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Wow, Eli takes this driving shit seriously.
“You can tell Eli that I coerced you into letting me out a block away.”
“You really think that he’s going to believe that I was coerced by a little thing like you? I don’t think that’s going to fly.”
“Ugh. Well, you’d be surprised at the stunts I can pull.”
He laughed. “I highly doubt I would be. You seem very strong-willed about your drop-off location.”
“I don’t want to get out in front of a bunch of cameras.”
“Well, just cover your face.”
I rolled my eyes. “Can you imagine how bad those pictures would look?”
“Okay, so just smile and walk fast.”
“One more time around the block then, so I can get hyped up.” The only thing I really needed to be hyped up for was just the fact that I might run into Eli, who was angry beyond words with me. It had nothing to do with the cameras. I wasn’t famous. My picture would just be sent back to the company—and I knew Eli wouldn’t be doing anything with it.
I scooted to the edge of my seat, smoothing out my dress as the driver made one more lap around the block, before finally pulling up behind two cars in line. “I could get out here.”
“Nope,” he said, sounding distracted as he looked down at his phone. “You’ll get out when they open your door.”
My knee bounced as I waited, my heart pounding in my chest like a racehorse making the final quarter of a lap. I shut my eyes for a moment. Please just let me get through this night without any drama.
I opened them as the sound of the door handle caught my ear. The sound of the crowd and lights flashing became reality as a hand was offered to help me out. I took it, letting out a ragged breath.
“Ready?” the voice said as I stepped out.
I looked up, realizing just whose hand I was holding. “Hi,” I choked out.
“You look gorgeous.” Eli gave me a smile, his eyes soft as he dropped my hand and offered his arm. “And I’m so sorry for freaking out on you the way I did. I was an asshole to you—and I didn’t want to admit my feelings to myself or to you. I get why you hid our baby.”
I was speechless, lost in his gaze, forgetting that there were people snapping pictures. “I’m the one who owes the biggest apology.”
“Well, consider it forgiven. Just—no more secrets from here on out?”
Choking back the tears, I nodded. “No more secrets.”
“Oh, and one more thing,” he added, giving me a sly smile. “Please stay. You don’t have to work for me, but stay. Stay because I love you, stay because we’re going to have a baby, and stay because Owen and Zena are here.”
A smile tugged at my lips. “I don’t have anywhere to stay. I’m supposed to be out tomorrow.”
“Then move in with me, and we’ll just do this thing for real.”
“Really?” My eyebrows furrowed.
“Absolutely. Now—” He nodded to all of the eyes on us. “Let’s go show the world how fucking hot we are together. Someday our kid is gonna look at the pictures from tonight and think we were the weirdest couple they’ve ever seen.”
I laughed. “Sounds perfect to me.”
32
ELI
1.5 Years Later
“Hi, is it possible to have Olivia Gray on this project?” Este Stewart, one of the most well-known producers, inquired over the phone. “I just think that her eye for cinematic concepts is second to none.”
