Chapter 179

The crowd thickened fast. Half of them didn’t even know who I was, just saw phones flashing and assumed I was somebody worth filming. One woman actually elbowed a man out of the way so she could snap a photo over my shoulder. Someone brushed against my coat. Another girl asked me to sign her canvas tote bag with a borrowed Sharpie. I hadn’t even noticed Ashton had disappeared. When I finally glanced around, he was standing alone by a metal bench in the middle of the pedestrian zone, arms folded, watching the crowd like he was ready to punch someone. I caught his eye. He straightened instantly, dropped the scowl and put on his most neutral expression. It was the fakest look I’d ever seen on him. I raised one eyebrow. He gave me a shallow nod, like he wasn’t currently burning holes in every person who got within three feet of me. I went back to the girls, who had now started trying to guess which gemstone matched my ‘vibe’. Five more minutes passed. Then ten. Then some guy asked if I was