He took a moment, as if collecting his thoughts. “I started out my career on a kids’ show. I played a character named Felix. A lot of actors never overcome that one role they are famous for. It becomes the only way the public can see them. I was in danger of that happening to me, but I have an amazing team who has guided me onto the path I wanted to be on. My agent, Sandy, and Reina are the best in the business. So when Reina said, ‘Bring Hannah Fremont as your date,’ I did.”

“What about tonight?” I asked.

“They said I could make tonight about me.”

The implication was there—that me being with him as his not-a-date was what he wanted. I couldn’t deny what he seemed to be admitting without using the actual words.

When I didn’t respond, he kept talking. “Sandy and Reina are the reason I’m where I am in my career.”

He was really selling himself short, and it made me lay on the sarcasm nice and thick. “Yes, your talent has nothing to do with it, I suppose.”

“Another backhanded compliment. You keep giving me those and I might get a big head.”

“Might?” I teased. “I don’t think you need any help there.”

He laughed again, and the world around me became so dazzling and bright that it took me a second to come back down to earth. So it took me another second to realize that someone was calling his name from a distance. More than one person. But his long legs kept eating up the ground in front of us, and I was glad I could keep pace. “I think someone said your name.”

“A lot of people say my name. I don’t have to respond. I promised you a ride home, and right now that’s what I’m going to do. My debt to this particular society has been paid in full for the night. I’m off the clock now.”

His words made my toes tingle. Why did it make me feel brilliant and special that I was the only thing he was focusing on? That in this moment, keeping his word to me was more important than anything else?

The sea of photographers outside had pretty much cleared out, and there was only a handful of fans waiting near where the cars were picking up people leaving the party. We had to wait only about a minute, and Noah waved to the remaining fans who were calling to him.

I wondered if any of them were going to try to attach themselves to him like a baby sloth, but they were fairly outnumbered by the guards.

The car pulled up, and Noah opened the door for me. I got in, and he slid in next to me.

And closed the door. And the car left.

“Wait. Aren’t we forgetting some people?”

“No.”