Page 29 of The Grumpy Actor

Yeah. This is the best defense mechanism—work.

I should only focus on the job I have to do, nothing more.

“Good morning, Sophie.”

“If you’re ready, I’ll drive you to the beach.”

A tense silence fills the room, and I fight the pull to look at Liam. I pick up the scripts on the table and stash them in the messenger bag slung across my shoulder.

“Are you ready, sir?”

“Yes.”

His response is clipped, and he stalks out the door without waiting for me. I hurry after him and go straight to the car.

Instead of getting in the backseat as he usually does, Liam slides into the driver’s seat and stretches his hand out for the keys.

I shake my head. “It’s my job to drive you places, not the other way around.”

“Just give me the keys, Sophie. How long do you plan to avoid looking at me?”

I drop the keys in his hand and go around to the passenger seat, still without a single glance at him. It’s better this way.

I don’t want to be pulled in by his eyes and feel all those powerful emotions again. I already have enough to handle, seeing as he’s so close to me.

I feel his heated gaze on me, and it’s almost impossible for me to keep looking away.

“I’m sorry.”

My heart skips a beat. The softness of his voice grips me with fierce intensity. He sounds so sincere that I almost fall for it, but then I remember how much he enjoys riling people up.

“What exactly are you apologizing for?”

“My selfish behavior last night…and for…” He trails off as his voice grows even softer. “And for seven years ago.”

I gulp. My heartbeat quickens as tears sting my eyes. I force them back before they fall. Even if I wanted to pretend that I don’t care, there’s still a part of me that wants him to feel remorse for breaking my heart.

Now that the guilt is heavy in his voice, it oddly doesn’t calm me.

Is it because he’s an actor?

That has to be the reason. I know how good he is at acting. He’s definitely just paying lip service to clear the awkward air. An apology without a valid reason for why he coldly dumped me after spending countless nights talking about a future with me isn’t real.

I glance at him, unable to hold myself back anymore, and what I see in his eyes sends a jolt through me. He isn’t lying.

The deep emotions circling in his eyes are ones I’ve never seen before, and I can’t name them.

“About last night,” he starts, and I push aside my tumultuous emotions. “I was out of place. I acted out of jealousy because it drove me crazy to know you were on a date with another man.”

Hewasjealous.

My heart leaps despite my inhibitions. Does that mean he still feels something for me?

“However, I know it’s not my place to feel that way.”

And there he goes, dashing my hopes.

I sigh. “You’re right. You have no reason to feel jealous.”

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