Page 70 of Book Boyfriend
“Did she tell you then?”
“She told me you were talking about the movie, you freaked out, and ran off without saying goodbye. She said you didn’t answer any of her texts either. Did she say something to upset you?”
I huff and pace as the tears flow down my cheeks.
“What’s going on?” He rushes over to me and tries to pull me into a hug. For a moment, I consider letting him, feeling his arms around me one more time. But then I feel sick. Sick with his lies and his games, so I push him away. “You lied to me!”
His eyebrows furrow.
“You told me you didn’t know who I was when we met in Florida, but you knew exactly who I was, didn’t you?”
His face is etched with concern. “Is that what this is about?”
“Answer me! Did you know my name?”
He sighs. “Yes, but—”
“And the reason you read my book was because Chloe told you they were making a movie and you saw your in, right?”
“That’s not exactly true . . . I—”
“And you thought if you showed me you could be Penn, I would fall for you, and maybe even give you the role, right?”
“Okay, wait a minute. I told you I didn’t want anything to do with it. You forced me into considering it.”
I shake my index finger at him repeatedly as I pace. “Oh, you’re good. You’re an even better actor than I ever dreamed.”
“Greer, let me explain!”
“That’sMacyto you!”
He almost seems like he’s going to cry.
“Wow! Crying on demand for a part? That’s pure talent, folks. Pure talent.”
“Can you let me explain?”
“Have at it. Let’s see if your improv skills are any good.”
He shakes his head. “Yes. I did know who you were when I looked down and saw I’d knocked you over. I didn’t knock you down on purpose if that’s what you’re thinking.”
I turn my back to him and gaze out the window, wiping a tear from my cheek.
“I didn’t know what to say. I was worried you were hurt. Everything after that was one hundred percent real, I swear.”
“Even the part where you asked me my name like you didn’t know it?”
“Okay. That wasn’t exactly real. I did know who you were, but then you gave me your real name and I figured you didn’t want me to know you were an author. I went with it.”
“You went with a lot of things.”
“I fell hard for you that night. You were smart and funny. Distant and different. I saw something in your eyes.”
I spin around to face him. “You saw an easy target. Someone who’d been hurt before and was easy prey for a man like you.”
“No.”
“If you were so enamored with me and you knew who I was, then why didn’t you call me? Why not call me and tell me you fell for me? Oh, that’s right. Because I didn’t have a movie role for you yet.”
