. The answ

aving," he said slowly. "Ev

nk. "And you th

head. "No. But it

d. "You're better at

ver muttered. "They always have that one line t

m changed. Neither

d. He pulled it out, fro

watch

nswered

ilence on t

ted voice cra

wrong man. Walk away, o

still, comp

od. "Wha

nswer. The lin

step forwa

face unreadable. Then he looke

ting you... they