I groaned at the rising sun the next morning. For a split second, I convinced myself that the whole day before had been a nightmare, but the text message from Nathan confirmed it wasn't.

"Statement released," blared from my front screen.

I unlocked my phone and added Nathan to my contacts before replying. "Thanks! I hope it takes this time!"

The reply bubbles appeared so quickly it surprised me. "Me too!"

I smiled and tossed my phone onto my pillow. I had the afternoon shift at the shop, so I didn't have to rush. The ding of another text message drew me back.

"Not that I'm looking to stop talking to you," Nathan added.

My heart pounded in my ears as a silly smile spread across my face. "Well, you have my number," I added a wink and then deleted it before hitting send. Chris and Trevor were right; I was developing a crush on Nathan!

"Is that an invitation to not delete it when this total fiasco is over?" He typed back.

He was asking my permission; very gentlemanly. "I added you to my contacts." I wrote back.

My grin made my cheeks ache, but I couldn't relax when I saw the bubbles again. "Added. Have you checked the entertainment news?"

I flicked to the entertainment section of the phone to see the headline: 'Crush hoax: Lee Smyth confirms single status.' After sighing in relief, I went back to my text messages. "I've never been so happy not to be liked!"

"Well, you aren't entirely unlikable." He added a wink face to the end of his text, and an actual squeak left my throat. "Have a great day!" He said soon after.

"You too!" I responded before dropping my phone on the bed and setting out on my morning routine.

I didn't think of the Lee Smyth scandal once as I puttered around my apartment throughout the morning, but my mind skipped to Nathan often. Recollecting our banter put a smile on my face each time I thought of it. I glanced out my window to see no mob outside as I bundled up to head to work, excited to see Trevor and update him on the turn of events.

I was already semi-distracted when I heard my name from behind me. In another entirely klutzy moment that frequently defined my life, I turned to see who was calling my name; at that same time, my foot hit a thin sheet of ice. The next thing I knew, I was on the ground with pain shooting up my arm; from nowhere, a mob of cameras was on me.

"Are you okay, Ana?"

"Someone call an ambulance."

"She went down hard."

As annoying as the flashing was, a few set their cameras down to help me.

"It looks like you may have broken your arm." A guy my age was long blond hair said as he set a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "It should be okay. I broke my arm in high school snowboarding."

"I called for an ambulance." Another guy in his early twenties couched down next to me. "How are you feeling, Ana?"

It was weird that he knew my name since we had never met, and I didn't know his name. "I'm feeling clumsy, embarrassed, and like I'd like to be invisible. Oh, and my arm hurts."

The two guys both let out a laugh.

"She's funny." The blond one said to the other.

"And I'm right here and didn't injure my hearing at all," I added, causing the blond to flush.

As the ambulance pulled up, I was grateful. I didn't even care about the pain pulsing from my arm; I just wanted to be whisked away from the photographers.

The only plus I found at the hospital was that I had broken my left arm, so I could still text. I used that discovery to send a quick text to Trevor, so he didn't think I flaked on work.

"OMG, do you want me to come to the hospital?" He quickly responded.

"No, I promise, I'm fine. They need you at the shop!" I responded, knowing that once he was over the concern, he'd make me relive my embarrassingly awkward moment again and again.

My phone dinged, and I casually glanced at it, assuming it was Trevor, but it was Nathan's name at the top of the text. "I just heard. We're on our way."

"What? No!" I shot quickly back.

"Too late; already in motion."

I had mixed feelings. I was dying to meet Nathan in person, but I didn't want our first meeting in a hospital. Then I realized; he said we. "Wait, who is we?"

"Have they already started giving you pain meds?" He shot back with a goofy grin emoji.

"Please don't bring Lee with you. I already have to deal with the pain in my arm; I don't need a pain in the ass, too."

"Hilarious! Probably shouldn't have read that one out loud." I groaned aloud at his response. "We're pulling up right now."

Panic surged through me. I flipped my phone to self-view and tried to look semi-presentable. The bustle in the hallway let me know the movie star was nearby. The butterflies in my stomach turned to elephants as the commotion neared. I had never stopped to wonder what Nathan looked like, and now I was about to see him in the flesh.

A confident knock bellowed from my door as my doctor led Lee and Nathan into the room. "Ana, you have some visitors." The doctor beamed as though he were Santa delivering me a puppy.

Lee charged the bed as though we were long-lost friends. "Ana, I'm so sorry this happened to you." He grasped my right hand and squeezed it. I still didn't feel like he was sincere.

"I'll give you all a few moments." The doctor said as he backed out of the room, clicking the door behind him.

"How are you feeling?" Lee asked as he flashed a picture-perfect smile.

"Like I don't know you," I said as I pulled my hand away from his grasp.

"Charming," Lee grumbled as he slumped back in the chair beside my bed.

I looked back at the door as my eyes fell on Nathan. He was tall and lanky, with a boyish look to him. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. "Nathan?"

"Hey, Ana." His voice was shy, and his eyes fluttered to the floor as he spoke.

"See what happens when you tell me to have a great day?" I joked.

A crooked smile spread across his face as a chuckle came from his throat. "That'll teach me to tell you what to do." His eye flickered up to mine again. "Does it hurt?"

I got lost in the depths of his eyes for a moment before I remembered to answer. "No, it's not that bad. Thank you for asking."

"Oh, you thank him for asking." I had forgotten Lee was still there until the mutter came from him.

Nathan and I ignored him. "Is there someone coming to get you?"

"Oh, no. I told my friend to stay at work."

"You can't be alone; you just broke a bone." His concern drew Nathan closer. His edging proximity coursed through me.

"It's fine. What's the worst that can happen? I break another bone?" I joked.

"You can stay with us tonight," Nathan asserted.

"She can what? I thought we were trying to dispel dating rumors." Lee shot from his seat.

"Yeah, that seems like a terrible idea." I concurred. There was a hint of disappointment in Nathan's eyes.

"You can't be alone. And besides, the photogs already saw us arrive. You leaving with us won't add anything that they won't already be saying." Nathan's voice was growing in confidence, stirring something in me.

"I'm good at alone," I offered.

"I won't take no for an answer." He defiantly crossed his arms.

"Are you sure I won't be a pain?" I couldn't think of a way to get out of this.

"No, we have plenty of room," Nathan confirmed.

"Speak for yourself. I am quite certain you'll be a pain." Lee said as he pulled himself up from his chair. "But Nathan is right; you shouldn't be alone." Lee's words trailed away as his mind flipped to his public image as he spoke.

The idea that my presence would annoy Lee was appealing, and it was clear Nathan wouldn't take no for an answer. The hospital seemed more than eager to discharge me once my arm was in the cast. Luckily, it was a clean fracture, so it didn't require any realignment. Unfortunately, they insisted on wheeling me outside in the wheelchair. The photographers continued snapping away as Nathan and Lee helped me from the wheelchair to the waiting SUV. Once we settled in, Nathan quickly removed his arm from around me and tucked his hands between his knees as he sat rigidly next to me. On the other hand, Lee kept his arm slung around my shoulders until I shrugged it off them.

In a quiet voice, Nathan leaned in close and asked, "are you sure it doesn't hurt?"

"It's killing me," I admitted.

"I'm so sorry." His voice was so genuine that his sorrow felt like it had pierced my heart.

"You didn't make it icy or make me a complete and total klutz." I reminded him. It was enough to get his crooked smile to cross his face.

We rode the rest of the way in silence. I shouldn't have been surprised, but when the SUV pulled into the garage of a high-rise right in Columbus Circle, I felt a lump form in my throat. I then remembered that Lee Smyth was an international superstar, and he was sitting next to me. Nathan helped me out of the car and to the elevator, as reality made me limper than the painkillers.

"They said you couldn't take another painkiller for a few hours." Nathan's voice was apologetic.

I didn't respond but leaned into him, hoping he'd leave his arm around me. The support was comforting. He seemed to get the hint and left his arm this time. The elevator kept ticking away until we hit the 68th floor. The condo was amazing, with hardwood floors and panoramic windows overlooking the city, but it didn't feel cozy. I wished I was at my third-floor walkup with the blanket my grandma gave me for my seventh birthday.

"I'll show you to the spare bedroom so you can lie down." Nathan offered, which I returned with a smile of acceptance.

"Nat, do I have anything else today?" Lee asked as he surveyed the contents of the fridge.

"No, I cleared your schedule," Nathan called over his shoulder.

"He calls you Nat?" I asked.

"Yeah, that's my nickname," he shyly murmured.

"How long have you known Lee?" I asked as he directed me to my room for the night. It was another nice room with a fantastic view but felt sterile, like a hotel room.

"We grew up together. So, forever." Instinctively, Nathan helped take my sneakers off. "I can get you a tee shirt. It might be more comfortable," he offered.

"Yes, please." Jeans and a ripped-up shirt were not the most comfortable clothing items.

He wasn't gone long before he was back with a couple of t-shirts. "I brought you a few options." He tossed them on the bed next to me. "I'll get out of your way and let you get settled." He was gone before I could protest.

It took me longer than it should have to wrangle my way into a Knicks t-shirt. While I'm sure it would have fit Nathan perfectly, it fell almost to my knees and was a perfect sleep shirt. I picked up my phone to find an onslaught of texts from Trevor and Chris. I was too tired to text, so I called Trevor.

"How are you?" He answered with none of the usual pleasantries.

"It was a clean fracture. No surgery, just an ugly cast." I updated.

"Okay, I'm coming over to take care of you."

"Well, I'm not home," I sheepishly said.

"Oh no, are you still in the hospital? I can come. I'm off work." Trevor's concern was rising.

"No, I'm at Lee Smyth's condo," I admitted.

"I'm sorry, you're where?"

"I'm at Lee's. Well, Lee's and Nathan's. It turns out they live together and have been friends since childhood."

"You're at Lee Smyth's condo, and you let me prattle on about how you're feeling?" Shock and tease pulled at his voice.

"So, is he nicer in person?" Trevor pressed.

"Not really," I admitted. "Although I'm probably not the best judge since I already had a pretty negative impression. But Nathan is sweet."

"Sweet, huh? Tell me more," he pressed.

My face stung with a flush. "He's just very genuine."

"And is he cute?" Trevor was spinning to full gossip mode.

"I think so. He has these deep brown eyes that are so expressive. I wouldn't say he's your classic handsome, but..." I let my words trail off, not knowing what to add.

"So, is there something going on there?" He pressed.

"No, he's just being gentlemanly. Honestly, I think they're hoping I don't throw Lee under the bus to the press." I was deflating my hopes just as much as Trevor's.

"Well, enjoy the digs and the sweet, genuine, cute boy taking care of you."

I let Trevor's words swirl in my head as the painkillers lulled me to sleep.