After sitting down on the blanket, he opens up the basket. “Yes,” he says as he pulls out a dark-red bottle. “They even broke the no-alcohol policy. We have to drink it off camera, though.”
My lips pucker. “I hate wine.”
He smiles softly. “I think you should have at least one glass. It’ll help you with our performance.”
My stomach does a little turn. “Performance?”
He flashes me a wicked grin. “I have something special planned.”
A shiver of unease creeps up my spine, but I can’t deny the thrill that comes with it. Tristan’s blue eyes hold a smile, and his excitement is infectious.
“Alright, I’m intrigued.” I fold my arms across my chest. “What do you have planned?”
“Patience, beautiful.” He scoots closer to me. The warmth of his body radiates against mine, sending goosebumps across my skin. His fingers brush against my cheek, tender and possessive.
His gaze is so hot it could melt me right here. He leans forward and parts his lips.
“Save it for the camera,” the director shouts, and I jerk back.
It’s only now that I’m out of my head that I see the crew is surrounding us and setting up.
“Damn.” Tristan sighs. “I guess we’ll have to wait.” He winks before turning his attention to the director.
The director explains that we’re going to spend the next hour chatting and watching the sunset. A moment later, he calls action, and Tristan’s intense blue eyes settle on my face.
For the first half hour of our date, we make small talk, but I hardly hear it. I’m bad at small talk anyway, and I’m too in my head to make an effort. Tristan must notice my absentmindedness, because he periodically tilts his head and assesses me with those intense blue eyes.
“Amelia.” His voice is tender. “I want to tell you something important, something I’ve been holding back for far too long.”
He takes a deep breath, as if gathering the courage to continue, and I find myself unable to look away.
This must be it. This is the introduction to his performance.
“I’ve wanted you since the moment I laid eyes on you,” he says. “I never really… I never saw you in high school before Harper and I started hanging out. You were around, but we never really talked. It wasn’t until I was dating her that I really saw you. And when I did…” He shakes his head. “I couldn’t look away.”
I have to keep myself from gasping. I know what he’s saying isn’t true, but fuck…
It sounds so real.
He’s a good actor.
“You are…” He shakes his head. “You’re like no one I’ve ever met before. You’re so sincere and…the way your eyes light up when you talk about things you love.” He smiles, and his gaze grows unfocused. “You make me laugh like no one else.” His smile fades, and his eyes lock on my face. “But you don’t feel that way about me. I bore you.”
I swallow, trying to maintain my composure. My cheeks are as hot as the sun, and I hate myself for it. I don’t want him to see how much his performance is affecting me.
“Only sometimes,” I mutter.
His brow furrows for a moment, and then he laughs breathlessly. He lifts his hand and brushes his fingers along my cheek. “That’s it right there. Your honesty. I can’t even be madat you for it. I bore myself. I’m not like you. I don’t have things that light me up. I mean, I do have things that I love, but they’re basic. Like football. I don’t have a real passion.” He takes a deep breath and looks into my eyes. “Except for you, Amelia. You light me up. You make me want things I’ve never wanted before. That’s why I signed you up for the competition. I wanted to be around you.”
His words hit me like a truck, and my heart races in my chest.
“Tristan…” I close my mouth, unable to form a coherent thought. The vulnerability in his eyes throws me off-balance. It feels so real.
Too real.
“Look, I know I don’t deserve your trust,” he admits. “Especially after…everything that happened. That day in the quad…”
“Why did you do it?” I ask, unable to help myself.
