This time, I laugh loudly, and I see Nash nudge her arm.
“Talia, you are so rude,” he scoffs.
“It’s fine. No, I’m not looking at foster homes. I send monthly checks to local foster homes here in town and to the foster agency that took care of me back home in New York,” I tell them.
“Wow, that’s amazing.” Nash looks at me with a spark in his eyes.
“I bet the PR team loves that. What a great way to help your image,” Talia admires.
Shaking my head, I wave off her statement. “No, I don’t talk about this to anyone. It’s kind of private.”
“Why keep it a secret? The press would love it,” Nash questions.
I’ve told him about my past. Opened up to him in ways I never have with anyone else, but I never shared this.
“I haven’t done a lot of good in my life. The few things I have, I want to keep it private. Once the world knows, it won’t just be mine anymore.” My words ring true.
Talia smiles and sighs while Nash nods in understanding.
I could reinvent myself and let the world know about my good deeds, but I refuse to use this one thing just to improve my image.
We sit and chat for a bit longer, and then Talia announces that they need to get to the movie they are going to see. Part of me wishes that I could go, too. But I know that would be too risky.
Whatever Nash and I are doing has to stay out of the public eye. I will just have to dream about a life where Nash and I can be together in public.
Chapter 17
Nash
Leo’s words stuck with me all day.
When he said he likes to keep his good deeds private, I felt a pang of guilt.
I volunteer at a local children’s hospital, something my agent, Talia, and the PR team suggested I do to maintain my ‘golden boy’ image. Each time I visited the hospital, Talia accompanied me and took pictures, which she uploaded to my social media accounts. I never minded the good publicity until now.
It felt wrong, in a sense, to broadcast my charity work while Leo basically did the same but kept his shitty image with the public.
“What’s wrong with you?” Talia questions, as we walk into the hospital.
“Nothing,” I lie. This is just another secret I need to keep.
She holds in her arms a bottle of bourbon that I have signed. There’s a doctor in the pediatric wing who is a huge fan and loves bourbon. He saw the advertisement I was in for the local distillery and I promised him a signed bottle for him and his wife.
The sterile scent of antiseptic mingles with the soft laughter of children echoing through the hospital corridors, a steady reminder of the joy I strive to impart as I step inside.
Each time I walk through these familiar halls, the warmth in my chest spreads, driven by the children's exuberance and innocent spirits. Their laughter is a balm against the internal chaos.
“Hey, Nash!” A young voice calls out, bright as sunshine, cutting through my haze. I glance down to see a little boy with messy hair and a wide grin racing toward me. His energy pulls me in, offering an exhilarating distraction that I desperately crave.
“Hey there, buddy!” I greet, kneeling to match his eye level, embracing the childlike joy radiating from him. His infectious enthusiasm chases away the remnants of doubt swirling in my mind. “Are you ready to show me what you’ve been working on?”
“Yeah!” He bounces on his toes, eyes sparkling with excitement. “I made a drawing for you!” He holds up a colorful piece of paper, filled with scribbles and a whirlwind of colors.
“Wow, this is amazing!” I say, taking the drawing into my hands, appreciating the effort and heart he’s poured into it. “You’ve got a talent, my friend. I can’t wait to hang this up in my apartment.”
A smile stretches across his face, and I can’t help but feel a warmth settle in my chest, a gentle reminder of why I’m here. Talia snaps a few pictures, and I struggle to keep my smile.
As I wander through the hospital, spending time with the children, sharing stories and laughter, I find solace. Yet every once in a while, memories of Leo flash through my mind, and I find myself grappling with the conflicting emotions he invokes in me.
