Not If I Date You First

Chapter 18

Ada makes a gagging sound, and Faye and Ariani both laugh.

"Do you mind?" I nod my head toward the camera in Ada's hands.

"Sure." Faye smiles warmly at Ada before leaning into Ariani. They pose as Ada snaps a few pictures. I can hear the paps behind us, trying to get the shot from over my shoulder. I do my best to block them while keeping my arm around Ada.

Ariani opens her mouth like she's about to say something, but I cut her off. "Well, we've got to get back to work. Very busy. Talk to you later."

"Oh, we will most definitely be talking later, Li." Ariani flips her hair over her shoulder, eyes dancing with amusement. Faye shoots another look over at Ada and then grins up at me before the two of them disappear into the SUV. I suppress a sigh, already dreading having to explain this whole charade to the two of them.

"You're welcome," I say to Ada, who's examining the shots she just took.

"Thank you." Ada's tone is mocking. "Feel free to remove your arm anytime now. You don't exactly smell awesome at the moment."

"And you think you smell like roses?" I take a step back. She ignores me, frowning at the gash on her arm, which is still bleeding.

"You alright?" I ask.

"Great." She grits her teeth, glaring over at the guy who knocked her down. He notices, looking up and leering at her in a way that instantly pisses me off. This dude has got to be at least forty. He's got no right to look at anyone like that, let alone a girl Ada's age.

"Sorry, doll," he calls. "Rough business. You outta think about taking up knitting instead."

Ada holds her head high. "Yeah? We'll see whose pictures actually sell." Her eyes narrow in a death glare. It's almost a relief to have that look directed at someone else for a change, especially this creep.

"Ooh, a feisty one, huh?" he says. "I can think of better things you can do with that smart mouth of yours, honey." He grabs his crotch, waggling his disgusting eyebrows.

Something inside me snaps, and a pure, blinding rage engulfs me, obliterating all thoughts. "What the fuck did you say to her?"

"You heard me, pretty boy," he spits at the ground near my feet. "What're you gonna do about it?"

Ada steps in front of me, putting a hand firmly in the center of my chest before I can make so much as a move toward him. The expression on her face is fierce as she looks up at me and gives her head a single shake.

She wheels around on the douchebag, her voice sharp as a razor. "My mother's one of the best lawyers in the city. Talk to me like that again, and I will sue you for harassment."

His filthy smile falters like he's trying to gauge how serious she is. When Ada doesn't flinch, he pushes past us, muttering, "Bitch" under his breath.

I want to go after him, but there are at least a dozen cameras pointed in my direction. The last thing I need is to get into another fight with a photog. I clench my hands into fists, reigning in the anger pounding through me.

"How often do you have to put up with shit like that?" I ask Ada.

She shrugs, staring down at the concrete. Her eyes are shiny, and she blinks rapidly.

"Hey," I duck down, so she's looking right at me, "guys like that are fucking slimeballs. And surprisingly, you're sort of a badass." I nod at her shredded knees and elbows. "Don't let him get to you."

Ada laughs. It's a little watery but sounds genuine. "You know, I think you might be right about something for once, Superstar."

"There's the pain-in-ass I know and despise." I grin, and she punches me in the shoulder. "I hope you've got your chapstick ready," I say.

"What are you talking about?"

"You owe me a kiss."

She gasps. "I so do not. The bet was for you to be a photographer for a day. Did you even take any pictures?"

"I took one of you."

"That doesn't count."

"Oh, it totally counts. Sorry to break it to you, Ace, but your photo is on every gossip site in the world. You're officially a celebrity."

"And you're a cheater." She puts her hands on her hips, familiar scowl fixed in place.

"And you better get ready to pay up."

"I am not kissing you right now. I wasn't joking when I said you stink."

"Yeah, me either." I squint, mimicking her glower until she laughs.

"I seriously hate you," she says, but her words don't have the bite they usually do.

"And I'll see you tomorrow." I wink at her before turning and striding down the sidewalk as my security team closes in around me.