Page 70 of How He Got the Girl
“Hey, I’m sorry.” I cross the room and place my hands on her arms. “I didn’t mean to make light of things. What are you scared of, beautiful?”
“Talking about baseball.”
That’s not what I expected her to say. “We can talk about something else.”
Mallory shakes her head. “Can we sit down?”
Oh. This isthatconversation. The one she mentioned wanting to have with me. I nod, and she leads me over to the bed. Once we’re sitting, she lets out a weary sigh. “I need to ask you about an interview you did after your first movie.”
I try to think back to that time in my life. I participated in countless interviews, but none that stand out. “You’re going to have to be a little more specific.”
“Does one with Kelly Parker jog your memory?”
I close my eyes for a moment, digging through the interviews of my past until the right one pops up. “Yeah,that was one of the first ones I ever did. She was nice, but asked too many personal questions.”
Mallory looks down at her joined hands. Her eyes glitter with unshed tears as she meets my gaze. “Like asking you what the best date you’ve ever been on was?”
My heart races. “I said something that hurt you, didn’t I?”
She nods.
I think back, my mind racing as I replay that interview in my head until the answer hits me. I feel like a complete jerk. No wonder Mallory wanted nothing to do with me when she saw me again in that coffee shop.
I take her hands in mine. “Mal, the baseball game wasn’t the best date of my life. Ours was.”
A single tear drops onto her cheek, and I wipe it away with my thumb. “Then why didn’t you say that?”
I move my hands to my lap, clenching them into fists, hating myself that I made her feel this way when she’s never second best. “I had just landed my agent and gone through media training. She told me to never get too personal in interviews if I didn’t want the entire world knowing everything about me. Especially the private details of my love life.” The words tumble out of my mouth like they can’t come out fast enough. I want her to believe me more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. “The baseball game I was referring to wasn’t even a date, unless you consider going to a game with Rhett a bro-date.” I take her hand in mine. “The only date that has ever mattered to me is the one I had with you. You’re the only girl that matters to me. Although I couldn’t really say that in the interview either without the media having a field day looking for you. That wasn’t how I wanted to find you again. I didn’t want to pull you into my world unless you chose to be in it.” I press mylips into a firm line. “But I guess that ended up happening anyway.”
Mallory squeezes my hands as a few more tears drip down her cheeks. “After I thought you’d ghosted me, I saw that interview. To me, it was always the validation I needed that I never meant anything to you. That our date was you just acting, preparing for your audition.”
Emotion stings my eyes. “I’m sorry I ever made you question that.” With a shaky breath, I say, “I still don’t know how you feel about my world and what that could look like. But I’d proudly walk any red carpet with you, if you decide you could see a future with me.” I move my hands to cup her face. Looking directly into her hot chocolate-colored eyes, I say, “You areeverythingto me. Ever since I dropped that change into your drink, I didn’t stand a chance.”
She smiles softly. “I believe you.”
I pull her into my arms, pressing a kiss to her temple before holding on tightly because I never plan on letting her go again. “Thank you for asking and hearing me out. And for agreeing to fake date me when you must’ve thought I was a real jerk.”
Mallory pulls back, wiping the tears from her cheeks. “I did, but that’s in the past now.”
“Now that we’ve cleared up the fact that all of my feelings for you are—and have always been—real, does this mean I can take you on a date?”
“I’d like that.” She smiles. “But maybe an at-home date? One where we can talk and not be bombarded by fans or paparazzi?”
“Sold.” I glance at the old alarm clock on her dresser. “As much as I’d love to stay up and talk, I know we need to be downstairs early for breakfast with your family.”
Mallory nods. “The bathroom is down the hall on the right, if you want to get ready for bed.” She looks at the bed we’re sitting on, her cheeks turning the blush pink of her pajamas.
“I promise to be a complete gentleman and stay on my side of the bed.” I mimic the Boy Scout hand sign but feel more like Katniss, volunteering myself as tribute to sleep beside this beautiful woman. “Scout’s honor.”
Mirth fills her eyes. “Were you actually a Boy Scout?”
“No, but I mean what I say, especially when it comes to you.”
She kisses me on the cheek, sending a shiver throughout my body. “I think I finally believe that.”
Okay, I need to get up right now if I’m going to follow through on my promise to be a gentleman. I practically jump off the bed, heading over to my duffel. My sleep attire usually consists ofonlya pair of underwear, but that won’t work for tonight.
I dig through my bag and grab a T-shirt and a pair of basketball shorts I luckily had the foresight to pack, along with the bag holding my toothbrush and toothpaste, and head to the bathroom.
