I groan. “Not literally. I just thought you’d want to make sure you were seen with me one last time.”
He sucks in a ragged breath, leaning back to peer down at me in the crimson light. “Lena, if I never shared you with anyone again, I’d die a happy man.”
My stomach clenches. “That sounds a little dramatic.”
“It’s the only way I know how to say it.”
“Try again.” I poke him in the chest in an attempt to keep things light. Blood whooshes through my ears as I buy time from the words I can already sense forming on his lips.
“Lena, I’m falling in love with you.”
My mouth goes dry. I don’t know whether I should kiss him or laugh. Is he serious? Of all the love confessions I’ve ever been on the receiving end of, this is the one I want to believe the most. And I do. Because it’s Decker. Because I’ve never felt anything but comforted and cared for while with him. The notion of him loving me is both exhilarating and terrifying.
Like clockwork, a phone begins to buzz, but this time it isn’t coming from my clutch.
Decker backs away, reaches into his pocket, and pulls out his phone. “How did your mom get my number?”
A lump builds in my throat. I want to be angry with her for interrupting us yet again, for calling him when she has no business doing so, but my weakness wins over, and I click to answer. “Hello?”
Decker backs away as my mother launches into some kind of scolding that I only partially hear because I can’t take my eyes off of Decker and the way he slumps in the dark.
“Really, Lena?” he whispers.
I pull the phone from my ear, pressing the mute button as I do. “I’m sorry. Too much hinges on tonight for me to ignore her calls.”
Decker shakes his head, ducking out the door without another word.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
DECKER
“Decker, wait.”Lena’s dress rustles as she rushes to catch up with me in the dark wings of the stage. “Wait!”
My heart beats double time as I hesitate, expecting to hear her confess that she’s finally come to her senses and told her mom to screw off, but all she says is, “Here’s your phone.”
I take it from her, and once again start on my path to anywhere but here.
“Why are you so mad?” she asks, jogging to catch up.
“That wasn’t exactly the reaction I was hoping for,” I say as I trail ahead of her numbly, still trying to process the last five minutes.
Her sharp brows crinkle. “You’re angry because I’m keeping up my end of the bargain and making sure we’re seen together publicly—like it states in our contract?”
I stop under an exit sign dangling overhead. “I kissed you. I told you I love you, and all you could think about was work and your mom. Do you understand how messed up that is?”
“I just feel like the whole kiss thing was great practice, but we need to get that stuff on camera or it doesn’t count.” She shifts uncomfortably. “I’m only looking out for our best interest.”
“Are you? Do you hear yourself?” My laugh startles even me as it tears from my throat, my feet rooting in place. “Lena, even you don’t sound convinced.”
She stops for a moment, her piercing blue eyes hardening as they lock on me. “Tonight is our last night to sell this illusion, Decker. You can't tell me you're in love with me right now."
My face collapses in confusion. “Why not, Lena? I meant it. I love you.”
“It’s understandable there’s a little bit of attraction between us. We’ve spent so much time together, but that doesn't mean it's love. We just got a little carried away and?—”
"You're the one that hauled me into a random dark room, Lena. What's your game?"
She bites her soft lip, and the memory of her taste floods my senses. “I’m not playing any games. Maybe I just thought we should get it out of our systems.”
