Starstruck Read Online Paige Laurens

Categories Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult Tags Authors: Paige Laurens Advertisement1

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I exit at a spot further down with everyone else.

For a while I walk with his team down the red carpet. I'm with him, only not with him but a safe distance away. He occasionally looks my way. We never get close enough to actually talk.

The one time he does start to approach Mona pulls him aside. He doesn’t argue. She shoots me a next level glare that he doesn't see.

Then he runs into Sabrina and they pose together.

The photographers go wild.

I walk away until I find myself inside the press-free tent. It's overdone in pale couches and oversized flower arrangements. Despite being lavish and pretty there's something about it that feels unnatural and suffocating. I grab two glasses of champagne and down them.

I don’t even like champagne. The bubbles sting my throat and as the time passes I wonder if I’m expected to wait here the whole night.

I’m pretty sure that’s the plan, or he just forgot about me.

"Hey." Asher startles me as he sits down.

Or not.

"Hey."

He takes a deep breath.

"We had a life before each other, right? Did things we weren't proud of. Were with people we didn't truthfully even like," he lets out a low chuckle. "I did a lot of dumb stuff with people I didn't care about. Guess that's why I've always felt this business sort of suits me. It and I, we're both pieces of shit."

"I never once thought that about you."

"I know, but you're biased," he smiles. "You only see the good in me. I told you I didn't deserve you and I meant it."

"I guess it's like, sort of twisted how you mixed business with pleasure."

"Yeah," he agrees. "I was never very smart... but I'm trying now. I'd like to think I'm different than I was then."

I slowly nod, and looking into his vibrant eyes, his smirk so goofy I can't help my own smile. I want to grab him by his thousand dollar tie and just tell him I love him. But I also want to yell a million other things that I hate about all of this, and the Mona thing, but if I do that now I'll just appear jealous.

With a sigh I bite my tongue settle back. "So am I actually going in with you tonight?"

"Of course." He gets this look.

"But?" I groan.

"We obviously can't sit together."

"Right."

Suddenly a group approaches Asher, abruptly ending our conversation. A stunning blonde in a low cut red dress throws herself at him. A pretty brunette in an unbelievably short tan number isn't far behind. Even I can tell she's not wearing any underwear.

"Thanks, ladies." He nods to Tiny before turning to me. Tiny ushers them away and I give him a look.

“What?” He feigns innocence.

“That one girl's dress was short,” I nod in her direction. He looks over too. She waves to Asher excitedly.

I let out a small groan, suddenly realizing who the actress on that new popular TV show is.

I guess I hadn't realized he has his own little celebrity fan club too.

I think for sure she’s going to come back over, but it's Mona who suddenly appears, whispering something in Asher's ear.

He nods and stands.

"Don’t worry,” he lowers his voice, flashing me a kind smile. "It’s hard to notice anyone else when I can’t keep my eyes off of you."

I roll my eyes and blush.

He laughs a wide grin. "I know I haven't had the chance to tell you that tonight, but it doesn't mean I haven't been thinking it."

"Thanks."

"You're beautiful, Elle. Inside and out. I think sometimes you let yourself forget that."

I smile after him, just as Mona steps in front of me, blocking my view. "Here's your ticket," she annoyingly shoves it my way. "Asher is of course sitting with Sabrina."

I meet his stare once more in the distance. He holds an apologetic smile. Then I count to sixty and follow them inside.

I don’t remember much about the actual show except it was pretty much just as I pictured. This past almost year has painted an entirely different picture of the entire entertainment profession. These people turn it on for the cameras and off when they're not being filmed.

I sit two rows behind Asher and Sabrina, but the only time I see anything but the back of his head is when he's on stage.

He performs.

Wins two awards.

Presents another.

When the show ends he leaves through the backstage area with all the other celebrities. I depart out front with the normal crowd. It takes forever.

Not to worry though my phone keeps me occupied. Texts from a million people asking why I wasn’t sitting with Asher. Even Jess makes a comment on how clearly no progress was made. She'll flip once she hears about the whole Mona thing. As if she didn't like her enough already.

Although I start to soon wonder if I was the only clueless one. Like maybe Jess already figured out that Asher would have hooked up with, well, everyone. Maybe it's just how naive I am.


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