Page 66 of Fake Out

For all I know, he has a new woman in his bed.

The thought hits me hard, like a sledgehammer to the gut. I swallow down the painful lump forming in my throat.

“Marissa?” Charlie’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. “Are you okay?”

I force a smile to my face, even though he can’t see me. “Yeah, I’m good.”

The line is silent. He’s waiting for me to take the lead.

“Okay,” I say finally, swallowing my pride. “I’ll do it. I’ll be your agent, Charlie. And I promise, I’ll be the best damn agent you’ve ever had.”

“Thank you, Marissa,” he replies, his tone softening slightly. “I appreciate it. I’ll see you at the airport, then. I’ll text you the info now.”

“See you there.” With those final words, we hang up, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

As I stare at the phone in my hand, I wonder if I’ve made the right decision. But one thing is certain — I’ll give this opportunity everything I’ve got, not just as Charlie’s agent, but as someone who genuinely cares for him. And maybe, just maybe, that will be enough to repair the damage I’ve done.

CHAPTER 29

CHARLIE

The airport is a bustle of energy, people swerving around me as I stand near the wall, waiting.

For maybe the hundredth time, I glance at my watch. Marissa promised she’d be here by now, but my heart races with worry that she’ll change her mind and not show up.

It’s not like her to not follow something through when she says she will, but if she were not to come today, I would understand. Our whole relationship is complicated — to put it mildly. And I know she would prefer never to see me again.

But this is also such a huge opportunity for her… I don’t think she would pass it up for anything.

“Deep breaths, Charlie,” I tell myself, trying to calm my racing thoughts.

The busy airport fades into a blur as my focus remains solely on this side of the security entrance, waiting for her familiar figure to appear. I feel like I’m going crazier by the second, though. I need to stop obsessing and find something else to do.

To distract myself, I wander over to a nearby magazine stand. My eyes scan the colorful covers, looking for anything to occupy my mind. That’s when I spot it — Marissa and I gracing the cover of a tabloid, our smiles bright and carefree as we walk through the park holding hands. “Charlie Elwood and Marissa White: A Love Story” reads the headline in bold letters.

“Damn,” I mutter under my breath, picking up the magazine.

It’s surreal to see us this way, especially since we’re no longer together. I remember that day well, though. It was a couple days before Marissa ended things, in the park down the street from my house.

We hadn’t even been trying to smile for the cameras. We were just naturally that happy. Things were that good.

My stomach churns with regret, wishing things were different. If only I’d had the foresight to?—

“Is that you?” a voice startles me out of my thoughts.

I look up to see the cashier, an older woman with a kind smile, staring intently at the magazine in my hands.

“Uh, yeah,” I admit sheepishly, rubbing the back of my neck. “It’s a bit weird seeing myself like this.”

“I can imagine.” She chuckles softly. “But you two look really happy together. It’s nice to see something positive for a change.”

“Thanks,” I say, forcing a small smile.

Inside, though, my chest aches with longing. If only she knew the truth about how things really were between Marissa and me.

Setting the magazine back on the stand, I return to my spot by the window, my eyes still trained on the entrance. The seconds tick by painfully slowly, each one intensifying my anxiety. What if Marissa doesn’t come? What if this is it for us?

A man with salt-and-pepper hair approaches me, his eyes lighting up with recognition. “Hey, you’re Charlie Elwood! Man, I’m a huge fan.”

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