Page 31 of Rescue My Heart

“I’ll...think about it,” she finally said, her voice hollow. She wasn’t ready to make any decisions, not yet. But the doubt was already creeping in, making her question everything that had felt so right just moments ago.

Mazey needed time alone to think. After her meeting with Olivia, her manager, she retreated to her hotel room, hoping to find some clarity. As she made her way through the lobby, the paparazzi shouted questions, their voices overlapping in a chaotic symphony. “Mazey! Is it true you’re dating a firefighter?” “Are you going to respond to the rumors?” “What do you have to say about the photos?”

Each question felt like a dagger, twisting in her gut.

She pushed past them, her heart pounding. This was more than just a minor inconvenience; it was a stark reminder of her reality. She had built her entire life around her perfect, polished, and untouchable image. But now, everything felt like it was unraveling. Olivia had told her to spin it, but how could she spin something so personal? She didn’t even know Mazey was into women. If it were a man, maybe it would be easier. But this was McKenna, someone she cared about deeply. The thought of dragging her into this mess made Mazey’s stomach churn.

As she navigated through the throng, she felt light-headed from the onslaught of thoughts swirling in her mind. Each flash from the cameras was a stark reminder of the stakes. It was a reality check she wasn’t prepared for, one that made her feel as if she were suffocating under the weight of her own decisions.

Finally, she reached the hotel elevator, where security guards created a barrier between her and the media frenzy. She didn’t want anyone to see how shaken she was or how vulnerable she felt. Maintaining her composure was crucial; she needed a calm exterior and a witty response, something to deflect the probing questions.

“Thanks, fellas,” she called over her shoulder with a smirk that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Maybe next time, they’ll write about me shacking up with a security guard.” It was a joke, a façade, and the guards chuckled at her attempt to lighten the mood.

“These paparazzi are always spinning some crazy stuff, Ms. Snow,” one of the guards replied, trying to reassure her. “We’ll make sure they don’t bother you, and I’m sure it’ll die down soon.”

Mazey appreciated their kindness, but the words felt hollow. She didn’t have the energy to engage in pleasantries. The weight of everything pressing down on her made it hard to act as if nothing was wrong. As the elevator doors shut behind her, sheleaned against the cool metal wall and checked for a CCTV camera. She was safe, but the moment she was alone, the dam broke. She sank to the floor, tears streaming down her cheeks.

The nightmare she had feared had come true far too soon. She needed more time to be completely sure of her choice and gather her thoughts and emotions. Could she really choose love over her career? What if she came out, and it was a non-issue? What if it was a big deal? The questions spiraled through her mind, creating a tempest of uncertainty that left her feeling lost.

The elevator doors opened, and Mazey stumbled out, making her way to her room. As soon as she entered, she threw herself onto the bed, burying her face in the comforter as her body shook with sobs.

Mazey felt a tight knot in her stomach as the weight of her decision settled in. She wasn’t ready to come out to the world, let alone admit to her manager that she was in love with a woman. Not yet. The scrutiny she faced was suffocating, and she needed it to end now. She considered the prospect of ending things with McKenna in person, but the thought was too painful. Their connection had grown so deep, and she couldn't bear to see the hurt in McKenna's eyes.

Instead, she decided it would be easier to do it over a text. As she sat on the edge of her bed, her heart raced. As she typed, her fingers trembled.“I’m sorry, but I can’t do a relationship right now. I hope you can understand. I wish you the best.”

Once she hit send, a wave of relief mingled with regret washed over her. It felt like a coward's way out, but she needed to sever the connection. With a deep breath, she blocked McKenna’s number, a finality hanging in the air like a heavy curtain.

As the screen went dark, she felt an ache in her chest, a bittersweet pang of loss that she knew would haunt her long after this moment. Why couldn’t she have love and a thrivingcareer? Was it really wrong that she loved a woman? As the thoughts swirled in her head, the exhaustion from stress and crying got to her, and she nodded off, hoping that everything would be solved once she woke up.

12

MCKENNA

McKenna stared at her phone in disbelief, the glowing screen illuminating the chaos of her thoughts. How could Mazey just end things over a text message? After an incredible night filled with laughter, intimacy, and promises of a future, it felt like a punch to the gut. This was exactly how she imagined a Hollywood diva would handle a situation: impersonal, cold, and callous. McKenna had wanted to believe that Mazey was different, that their connection was real, but now, she couldn't shake the feeling that maybe she was just a fleeting experiment, a chapter in Mazey's life that she could easily close.

She tried to calm herself, but the whirlwind of emotions was overwhelming. McKenna turned on the TV and switched to the entertainment channel, hoping to distract herself. The reporter was in the middle of speculating about Mazey Snow’s sudden disappearance from the public eye.

“Is she having a fling with a hunky firefighter? Could this be her new boo?”

The words felt like daggers. Seeing Mazey’s face on the screen was painful, a reminder of the warmth and affectionthey had shared. Deep down, McKenna wanted to believe that the woman she had spent time with, the one who had made her laugh and feel alive, was still in there somewhere. Maybe this was just a moment of panic for Mazey, a reaction to the pressures of her fame and the overwhelming scrutiny she faced.

But as the minutes ticked by, McKenna realized she couldn’t be alone with her thoughts any longer. The self-doubt and confusion were too much to bear. She needed to talk to someone, to get a fresh perspective, to figure out if there was still hope for her and Mazey.

Without hesitation, she picked up her phone and called Ember.

“Yo, McKenna! What’s going on? Is everything alright?” “Can I come over and talk? I’m going crazy,” McKenna admitted, her voice trembling.

“Of course! I’m at the garage. Drop by anytime,” Ember replied, her tone instantly reassuring.

“Okay. I’m on my way,” McKenna said, feeling a flicker of hope igniting in her chest.

She drove over to Ember’s garage, her mind racing with questions and doubts. She hoped that Ember had some magical words that would make her feel better, whether it was the push she needed to move on from Mazey or something to cling to, giving her a glimmer of hope. But deep down, McKenna knew she didn’t really know what she wanted.

In the past, she hadn’t cared so much about her previous partners. Whether they were closeted or too afraid to come out didn’t matter; she had been able to compartmentalize her feelings. But this felt different. This was Mazey, someone who had sparked a fire in her heart, and she found herself clinging to the hope that their connection was genuine. The thought of being just another secret for Mazey was almost unbearable.What if Mazey had just had a change of heart? What if she realized she didn’t want to be with McKenna after all?

As she pulled up to the garage, McKenna took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside her. She stepped out of her car and walked toward the entrance, where the sounds of machinery and laughter filled the air. Ember was working on a car, her hands covered in grease, but she looked up and smiled when she saw McKenna.

“Hey, you okay?” Ember asked, wiping her hands on a rag and setting it aside.

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