Free Star Power by Kelli London

she didn’t care. He could lie there for as long as he wanted, as long as he didn’t interrupt her sleep. She felt an almost comatose state pulling her into slumber, and her head was getting heavier, becoming one with the pillow. It took all of her might to open her lids and glance at him beside her. Liam was on his side with his body turned in the opposite direction of hers. She watched as his shoulder rose and fell in millimeters, in tune with his breathing. She rolled over, facing away from him, then let her eyes rest. All she needed was an hour, she told her internal clock. In sixty minutes, she’d be up and ready for the world. “Three thousand and six hundred seconds . . .” she whispered.
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    Charly’s eyes shot open, and she froze. She was surrounded by pitch blackness, and someone was shaking her. Her heart raced and adrenaline pushed heat through her veins. There was no way this was happening. She’d heard of lucid dreams, but this was ridiculous. She knew she could control herself if it were indeed a lucid dream, but could she also feel in one? “Stop it!” she said, covering her ears and kicking with all her might.
    â€œOuch!” the owner of the hand tapping her hip said in a much-too-familiar voice.
    She sat up. “Liam?”
    He started laughing. “Talk about a rough sleeper!”
    Charly looked around, trying to make him out in the dark. Then she panicked. How long had they been asleep?
    â€œGet up, love. It’s almost daylight,” he said, answering her unspoken question. The lamp turned on, blinding her. Liam moved the clock on the nightstand to where he could see it, then groaned. He turned toward her and propped himself up on his elbow, then looked in her eyes. His expression was uncertain. “Well, I guess we spent the night together . . .” he said, his exclamation cutting through them both.
    Charly’s head dropped. They had spent the night together, but all they’d done was sleep, and she didn’t even remember doing that. But if the studio heads found out—if anyone returned his calls and knew that Liam didn’t have a room, and if the camera crew didn’t see him in the lobby—that could be the end of the show, and they both knew it.
    â€œIt’ll be okay, love. No one knows, and no one has to,” he said, getting off the bed. “I’m going to hop in the shower and get dressed. You can finish sleeping. I got some things to take care of, then I’ll swing by and get you.” He opened one of his suitcases, grabbed some of his things, then headed toward the bathroom. “Oh, no.” His voice held a trace of woe. “Charly, love? There’s a problem.” He made his way back to her, then held out a bright wrapper to her. “I guess someone slipped this under the door while we were sleeping.”
    Charly yawned and stretched. “Liam, make sure you come swoop me as soon as you finish. I got a lot to do, starting with Nia,” she said, then took the wrapper from him, noticing it was ripped in half. Her eyes stretched in curiosity and panic. Someone knew she and Liam had spent the night together, and there was no denying it. The empty Skittles package with black marker written on both sides of it told her so, and she and Liam weren’t the only thing it addressed.

    Charly, you’re being played. Everything isn’t what it seems. Hi, Liam, hope you two enjoyed your night together.

7
    C harly drummed on the counter, then rang the bell. She’d been at the hotel reception desk for what seemed like forever, and saw no movement. She looked around, then made a full pivot in search of someone she could flag down. Surely, there had to be someone working. Though the town was small, the lodging was upscale, which should’ve equated to top-tier hospitality. But how could they provide that if no one was there to help her? she thought. With her body turned sideways, she