Stand Close 2 (Stand Close New Adult Romance Series) Read Online Free Page B

know he’s rehearsed that face. This insanity–never being able to go anywhere like normal people without fear of being caught on film, or assaulted–is the price you have to pay for the freedom their money gives them. My money, now, too, I guess.
    Is this what my life is going to be like now?
    “Everything has a price,” I mumble, taking Jenna’s hand. “How’re you doing Susan? Bet you didn’t expect this when you locked up the store, did you?”
    She grins. “I’ve never had so much fun!”
    The guys climb in, and the driver shuts the door. Sean locks it immediately and we all exhale, except Susan, who’s staring out at the faces squished against the windows like she’s enjoying this.
    “How many of them are there?” I ask, taking off my coat.
    “Well over five hundred. They’re wrapped around the block. Tony warned us.” Sean answers, looking forward dully as Tony yells through the window for people to get out of the way as he tries to pull the limo away from the curb. The divider goes up so we don’t have to listen.
    Jack challenges me, his lashing expression calling me out as responsible for what just happened, “You want to get into trouble? Let’s get into trouble.”
    I raise my eyebrows; feel the familiar fire of rebellion light up my veins. “Bring it, Jack.”
    “No, we’re taking you home,” Alec mutters, looking out the window. He must have seen me kissing the guy, because he won’t look at me.
    Struggling against my own embarrassment, I lean back and tuck myself against Jenna’s arm. “It’s not my fault what just happened. If you guys didn’t show up, there wouldn’t have been a mob.”
    Even Sean’s eyes flash. Alec’s jaw tightens further, which I didn’t think was possible, and he still won’t look away from the window.
    Jack hasn’t stopped staring green hatred at me. At my denial of responsibility, he blows up. “Have you checked the news, dipwit? You’re trending on Twitter.”
    I blink, glancing over to my friends to exchange surprised looks. Turning dubious eyes back to him, I ask slowly, “What do you mean, I’m trending ?”
    “Look.” He raises his ass off the seat, grabs his phone out of his pocket and shoves it in my face.
    Staring at the small screen, I see rows and rows of tweets about me. Where we were. What I was drinking. Pictures of us at the airport. Checking into the hotel. Buying a larger suitcase to fit all of our new stuff. Dancing on 5 th Avenue with our new friend right after she locked up early. There’s even one with Hercules. My jaw slackens. It takes me a few stunned moments to speak. “#SisterStone? But… my last name isn’t Stone.”
    “It may as well be,” Sean mumbles, gravely. Both he and Jack look at their phones, swiping through the tweets, their faces somber.
    Silenced, I lean back again in the leather seat, adjusting blue fabric over my breasts so they stay covered. Alec glances to me and I meet his eyes with a challenge to say something, anything. He looks away.
    That’s the last straw. I can only take so much in this luxury pressure cooker before I lose my shit.
    “This is ridiculous. I didn’t know about that. Stop acting like I’m a burden, when I’m just learning about all of this stuff!” They say nothing. “And you’re taking me home? What, like I’m on a time-out and I’m five years old?! I’m an adult and I get to make my own decisions. You guys know I’m twenty-one. The whole world knows it. So that means I’m old enough that I don’t need you three telling me what to do.”
    “Rue,” Jenna mutters, shifting uncomfortably.
    But this train won’t stop until it collides. “I don’t have to do what you guys say. I don’t have to take orders from anyone, ever! I didn’t even know you a week ago, so why don’t you get off my case and stop acting like we’re family. We aren’t family until you earn the right to call me family.” I can feel Jenna and Susan tensed up beside me, but I’m too busy