Page 106 of Romance Is Dead

I opened my mouth to retort, but then snapped it closed. She wasn’t exactly wrong.

“I’ve been struggling for almost two decades!” Chloe spat. “Do you know how mean casting directors can be? I’ve gotten rejected because my ear lobes were too flabby. My ear lobes!” Rising from the chair, she pointed at the side of her head. “I had surgery to pin them back, and I still couldn’t book jobs.”

“I’m sorry.” She wasn’t wrong. I did have it easy getting jobs. And casting directors could be assholes. Once one told me that in order to book a lead, I had to swear I wouldn’t eat carbs for the duration of filming. Bizarre. “No one deserves that.”

“No. No one does. And now, I finally get to have my revenge.” Chloe raised the gun. “Teddy will just be more collateral damage.”

Chapter Thirty-five

They say your life flashes before your eyes before you die. In my case, that wasn’t true. What flashed before my eyes were my regrets.

I regretted not being honest with my dad sooner.

I regretted not believing Teddy when he told me he didn’t leak the photo.

I regretted not figuring out it was Chloe sooner, especially when my dad had the answer in his cabin the whole time.

And as I stared at her pointing that gun at me, convinced I had mere moments left to live, I regretted letting my fear get in the way of me feeling everything I had to feel for Teddy.

I turned to look at him, wanting his gorgeous face and that adorable flop of hair to be the last thing I saw in this world. This was my last chance to say what I needed to say. I wouldn’t keep making the same mistake.

“I’m falling in love with you.” I whispered the words, not wanting Chloe to overhear. I didn’t want her to be part of this moment.

“What?” Teddy leaned closer. Well, as much as his bindings would allow.

“I’m falling in love with you!” I repeated, louder this time.

“Quinn, I can’t hear you!”

Ugh, goddamnit. “I said I love you! And. . .” I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. “I’m sorry. For, you know, everything.”

Teddy’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

“Very really.” Something like peace swelled in my chest, the satisfaction that if I was about to die, at least I wouldn’t have to add not telling Teddy how I felt about him to my list of regrets.

“Oh, gross.” Chloe cocked the gun. “Enough of this crap.”

But then, a banging sound echoed from above. A noise like a door slamming against a wall.

My heart leapt. The police.

“What the hell?” Chloe tipped her head to the ceiling. “I’ll be right back. Neither of you move.” She laughed to herself as she climbed up the stairs. “Not like you could.”

I waited until I heard her reach the top of the stairs.

“Start screaming,” I instructed Teddy. “Mara’s outside and called the police. I think that’s them up there.”

“Did you guys make up?”

“I think so.”

Teddy beamed. “Aww! I knew you two would work it out.”

“Thank you, but we need to start making noise!”

“Oh, right.”

The two of us took deep breaths and yelled as loud as we could, for as long as we could. I screamed until my throat was searing and my stomach hurt; Teddy yelled even louder and longer. But still, no one came.

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