Page 59 of Fake Out

She ignores my second question. “Because that agency was the only chance I had. You were the only chance I had.”

“They’re not everything.”

“They might as well be,” she retorts, gripping the doorframe tightly. “Isaac holds all the cards, Charlie. He has everyone wrapped around his finger. He’s… he’s ruined everything!” Her voice breaks on the last word.

Her admission shakes me. This isn’t the Marissa I know — the girl who’d rather grit her teeth and keep fighting than admit defeat.

“Look at me,” I urge, my voice steady despite the tempest inside me. She does, and it’s like a punch to the gut. The defeat in her eyes burns worse than any physical wound.

“He hasn’t ruined everything,” I tell her flatly. I reach out to touch her arm, and she doesn’t pull away. “You’re more than this, Marissa.”

“You don’t understand,” she whispers, tears welling in her eyes. But instead of crying, she wipes them away with a fierce determination that makes my heart ache.

“I do understand,” I say, tightening my grip on her arm. “And we’ll figure this out together.”

A beat of silence settles between us, but then she looks away, saying nothing.

Something screws up tight in my chest. There’s more to this. But what is it she’s holding back?

“Your career isn’t over,” I say, trying to console her as I reach for her hand.

But she pushes me away, her eyes filling with tears. “You convinced me to go out last night, Charlie. You didn’t care about what I had to lose, and now it’s all gone!”

Her words sting but I hold my ground. “Listen to me, Marissa. I’m not going to work with any other agent. I’m staying with you, no matter what.” I try to offer her a reassuring smile, but she doesn’t seem to care.

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” She scoffs and folds her arms. “You didn’t listen to my concerns about going out together. You dismissed me, Charlie.”

“I know.” I take a deep breath. “I never meant for any of this to happen. I’m sorry.”

“Save it,” she snaps, turning away from me. “Just save it and… leave. I don’t want to see you anymore.”

Walking away from her isn’t easy. It never is. But in this moment, it feels impossible.

“Marissa…” My voice strains with the effort of holding back a thousand unspoken words.

She doesn’t even turn to look at me.

“Marissa, please,” I whisper, my heart breaking as I reach for her hand again. But she shakes her head, closing the door between us and leaving me standing alone on her doorstep, feeling more lost than ever before.

I feel like an unwelcome guest at a funeral, watching someone grieve but unable to offer any real comfort. There’s nothing else I can do for now. With one last lingering glance in her direction, I turn on my heel and drag myself out of her apartment building, fighting down the urge to run back and convince her I didn’t mean to hurt her.

In my car, I slam the door shut with too much force, shattering the silence of the night with a reverberating thud. My hands grip the steering wheel tightly, knuckles turning white under the strain.

I messed up. Big time.

Why can’t she see how sorry I am?

The moment I ask the question, I know the answer. It’s because I’m Charlie Elwood, the guy known for his screw-ups.

Never the guy known for making things right.

So why should Marissa believe I’m sorry? It’s not like I have a great track record.

Feeling like the biggest loser in the world, I start my car and drive off, leaving my heart behind in a little apartment on the edge of the city.

CHAPTER 26

MARISSA

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