Page 131 of Take the Lead
“Did you mean it?” they both asked at the same time.
Stone’s brows creased. “Of course I did. Every word. I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t.”
And that was the truth of him. Yes, he’d lied for his family, but she’d never doubted his feelings for her were genuine.
How had she repaid him? With unfair accusations. She’d said hurtful things to push him away, all because she’d been too scared of what she saw when he looked at her, and what she felt when she looked at him.
All because she’d been too scared of what would happen when he left her.
She was about to apologize when he launched into a speech.
“Gina, please try to understand. My family has had a hold on me my entire life. I’ve always been the responsible one who drops everything to rush to their aid, and I’m tired of it. I hate being onLiving Wild.I thought I would hateThe Dance Off,too, except it was the most fun I’ve ever had.”
She couldn’t hold back a dopey grin. “Really?”
Some of the tension in him eased. “You light me up. You helped me remember who I was before, and see clearly who I am now and who I want to be.”
“I like who you are,” she cut in. She wished she’d reassured him the first time he’d brought this up, but she’d been too busy breaking up with him at the time. “Since the beginning. In every dance, the goal was to show who you really are—even if you didn’t know who that was yet.”
His eyes were earnest and clear. “You saw me. You’re the first person who has in a long time. I wanted to help you win because you deserved it, but I was also trying to shoulder your burdens for you. I should have told you what Donna was doing and included you in deciding what to do about it. Maybe part of me wanted everyone toknow about us, but that was the wrong way to do it. I should have respected your boundaries.”
When he paused, Gina jumped in with the apology he was owed. “I’m sorry for that.”
He looked confused. “For what?”
“I’m sorry I was so adamant about hiding our relationship. I’m not ashamed of you, Stone, and never was. I was scared. It was easier to focus on our differences and tell myself it would never work, rather than figuring out how it could.”
His lips quirked. “Meanwhile, I kept telling myself we weren’t right for each other, because our lives and goals are too different. Then I realized I’m the one who wasn’t right for you. I get why you want to be in show business. You’re good at it, and you didn’t need that kiss footage to get votes. You deserve to be a star, and you deserve a man who will help you make your dreams come true, wherever those dreams take you.”
Everything he said was magical and lovely, but Gina had made mistakes, too, and she had to own up to them. “And you deserve someone who won’t try to keep you hidden behind the scenes. I was scared of what people would think of me. But it’s my life, and I can’t live it according to what other people might say. Not only that, I made this season all about me. I should have been more focused on your growth than on winning. My fears and ambitions got the better of me, but success is meaningless if it requires me to be alone.”
“Gina.” Stone’s blue eyes held everything she’d come to miss in the days they’d been apart. “You don’t have to be alone. I won’t make you choose. I love you, and I’ll follow you wherever you want to go, to the ends of the earth, if need be. Let’s chase your success.”
From the bedroom, Natasha let out a whoop.
Stone’s cheeks flushed red—more visible than they’d been at the end of the season. “I didn’t realize Natasha was home.”
“Don’t mind her.” Gina pulled him into the apartment. Shoving the door shut with her foot, she yanked him down for ascorching kiss. He still smelled like pine and clean, crisp air, and his arms still felt strong and protective around her. How had she ever let him go? That was a mistake she wouldn’t be making again.
“Did you trim your beard?” she asked, petting his cheeks.
“I shaved it off the day I quitLiving Wild.”
She squinted at him, trying to imagine him without the facial hair.
He scrunched up his face. “It looked weird. I’m not used to seeing myself without it, so I’m letting it grow back.”
She scratched at his chin with her nails. “I’ve always liked it.”
“Does this mean you forgive me?”
In answer, she led him to the coffee table and spun the laptop around, showing him the airline tickets Natasha had researched. “I can learn to compromise.”
“So can I.” They laughed together, and it was the most beautiful sound.
Gina closed the laptop. “How do we start?”
“However we want. My next season ofLiving Wildhas been canceled, thanks to Lauren D’Angelo. Did you hear she was kicked out of her latest skating competition for using performance-enhancing drugs?”
