Page 109 of Romance Is Dead

Teddy’s cheeks flushed pink. “I may have set it as my background.”

Warmth spread through my chest, and I snuggled back under his arm, wrapping my arms around his waist. “You’re the cutest.”

Teddy pulled me closer, squeezing me tight. “I meant what I said the other night. That you mean the world to me. That I’m falling in love with you.”

“I know,” I breathed.

“But I also understand you’re not looking to get involved, so—”

“I am,” I interjected.

“Hmm?”

“Looking to get involved. I mean, with you. Not anyone else.”

“Oh? And how does that feel?”

I pulled away so I could look up into his eyes. “Like I trust you. Like I know you wouldn’t hurt me.” I took a deep breath. “I’m in love with you, too. I want to be with you.”

A smile bloomed on Teddy’s face, so pure and bright it made my heart ache. “I think I could make that work.”

“And if you’re still going on that reality show, that’s ok, too. We can figure it out.”

“About that. . . I want you to know—”

“It’s ok.” I held up a hand to stop him. “You don’t have to explain. It’s your career. Your choice.”

“No, it’s important that you know that I haven’t been going on these shows or this movie for fame. I couldn’t care less about being famous. I’d rather not be, actually.” He absentmindedly ran his thumb along my knee. “It’s for the money. Which I know sounds bad! But I need the money to give to my mom.”

“Oh.” The air went out of me with a whoosh.

“She lost her job last year, and she’s been able to make ends meet with a couple of part-time jobs, but I know she’s tired. And she’s been working so hard for so long, ever since my dad died. I just want her to be able to rest.”

“Wow, I’m an asshole.”

“You didn’t know.” He pressed his lips to the top of my head. “And I understand why you have trouble trusting people. I just hope you trust me now. And I won’t go on the show. Not when it would be compromising what we have.”

I tipped my face up to look at him. “I think you should do it.”

“Um, how?” Teddy leaned in close to my ear. “Do you know what happens on those shows? Let me tell you—”

I held up a hand. “I don’t need to hear. I just want you to know that I trust you. If you go.”

Teddy shifted so he could hold my face in his hands. “You’re amazing.”

Then he pulled me into a kiss, his lips tender and velvet, and for the first time, I let myself feel everything: how good it felt, how much he made me feel like the best version of me, and how much I wanted him to swallow me up and never let me go.

“One thing,” he said, pulling away just enough to form the words.

“What’s that?”

“Please cross detective off your list of possible careers.”

Epilogue

Two years later

The woman tore down the hall of the film studio, scanning the nameplates of each room as she passed. Her feet thudded against the linoleum, the flickering fluorescent lights overhead lighting her way through the dark hallway.

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