Page 101 of Reel Love

I nod. I only barely knew about the purported romance between Alana and Rex because of my mother’s obsession with movies, Hollywood, and all things Alana Graves. I don’t track with the media and who’s who. If they pulled off a fake romance, I’m sure that’s par for the course in the industry.

She’s got a look in her eyes that tells me there’s obviously more she needs to say.

“Well, this time around, withBlastedcoming out in less than two months, my Mother and my publicist cooked up a reunion of sorts—to make it seem like we’re back together.”

Her eyes plead with me, so I flip our hands over and cup hers in mine, brushing my thumb back and forth in what I hope is a gesture of assurance.

“Thanks to you, I told my mother I won’t pull off any charade with Rex past the premier ofBlasted. But that means nearly seven weeks of me appearing to be Rex’s girlfriend again.”

“Thanks to me?”

“You encouraged me to set boundaries. When we were chatting onPlay on Words.”

I smile, remembering that chat. The longstanding connection we’ve shared matters. It made a mark on both of us. It’s why we’re so familiar even though being together is also brand new.

“I’m sorry, Stevens. I wish this weren’t going on right when we started seeing one another.”

“Why would you need to apologize? For one thing, you and I weren’t doing whatever we’re doing now when you set up thisrecent publicity stunt. I don’t know much about Hollywood, but I’m guessing this sort of thing happens a lot.”

She nods. “It does. Fake news. Twisting the truth to help sell something. It’s all part of the business.”

“The bottom line is that your relationship with him is not real. It’s a part of your job. A publicity stunt. We all have things we have to do for our jobs that we don’t like, or that test our morals and convictions.”

“My morals have been tested, and I failed. I’m lying to my fans—again.”

“And it eats at you. Which shows your true character. We grow forward, not in reverse. You don’t like faking, don’t do it again in the future—if that’s an option. I don’t mean to overstep.”

“I won’t have to fake. I’ll have you.”

Her declaration sounds like a foregone conclusion, as if it’s not a question as to whether we’ll be together. I’m not a passing fancy or temporary diversion. She wants to see where this will go as much as I do. And I want her to know I’m right there with her.

“You will.”

It should feel odd to be declaring something so permanent when we only shared our first kiss last night, but that kiss was months in the making.

She stares into my eyes and squeezes my hand. “I don’t want the press near you.”

“I’m pretty sure we won’t be able to eliminate the inevitable. If I’m with you long term, they’ll find out. And when they do, they’ll want to know about me. And that could get a bit hairy for a while. But we can ride it out. If that’s what you want.”

“I do. I want this—to give us a chance.”

“I do too.”

Her tone shifts back to something more relaxed. “What have you ever had to do that tested your morals?”

“You say that as if you don’t think I have.”

“Sorry. I just can’t imagine how saving sea turtles challengesyour morals. You are true to who you are. I admire that about you.”

“In most things, I am able to maintain my integrity. But I work for industries and the government. They constantly want to encroach on the ocean. Is that beneficial for humans? They sometimes think so. Profit-driven companies don’t care. But in the long run, the ocean is part of a whole series of interconnected ecosystems. And when we damage the ocean or demand too much from it, we throw off the balance of nature. The ocean suffers first, but we will suffer next. So, I delay or mitigate that impact by keeping big business from killing off endangered species. But I don’t stop them from depleting resources. I actually help industries expand. It’s not what I wanted to do with my degree, but it pays the bills. And it allows me to do what I want to do.”

“Saving sea turtles,” she giggles as if she’s remembering ten-year-old me and my idealistic dreams.

“Among other things. Come with me the next time you have a whole day free and I’ll show you.”

TWENTY-SEVEN

Alana

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