Starstruck Read Online Paige Laurens

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

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I stop at my desk and grab my phone before heading into the hall. I have to call Asher and explain, if he'll even hear me out. For some reason, despite being over, I need him to know it wasn't me.

I try to click his name, but missed calls and texts keep popping up. Jess, my mom, Asher from last night. Many numbers I don’t even recognize. I ignore them all and finally hit his name at exactly the right moment.

Ringing...

Ringing…

Please, please pick up.

“Elle,” he finally answers.

“It wasn’t me! I swear I never told anyone except my family and Jess. And this girl Sam at work, but she sort of found out on her own. Crap, maybe a lot of people do know- ”

“I know it wasn't you,” he cuts me off.

"Okay," I sigh a deep puff of relief.

"Because it was me."

19

I Love New York

Stunned, I don't know how long I remain silent.

"You made a lot of valid points," Asher continues.

"What did you do?" I whisper, leaning against the wall for support.

"I dunno," he sighs. "For once I didn't consult anyone. I just did what I felt. I hated how we left things - how you left. How I let you go."

I swallow hard.

"I saw it from your point of view," he stammers. "How it must seem like I’m ashamed to be with you, which for the record I’m not. You were right, I let too many people control my life."

"Asher…"

"I realized it was an eerily similar feeling as to what happened with Let's Go. So this time I'm doing something about it before it's too late. Maybe I wasn't thinking, or maybe for the first time I actually am."

"Wait, so what did you do?"

"You really haven't seen it yet?" he laughs. "I tweeted a picture of my girlfriend and I kissing."

Whoa.

"Funny, I didn't think you had a girlfriend anymore."

"Ouch." The phone crackles. "I hope I still do."

I let out a deep sigh. "From what I remember she did leave. But someone made some pretty valid points too. I don't really deal with things and when it gets tough I tend to go."

"I can forgive if you can."

"I feel like I made you do something you didn’t want."

"No." He assures. "I've been hiding the best part of my life and for what? I was being an... egotistical prick, I believe?"

I bite my lip. I can't believe it.

"Elle?"

"Yeah, I’m here," I confirm, clearing my throat. "Hey, I love you."

He lets out a low laugh.

"Smith is going to take you somewhere. Don't give him any shit about it, okay?" He's not asking, and even though he can't see me I nod, slightly humiliated that he didn't say those three words back to me, but it's okay. I have no regrets.

I hang up, grab my things, and with no idea where I'm going, I'm the girl I've always wanted to be.

I head towards the unknown with a smile.

Smith drives to the Upper East Side, confusing me. I thought for sure I was about to get on a plane, but the car stops in front of a building across from Central Park.

Tiny walks out and starts talking to the doorman. Then he spots me and they both wave. My heart skips a beat as I wave back.

"Always good to see you, Elle," Tiny smiles in that all-knowing sort of way. He introduces me to the doorman before leading me inside. He holds the door open as I step into the elevator, but at the last minute presses the button and doesn't get in. I look up, wondering what's going on as the doors close.

The ride up is fast. I feel a rush.

Then the doors slide open into a small foyer. I get out, facing another set of doors labeled PH. One of them is slightly ajar so I push it the rest of the way in, floored by the empty space I walk into.

It must be three stories tall. All wood, with unique architectural features and built-ins.

It's beautiful.

To my right is a long winding staircase that leads up. Railings on the top floor overlook where I'm standing. Straight ahead are steps that lead down into another big open space where floor to ceiling windows overlook the park. There are smaller rooms off to the sides.

Everything is massive, but bare and empty, a sea of wood and white walls with intricate molding. French doors lead onto a big balcony with trees. There's even a small grassy area and a fountain that I can make out underneath the snow.

Back inside, a room off to the side is of wall-to-wall shelves. The opposite way, another small room, and beyond that a dinning area, I think. Based on the outline on the floor it looks like where a table would sit.

I head back to the main area.

“Hello?” I shout. I look into another room.


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