Page 62 of Sidelined By Love

I shove his shoulder despite the shimmer of hope that his words bring. “I’m serious! I’m a tabloid mess right now. And I’m going to ruin your reputation if we’re seen together.”

He shrugs. “What reputation? I don’t think you have the power to get me into the Hall of Fame someday—or keep me out for that matter.”

“Gra-ant.” I turn more so that I can look squarely into his face. His whiskers scrape the palms of my hands as I hold him still. “Don’t be flippant about your future. About your career. About my dad’s reaction.”

His eyes narrow, piercing through my chest. “I’m not.”

“You thought Tawna’s efforts to get in the press were a distraction, but you haven’t seen anything. I can’t even take a walk without winding up in a messy headline. Perfect timing for an audition.”

Suddenly his hands are on my shoulders, making long smooth strokes to my elbows and back up. “What happened on your call with the director yesterday?”

“Nothing.”

“Not nothing. Tell me.”

“He knew about the story. He knew. Before I did.” My voice threatens to break, and I swallow several times, blinking against the truth. “I didn’t even know enough to play defense.” Dropping my chin to my chest, I let out a long breath through tight lips. “I know better. I can do better. And I still put myself in a situation to lose a chance at the only job I might have a shot at. And to put you in my dad’s crosshairs.”

Shaking my head, I lean forward to rest the top of it against his chest. His chin falls, and he sweeps his hands up and down my back in slow circles.

“You couldn’t have known your shoe was going to break,” he whispers.

“Or that you were going to pick me up.”

“Or that someone was going to record the whole thing.”

Instead of making me feel better, his words twist the vise around my lungs tighter. “I didn’t know the guy I was seeing was married either. Doesn’t make me any less responsible.”

“Hey.” Hooking a finger under my chin, he lifts my face until I meet his gaze. “You’re doing your best with the information you have.”

I shake my head. “Joe wasn’t the best. He was . . . He was good at pursuing. And somehow I thought that meant he was worthy. I thought that meant I was special.”

“You are special, Zoe.”

I want to smile at his compliment. I want to believe it. But how can I?

“I messed up a lot of lives.”

“Listen to me, Peebles.” His voice takes on a stern tone—one I know his teammates follow. “You have to forgive yourself.”

“That’s a lot easier said than done.” I don’t realize I believe those words until they come flying out of my mouth. His eyebrows arch in question, and the truth keeps spilling out. “Marissa Kellyn. The tabloids. The film director and producers. None of them are going to let me or anyone else forget that I messed up a marriage and nearly blew up a whole production. There’s nothing I can do to make up for it.”

His fingers dive into my hair, tips massaging my scalp, soothing the tension that has been building there. “Do you think that what they’re saying about you is true?”

I sigh, letting my forehead fall against his collarbone. “I’m not sure I know what’s true anymore.”

“You’re not who they say you are,” he whispers into my ear. “You are who God says you are.”

Twenty

Zoe

Bronco, stop eating that leaf.“ I gently tug on the silly dog’s leash as we resume our very slow afternoon lap around the block, crisp orange foliage crunching beneath his paws. He deigns to lookup through one eye, fully judging me for making such a ridiculous demand.

“Yeah, well, join the club.” I’ve been judging myself pretty harshly since my meeting with Knight. Since reading the newest headlines. Since my dad made it clear that my drama is ruining Grant’s life.

Since Grant suggested I shouldn’t believe who they say I am.

Like it’s that easy. Like I could just wipe my memory and start over. Like my actions won’t follow me—aren’t still following me. Like they’re not affecting him too.

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