Page 25 of A Recipe for Romance

“He knows,” Drew said, his voice calm but serious. “He’s known for weeks, apparently. And now the network’s starting to catch on too. Zak thinks we need to get ahead of it—make a statement, go public on our terms before the media spins the narrative.”

Kelsi’s mind whirred as she took in his words. This was happening faster than she’d anticipated, but deep down, she knew it was inevitable. Her hand found his, their fingers intertwining as she gathered her thoughts.

“How do you feel about it?” she asked, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside her.

Drew looked into her eyes, his expression softening. “I want to do what’s best for both of us. I’m not going to let anyone take away what we’ve built, Kelsi. But I also don’t want this to hurt your career, your brand. You’ve worked so hard to get here.”

Kelsi smiled, her heart swelling with love for him. “Drew, I love you. And I know this is complicated, but I’m not afraid of what people will say. I’ve always been transparent with my followers, and I think they’ll understand that this is real—that we’re real.”

Drew exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. “Zak suggested we do a press conference—make a statement together, explaining that our relationship started after filming ended, and that your win was based entirely on merit.”

Kelsi thought about it for a moment, weighing the risks. She knew they were walking a fine line, but if they were honest and took control of the narrative, they might be able to avoid the worst of the backlash.

“I think Zak’s right,” she said finally. “We need to be upfront, but we do it on our terms. We don’t let anyone else dictate how our story is told.”

Drew smiled, a mixture of relief and pride in his eyes. “You’re amazing, you know that?”

Kelsi grinned, leaning up to kiss him softly. “I know. You’ve told me once or twice.”

They stood there for a moment, the gravity of the decision they’d just made hanging between them. But there was also a sense of peace—a feeling that, whatever came next, they would handle it together.

“So, what’s the plan?” Kelsi asked, pulling away slightly to look at him.

Drew nodded, already shifting into practical mode. “We’ll meet with Zak tomorrow and work out the details. We’ll need to talk to the network, make sure they’re on board with how we present everything.”

“And the media?” Kelsi asked.

“We’ll control the timing,” Drew replied, his tone resolute. “We’ll get ahead of the gossip, and we’ll make sure the truth is clear. That’s all we can do.”

Kelsi nodded, her heart steadying. She felt a sense of resolve settle over her. This wasn’t just about protecting their relationship—it was about standing in their truth, no matter what anyone else thought.

“I’m with you,” she said firmly. “No matter what.”

Drew pulled her close again, resting his chin on top of her head. “I love you, Kelsi.”

“I love you too,” she whispered, feeling the weight of those words even more deeply tonight.

They stood together in the quiet, the storm of the world outside momentarily forgotten. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new decisions. But tonight, they had each other—and that was enough.

Tomorrow, they would face the world together.

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