I park, nervously pocket the car keys and walk up to the front porch. I’m not sure why I’m so nervous. I don’t even mind red carpet events anymore, not after a few years of practice. But talking to this woman? That makes my knees week and my heart nervous. Because what if she says no? I brush the negative thoughts aside and refuse to let them cloud my happiness. I love Annie, and I can feel the connection between us. I think she can feel it, too.
I knock on the door. Moments pass before I hear any sound. Then, finally, I hear theclickof the door unlocking. And then there she is.
Annie’s dark hair is twisted into a messy bun on top of her head, secured with a pink velvety scrunchie. She’s wearing pink sweatpants with little red hearts all over them and a black tank top. I just want to curl up on the couch with her all day, snuggling her close to me.
“Hey…” she says, eyeing me with a hint of skepticism as she pushes open the screen door.
“I’m sorry I showed up unannounced.” I smile, hoping I’m not catching her at a bad time. “I don’t have a way to contact you, so I thought I’d just…” I shrug. “Show up.”
“It’s fine,” she says, stepping out onto the porch. I try not to take it as a bad sign that she came out here with me instead of inviting me inside. “What’s up?”
There’s still a reservation about her, a guarded wall she’s put in place between us and I don’t know why. But it trips me up, making me question if this is the right move to make. But I know deep down that if I don’t confess my feelings for her right now, I’ll end up regretting it forever.
“Annie,” I say, reaching for her hand. To my delight, she reaches out to take it. “I make a living being fake,” I say, hoping she can see in my eyes that I mean every word of what I’m about to say. “But I want to be real with you. I want to be everything with you.”
CHAPTER19
Annie
Trevor squeezes my hand and warmth floods into my fingers, rising straight up my arm. I barely hear the words he says because I’m not quite sure why he’s saying them. Why did he show up here to announce all this stuff about wanting to be real? He’s a famous movie star. I’m just a random woman in Texas. I thought we’ve already established that. We’ve already made it clear that there’s no reason to continue being friends.
I look at his hand which is wrapped around mine. His skin is tan and warm. His fingernails are perfectly trimmed, probably by a professional in the hair and makeup trailer. Veins run across the top of his hand and then up his forearm. I notice all of this about him in just a few seconds. Then I let my hand slip from his grasp and fall to my side.
“I don’t understand,” I say, looking up at him. “What is this?”
His expression falters. “I’m trying to tell you that I’m in love with you.”
My eyes widen.
Behind him, the sun shines brightly in the mid-morning spring air. Julie’s flowerbeds are brightly colored, filling the porch with a beautiful floral scent. Somewhere off in the distance a bird sings. I notice every single inch of our surroundings because it’s easier to look around at the earth instead of right in front of me.
“You’re in love with me?” I ask, half expecting him to burst out laughing, telling me it’s all a joke. Maybe a cameraman will pop out from behind his car and I’ll be on a cruel reality TV show where famous people trick dumb commoners into thinking they’d ever have a chance with them.
But none of that happens. There’s not even the slightest hint of a smile on Trevor’s face. His lips, those perfectly soft and amazing lips, rest in a flat line on his impossibly gorgeous face. His eyes are focused on mine, his forehead smooth and serene. The lines of his face tell me this isn’t a joke.
His breath hitches. “Yes, Annie. I know what it sounds like. And I know who I am, and who you are, and I don’t care about any of the reasons that make it seem like we shouldn’t be together. The only thing I care about is my feelings for you. My love for you.”
My heart pounds against my ribcage. I have medical training and years of knowledge and I know this is just a silly bought of heart palpitations and not a heart attack, but gosh it kind of feels like one.
“I love you, Annie. I love you and I want you to move to LA with me because I can’t imagine my life without you.”
I can’t believe I’m hearing these words. Not just from Trevor Owens, the movie star, but from Trevor, the man. A man loves me. A man who I think I love back. I’ve just been too scared to think it and way too scared to say it out loud. It felt silly, childish, to love a movie star.
He takes a step closer, bringing the scent of his cologne with him. I breathe it in, my eyes fluttering closed as he reaches up to touch my face. His thumb slides over my cheek. “Please tell me you feel the same way,” he breathes.
I open my eyes. Peering up at him, all the reasons my brain can think of to run away are starting to fade from existence. It’s hard to think clearly. I just want to fall into his arms and kiss him and never stop, but I’m not some lovesick little girl like I might have been years ago. I’m all grown up now, fully aware of how hard love can be. I’m aware of all the obstacles that stand in our way, namely his extremely famous career. Do I want to risk loving a man only to have it fall apart because of his fame?
It’s only moments, but fear and love and happiness and anxiety take over me all at once.
“Annie?” Trevor says. “Should I leave? Are you okay?”
“No,” I say quickly, then I smile when he looks worried. “I mean, no, don’t leave. Yes, I’m okay. I’m just… stunned, I guess.”
He runs his hand through his hair and takes a step back. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have just showed up here and declared my love for you. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“I’m not upset,” I say, shaking my head. Then I grin. “This is the coolest thing that’s ever happened to me.”
This makes his worried expression perk into a smile. “Oh yeah?”
