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“I can’t even. One glance and…oh, my ovaries, just stahp,” said Smurfy Blue Hair.

Alex gnawed her lip, trying not to laugh. These girls were hilarious, and yeah, she had to agree with them, Mark brought on all the feels—full stahp.

“After I meet him, I swear, I’ll DIE.” Black Widow took a breath and smirked. “And speaking of walking dead, did you see his girlfriend earlier? God, she’s the worst.”

Alex’s eyes bulged. What? The mask was seriously hindering her hearing.

Smurfy checked her makeup in her phone’s camera. “I thought they broke up, or maybe that was just wishful thinking.”

Black Widow nodded. “Why doesn’t he date his Lairds co-star? At least she’s pretty.”

The mask wasn’t hindering Alex’s hearing at all. Nope—these messages were coming through loud and painfully clear. These girls couldn’t be more different from the fans earlier. These girls wished her ill will; they begrudged her…Mark. She swallowed heavily, their ugly words echoing through her head, shredding her self-confidence and souring her stomach.

Smurfy scrolled through her phone. “She must be a good lay. Fuck knows what Mark sees in that butt face of hers.” She held up her phone so her friend could see.

With a clammy hand, Alex grabbed the forehead of the mask and gave it a tug, peeling it from her sweaty skin. The shift adjusted the mask’s tiny eyeholes and she spotted the Mail header. Of course. Her heart broke out into a sprint.

“I bet no one saw her play,” said Black Widow.

“I did. It was shit. Full of clichés, stereotypical characters.” Blue Hair sneered. “She needs to do me a favour: not write another one.”

The girls laughed.

Alex’s jaw dropped. These words stung more than any anonymous online attack. Maybe it was hearing the venomous slurs in person? Or watching their faces contort with disgust only inches away?

They hate me…because Mark loves me.

Their nasty remarks, paired with the suffocating sweatiness of the mask, felt like two hands tightening around her throat. She gasped for air, tears brimming in her eyes—not that this crowd would care. She ducked out of line and fled towards the exit.

• • •

“Mouse, did you order me that bacon cheeseburger? I’m starving.” Mark slicked back his wet hair and sat on the edge of the hotel bed with a white towel knotted at his waist. A second towel was flung open over his right shoulder, creeping down his chest, and the fresh scent of strawberry body wash hung in his wake. “All I had today was an energy drink and some crisps.”

“They said twenty minutes.” Alex stood in front of the TV, fussing with the uncooperative remote.

“My hand is so cramped, I could barely shave. Luckily, tomorrow is just photos…” Mark frowned and slipped off the bed. “Hey, stop playing with that.” His hands pulled her in. “How’s my girl? Did you have fun?”

Alex spun around, her nose coming within an inch of his shifted towel and an angry purple and yellow bruise that enveloped Mark’s entire shoulder and upper arm. Eyes staring, she held her breath. Beads of water trickled down his bare chest.

“Oh, God, Mark! What’s that?” Worst-case scenarios trampled through her mind: a plunge down a mountain, a choreographed fist-fight gone wrong, a spooked horse…?

“It’s fine.” He smiled. “You should see the other guy.”

Alex didn’t laugh—her heart was too busy trying to explode through her chest.

“It looks a lot worse than it feels—”

“What happened?”

“I fell on the ice—”

“I knew those stunts—”

“—during a snowball fight.” He rolled his eyes. “Embarrassing.”

Alex gritted her teeth. “How hard did you fall?” Her hand hovered, unsure if she should touch him.

“It’s fine, honestly. Would I be here if it wasn’t?” He tucked her underneath his chin, his grimace out of her sight. “Did you have fun today? I love your Silence mask!”

“Yeah.” She carefully rested her head against his chest, avoiding his eyes and any contact with his poor shoulder. “It’s a shame it was too late to invite Lucy. A guy was here, taking pitches. She could’ve shown her drawings—”

“She can do that any time. This weekend is for us.” He kissed the top of her head. “I knew you were off having fun when I didn’t see you all day. See? I was right, wasn’t I? This weekend’s been good for both of us, and we still have tomorrow to enjoy.”

“Can’t wait.” Alex shivered.

“You okay?”

“I’m fine. You’re—”

“Damp, yeah, sorry babe.” He let her go and removed the towel from his shoulder, patting it gently over his upper half. “Weren’t the fans great? They’re so kind and thoughtful…” His voice trailed off as he walked into the bathroom.

Alex slowly sat down on the bed. Behind the bathroom door, the hairdryer roared to life. “And honest,” she whispered to herself.