Page 77 of You and Me, For Real
His thumbs rub the back of my hands. “I’ve wanted out for a while now, especially since I’ve noticed Scarlet’s feelings toward me may be genuine.”
“Oh, they are.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.” He rakes his fingers through his hair. “But I’m trapped. If I break the contract, I’ll lose my starring role in the movie. And it’s good, Ash. It’s really good. It’ll jumpstart my career into film and I won’t be forced to take roles in any lame teeny-bopper shows anymore.”
Did he just call me Ash?
“Can you talk to Scarlet and tell her how you feel? Maybe it’s still a publicity stunt, but what’s between the two of you can be honest.”
“I’ve been meaning to. I just haven’t found the right time or the right words.”
“Trust me, there’s never a right time to break someone’s heart.”
He shoots up to stand. “I know. I just can’t screw things up with her. If I hurt her, it could impact Wesley’s opinion of me and ruin my chances of being in his film.”
“Won’t there be other film opportunities?”
“Yes, but there’s no guarantee. I may have had a solid career in television, but breaking into film is another ballgame.” He studies my face and sits next to me. He grabs my hand and weaves my fingers through his. “But that’s not the point. The point is, I don’t have feelings for her. Only you.”
Only me.
He isn’t with Scarlet.
My brain shouts it again.HE ISN’T WITH SCARLET!
“What does that mean? For us?”
His smile widens. “For us? I like the sound of that.”
I smack him with my free hand.
He clutches it and holds it to his chest. “It means in the world’s eyes, I’m dating Scarlet, but in here—" he squeezes my hand over his heart—“I want to be with you.”
I’m like hot lava, melting to the floor.
“The premiere is in four weeks. Three weeks after that, I’ll have met the terms of my contract. But until then, I have to continue to be seen with Scarlet publicly.”
“So maybe in a couple months we can, what? Be seen with each other? Date?”
“I would love nothing more than to take you on a proper date. But for now, we can only be together in private.”
My skin prickles, and Tanner pops into my mind. He used to tell me relationships werehotterin secret. And I stupidly believed him.
I will be no one’s dirty secret.
Should I demand he tell Scarlet about us? But what even isus? We barely know each other. We’ve had a couple of training sessions. Exchanged some texts. And happened to accidentally fall asleep together. Big whoop.
Okay, the last one is a semi-big deal.
Barking comes from the living room.
Teddy sits up, his ears perking.
“Oh my gosh, the puppies! I completely forgot. They need outside.” I gasp. “What time is it? I have work!”
He looks at a clock I hadn’t noticed on the bedside table. “It’s seven a.m.”
“I’ve got to go!”
