Page 72 of Faking the Shot

“It doesn’t have to be that real, but I don’t want to be constrained into that never being a possibility. I just feel like there are so many real things that stay unseen because we live in this bubble of wanting everything nice and easy and sweet. I know I’ve contributed to that. I feel like such a fake even saying this, as I’m fully aware that I’ve benefited from perpetuating this bubble of sweetness. I just feel this draw inside me to do something different. Something that really has meaning. Do you know what I mean?”

Her aunt nodded, her gaze shifting to her paintings collected in the corner. “Do you know why I started painting flowers?”

“Why?”

“Because it was therapy after what my father did to my mother and what happened to me. I found great solace in painting pictures of sweet things.”

“I don’t mean to disparage people’s need for escape. Maybe it’s just that I’m so much in the middle of it all the time that I don’t see much else.”

“Then maybe that’s what you need to do.”

“What do you mean?”

“Get out of your bubble, for a little while at least, and get your hands dirty with some real things. See if that’s something you really can do before making such a drastic decision as quitting a show that basically revolves around you.”

Ainsley felt wisdom there. Peace settled in her heart. “Thank you.”

“And I’ll be praying that God opens the right doors. With your career, and with your Mister Right.”

* * *

It had beena while since he’d brought a girlfriend to the Christmas hockey fundraiser. Two years in fact. And now Ainsley was here, by his side, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of ease to have her here again.

Chris and Diana might have their doubts, but since he and Ainsley had shared some meals with them, and met their kids who all seemed to instantly love her, and everyone realized how normal she was, those initial questions seemed to have calmed. Which was just as well, because Ainsley by his side felt right. Like they matched, or something. There weren’t many women he’d dated whom he hadn’t had to prop up, one way or another. Some with constant compliments, some financially. Ainsley’s independence and focus on her career made her all the more appealing. She didn’t need him—except as a fake boyfriend, apparently—but shechosehim. Even if that wasn’t quite real.

They posed in front of a Christmas tree, and Drew took their photo then sent it to Zac. Zac shared it with Ainsley, and she smiled. “Want to make this our official pic?”

“You want to post it on Instagram?”

“Rosie said it’s probably time.”

Rosie? Oh, Ainsley’s publicist or agent or whatever she was. His heart dipped. That’s right. This was still about selling them as a couple, even if the more time he spent with her, the more he wanted to make this genuine.

“What do you want to say?” she asked.

He shrugged. “Happy to follow your lead.”

“What about saying ‘Guess who’s officially taken’? Or ‘You belong with me’? Or ‘A true love story never ends’?”

“I’m not feeling we can really say that last one,” he mumbled.

“Oh, you’re right.” Her brow furrowed. “What about ‘Our love story is just beginning’? Or ‘Miracles really do happen’?”

“We could do those two. That last one is true, anyway.”

“Okay then.”

She tapped on her screen, and he did the same, then on a three, two, one, countdown, finally posted it for all the world to see.

“Whew.” She exhaled. “I’m glad that’s done.” She smiled up at him.

He swallowed. She still had the power to steal his breath, even though she’d dressed a little less glam tonight, and he got the distinct impression that despite the high heels she would much rather be wearing her Converse.

Diana caught her attention and Ainsley moved to speak with some of the others. He couldn’t look away even if he tried. She might be a star, but she was also like the moon, holding a gentle radiance that kept him fascinated.

Ainsley caught his gaze, smiled at him. His heart tugged to join them, so his feet obeyed.

They were chatting about the White Night fundraiser, and he overheard Ainsley talk about feeling guilty about how the focus of the coverage had been about her, and not the subject matter.

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