Chapter 10 #2
I suppose I can’t blame her. I’d be hurt if I were in her shoes. It just gives me even more reason to remind her who I am. And who we could be—together.
“Shall I draw up a contract?” Karina asks.
I wait for Mallory to answer. If we’re going to do this, it needs to be on her terms. Her decision. I’ll deal with whatever happens to my career. But I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I made Mallory uncomfortable or did something that hurt her. Again.
With a sigh, Mallory shrugs. “I’ll do it as long as there are clear boundaries in place.”
I nod. “Like I said, whatever you want. Whatever you need to be happy and feel comfortable.”
She scoffs. “How about a time machine for this to never have happened?”
“Unfortunately, I just sold my last DeLorean,” I tease, and she rolls her eyes.
“Seriously, if we’re going to do this, I need rules.”
“That’s a good starting point.” Karina types away on her keyboard. “Okay, let’s discuss how often you’ll post on social media to make this look believable.”
“That’s going to be a problem,” Mallory cuts in. “I don’t have any social media.”
“You don’t have…” Karina trails off, shaking her head. “You’ll need to make an account. Congratulations, your first post can be a collaborative one with Griffin announcing your relationship.”
Mallory pales.
“To make this look real,” Karina goes on, “you need to post a picture together on your pages at least once a week. Twice a week, preferably. You can alternate who posts or figure that out amongst yourselves.”
“If it’s fake, how are we supposed to post pictures together twice a week?” Mallory crosses her arms.
“It’ll require more effort from both of you if you want to make it believable. I think posting together, being seen in public, and going to an event or two of his should be enough to pull it off.”
The more Karina explains what this would entail, the more worry expands in the pit of my stomach. There’s no way Mallory’s going to buy this. How am I supposed to get her to like me again if she won’t spend time with me?
Mallory smirks. “Let me get this straight. You’re paying me to hang out with you?”
“If that’s what it takes.” I smile, trying to play it off like a joke when that’s exactly what I’m doing.
It’s embarrassing, but I can’t find it in myself to care.
If it allows me to rewrite my story with Mallory, I’ll do anything.
Walk around downtown in a banana costume.
Get a tattoo of her name on my lip. Paint the brick exterior of this house pink. Literally anything.
“What are you proposing we do to be seen and get pictures to post?”
“What if we participate in our favorite winter traditions together?”
“Like a snowball fight?” Her laugh is dry.
“You two can work on the details later,” Karina cuts in. “For now, is there anything else you’d like included in the contract?”
“How long is this arrangement going to last? I’m only on winter break for three weeks.”
“I’m not sure we can sell our story in that short of a time.” I purse my lips.
Karina nods. “He’s right. We could include that it’ll last two months, but the timing is subject to negotiation by both parties.”
“That sounds reasonable,” Mallory agrees, nodding slowly.
“Anything else?” My agent sounds like she’s ready to get on to her next task.
“One more thing. I’d like the contract to include a line that either party reserves the right to back out at any time.
” I want Mallory to do this because she wants to spend time with me, and okay, I guess for the money, too.
I just…I don’t want her to feel trapped.
I look right into her surprised brown eyes as I say, “No questions asked.”
Mallory dips her head. I’m not sure if it’s to hide her shock or her acceptance of my terms. But it’s better than her hating me.
“How does this all sound, Mallory?” Karina pauses her typing to look back at the camera.
“I’m in. I’ll give Griffin my email for you to send the contract over.”
“Wonderful.” Karina spins in her office chair to face her computer again.
“I need you both to have this signed and back to me by the morning. I know it’s fast, but that’s Hollywood for you.
You can send me more questions if you think of them, but otherwise, I’m off to another meeting.
” Per usual, Karina hangs up without a goodbye.
“Did we lose her?” Mallory leans toward my computer like she’s about to call her back.
I place my hand on her arm, stopping her. “She hasn’t said goodbye to me once in the years I’ve worked with her.”
“Huh. I guess when you’re getting paid by some of Hollywood’s hottest new actors, you don’t have time for things as frivolous as sign-offs.”
I don’t attempt to hide my smile. “You think I’m hot?”
She rolls her eyes. “Ugh, you know what I mean.”
“Nope.” I lean back on the couch. “I’m going to sleep like a baby tonight knowing you think I’m hot.”
Mallory picks up a white throw pillow and smacks my arm with it. “You’re the worst.”
“Whatever you say, girlfriend.”
“That’s fake girlfriend to you.” She cocks her head.
I wave a hand. “Eh, I’ve never been one for semantics.”
“You’ve never been one for humility, is more like it.”
“Again, semantics.” My cheeks hurt from how much I’m smiling, but I can’t help myself around her.
“I think that’s my cue to leave.” Mallory stands and starts walking to the door.
“Wait.” I grab her hand and move in front of her. “Don’t you think we should take our couple announcement photo and figure out what we’re going to do for our first da—” She shoots me a look. “Err, outing?”
Mallory gestures to her outfit. “You couldn’t pay me enough money to take a picture that will be all over the news in a sweat set.”
“Why?” My brows furrow. “You look incredible.”
She laughs. “I look frumpy. Plus, my hair is on day four, and my curls are struggling.”
“I think you accidentally said frumpy instead of drop-dead gorgeous. And I don’t know what the rest of that meant, but I love it when your curls are untamed. It fits your spirit.”
“Messy?”
“I was thinking bold and free.”
A blush spreads across her cheeks as she brushes her hands on her sweatpants. “Um, you can pick what you want us to do first since the winter traditions thing was your idea.”
“I’ll pick you up tomorrow afternoon, if that works for you.”
She blinks. “Tomorrow? Don’t you think that’s a little soon?”
Not soon enough.
“We need to get our couple announcement out. Take over the narrative in the media.” I hope the excuse sounds legit enough to hide my desperation to see her again. “I’ll make sure a photographer is available so we can get professional pictures.”
“You’re not going to tell me what we’re doing?”
“It’s a surprise. Dress warm and make sure you’re ready for our photo op.”
“I’m just supposed to trust you?” she asks over her shoulder as we move outside.
I walk to the car and open the door for her. Ted tips his head and gets in the driver’s seat. “That’s usually how relationships work.”
Mallory sighs. “Since we’ve made it clear that this isn’t a relationship, how do I know I can trust you?”
“Would you have trusted the man from three years ago?” I ask, my voice softer as I struggle to hide the emotion I feel thinking back on all I’ve missed out on with her because of losing her phone number.
“What does that have to do with—”
“Just answer the question. No thinking. Just your gut response.”
“Yes.” Her voice is barely above a whisper, and her eyes don’t meet my gaze.
“Hold on to that. I know I’m Hollywood’s hottest new actor now.
” This finally pulls a laugh out of her, and I’m pleased that I was the one to cause it.
“But I’m still the man who bought you entirely too much hot chocolate.
Let me show you he’s still here.” I tap my chest and smile softly before shutting the car door.
Two months. I have about two months to show her that I’m still the same man I’ve always been.
Once I convince her of that, there’s not a chance I’m ever letting her go again.