Stars Over Alaska (Wild River #4) - Jennifer Snow Page 0,104

course.”

He’d never let his best friend down before. He wouldn’t start now.

* * *

LESLIE TOOK SELENA’S laptop and plugged in the cable to the camera the next afternoon, after they’d both slept half the day away. They hadn’t gotten back to the hotel after the premiere and after-parties until almost 3:00 a.m. Her job was feeling more like hanging out with the star now—dare she even say, hanging out with a friend. Which meant it was time to move on. They could still stay in touch, but Leslie felt the lines between personal and professional blurring and ultimately that put Selena at risk. She hadn’t gotten the nerve to tell Selena yet, but she would. Soon.

“I’m not sure how great these turned out,” she said, clicking on the link to the photos she’d taken in the Alaskan wilderness three weeks before.

Three weeks. Felt like forever.

“From what I remember, they’re really great,” Selena said, bringing her chair super close and curling her legs under her as she sat.

Normally the close proximity and Selena’s disregard for personal space would annoy her, but knowing she was planning on handing in her resignation made Selena that much more tolerable. Damn it, she was going to miss the pain-in-the-ass movie star.

“Okay, here they are,” she said as the images loaded.

Selena leaned closer, examining each photo of her in the snowy woods with the mountains in the distance. “You were so right about the lighting being perfect. I barely have any makeup on and I don’t even need a filter on these.”

“You never need a filter,” Leslie said.

“Aw...thanks. I like those three best,” she said, pointing to the same ones Leslie would have chosen.

“Yeah, they are really nice, but are you sure your team is going to want these more candid shots going on your site and audition material?”

Selena scoffed. “After neglecting to inform me of how much danger I was in before, I think I’ll be taking over more of the decisions regarding my career moving forward.”

Well, good for her. Still, Leslie was self-conscious about the images. It wouldn’t just be Selena putting herself out there with this new look. Leslie’s photography had always been private. Now millions of people would see it. “Okay, but maybe we should take new ones, here in LA. On the beach maybe?”

Selena shook her head, her long brown braid swishing back and forth. “These are perfect.”

A message icon popped up on the screen and Leslie’s heart all but stopped.

A new message from Levi.

“Is that Levi, my Levi?” she asked, staring at the name on the screen.

Selena shot her a look with one perfectly arched eyebrow raised. “Oh, so he’s your Levi, now?”

She flushed. “You know what I mean.” She hesitated. Selena and Levi corresponding was none of her business. She knew the star had “friended” most of the people she’d met in Wild River as well. Hell, she’d Skyped with Kaia two days ago. She was an extrovert and liked connecting with people. And staying in touch with the man who’d helped them out was completely natural, expected even. So why was Leslie jealous again? “You’re still in contact with him?” she asked.

“Of course. I told him to reach out if he needed advice or had any questions regarding foundation stuff,” Selena said, casually.

So he was still working on that. Good. That was good. She was glad she hadn’t gotten between him and Mrs. Powell. “Oh, right. That’s good.” She paused. “How... How is he?” Did that sound casual?

“Good. I’ve set up a GoFundMe page for the foundation on the new website. It will help them collect donations throughout the year, not just during events.”

“Wow. Does he ever mention—I mean, does he ask about me?” Damn, why had she asked that? What did it matter? And if he wanted to check in with her, he could text or call anytime.

She’d answer the phone, wouldn’t she?

She’d definitely answer a text.

“Don’t answer that,” she said quickly.

Selena did anyway. “He does. Every single time we chat.”

Her heart had lodged itself in her throat and she nodded casually. “So, these three photos, then?”

“You’re in love with him.”

She swung toward her with a scoff designed to make people keep their distance. “No... I’m...”

Selena eyed her. “I’m the expert on love, remember?”

“You’re the expert on fake love,” Leslie argued, but her words were only half-hearted.

“I spent a week and a half glued to your side and the only time you were even remotely relaxed or happy was when things started getting friendly with Levi. And