Page 32 of The Grumpy Actor

Is he talking to me?

Tears sting my eyes as I return my gaze to him.

Liam closes the gap between us and cups my cheeks. He dabs the tears at the corner of my eyes away. “I’m sorry I hurt you, Sophie. I thought I had no other choice but to let you go, but I was so insensitive about how my abrupt ending of our relationship would affect you. I really am very sorry.”

“It’s fine.” My throat clogs up with emotions as I let my tears fall.

Something tightens within me, something so different from the heartbreak I suffered long ago, something much more primal and all-consuming.

I really might have just wanted him to show remorse and acknowledge the fact he hurt me. Even though there’s a part of me that might want this to mean something else, I really do feel grateful for this moment.

“Thank you.”

“What?” He raises a confused brow at me. “Why?”

“Just…thank you.”

The tension slowly fades from Liam’s face as his hand slides to the back of my neck, his touch surprisingly gentle. A small, genuine smile tugs at his lips—and for a moment, it steals the breath from mine.

My heart hammers as I lean closer, drawn to him like I always have been. My gaze drops to his slightly parted lips, and before I can overthink it, he leans in and kisses me.

The moment our lips meet, the rest of the world fades away. It’s tender at first—unsteady, like a memory we’re both scared to wake up. Then it deepens, and I feel myself falling all over again.

My hands slide around his neck as I melt into the moment, all the tension and hurt dissolving into something warm and familiar.

This is just like it used to be—no, stronger. More real. And part of me doesn’t want it to end.

Chapter 10

Liam

Myhandinstinctivelygoesto my lips again. Even though it’s been over two hours since that make-out session on the rock, I still can’t shake off the feeling of her lips on mine.

The pull Sophie has over me is still as strong as ever, and frankly, I don’t want to let go of it.

That moment we shared meant more than just a stolen kiss to me.

For the first time in my life, I bared my heart to someone. I don’t remember ever speaking so emotionally before that moment.

That might explain why this scene suddenly feels so easy.

She was right, after all. You can’t pretend to feel what you’ve never experienced.

Even though acting means pretending to be what you’re not, it doesn’t seem to work when it comes to love.

What does that mean?

Are my feelings for Sophie so strong that they can be compared to love?

I glance toward my chair, where she’s happily chatting away with Celeste’s assistant. Warmth spreads through me as I watch that simple moment.

The way her beauty radiates through the air makes me feel as though there’s nothing I can’t do.

“Camera rolling!”

I snap my head away from Sophie and return my attention to Celeste.

What scene are we shooting again?

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