Page 150 of Fake Married to the Grumps

There’s no celebration for me tonight. Not until I’m right where I know I need to be.

With Gracie.

Chapter 19

Gracie

“What do we do? Will you go out there to meet them?” Natalie asks me in a hushed tone that evening while I’m hiding inside the inner office we’ve converted into a changing room at Espresso Books. “Everyone out there wants a picture or an autograph with you.”

“This makes no sense,” I lament, shaking my head.Why would Trevor do a shout-out to me?I can’t stop thinking about the words he said on national TV after the previous night's game.

Each time I recall the excitement in his eyes and voice, my heart skips a beat.This is what you wanted, right? He said he loves you.

“But not on national TV!” I mutter with a cringe.

“What did you say?” Natalie asks me, and I lift my head to look at her.

“Call the cops, Natalie,” I whisper. “I want everyone out of the bookstore. I’m not a celebrity. Trevor is.”

Natalie smiles and lifts herself off the ground where she had been sitting beside me.

“I’ll do that,” she answers, but a rapid knock comes on the door before she can move.

I stiffen and shoot her a panicked gaze.Oh my goodness!

“Gracie?” Trevor’s voice on the other end worsens the tension snapping through me.

My eyes widen as I scramble to my feet, and Natalie squeals before grabbing my hands. “He came for you,” she chants in a playful voice, then squeals some more.

My heart races, and I don’t share Natalie’s excitement because I don’t want to get my hopes up.Trevor’s rejected me once, and he’s held out on letting himself feel anything for me.

So what changed?Did he mean those words? Or was it only part of his publicity stunt?I don’t know what to think, and I can’t let my heart hope for more just yet.

I can’t let myself be disappointed again.

“Gracie, I know you’re in there, so just … Open up, please.” His pleading tone softens my heart, and I motion for Natalie to unlock the door.

Natalie excuses us once she lets him in and closes the door behind her, enveloping us in silence.

Staring at him for a brief second makes me feel a tremor in my heart.

“Gracie,” Trevor murmurs as he takes a step towards me and lets out a deep breath. The feathery sigh on his lips makes me melt, and I back away, fighting the urge to throw myself in his arms.

“That was an amazing game last night,” I stutter cautiously, then clear my throat to get rid of the huskiness there. “That was also a brilliant move … Confessing your love on national TV is one sure way to shut down the rumors that doubt our ruse and …”

“I love you, Gracie,” he blurts, interrupting my ramble.

My breath hitches in my throat, and I draw a deep breath from the pit of my stomach, hoping to steady my shaky insides with it.

“I love everything about you … From your smile to how your mind works and the dreams you have. I love that you’ve been there for me every step of the way recently, and you’ve held on … You’re resilient, and that’s part of your charm…”

“I love your heart … You’re just so pure and frankly too good for me.” His chuckle ends with a shaky breath, and the look in his eyes draws me in, making my head swoon with a familiar giddiness.

“Trevor …”

“I’m probably too late, Gracie. Time and time again, I tried to fight this, tried to ignore how I felt about you, and I just … I realize now that fighting it and condemning myself to a life without you, is worse than the fear of what the future holds.”

He shakes his head before closing the distance between us and takes my hand. “I don’t want to live like that anymore, and if you still want me, then I want to take you on a date tonight. It’ll be just you and me, and no one else will matter.”

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