Page 87 of The Cuffing Game
Mia’s heart pounded in her chest as quick footsteps approached, muffled by the sand. When she looked up, Noah was there, standing right in front of the camera. He was panting and breathing heavily, like he’d just run a race.
When their eyes met, Noah held out his hand.
“Hi, Mia,” he said. “Can you please come stand here with me?”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Noah
Noah had no idea what he was doing. All he knew was the swirling, jumbled mess of bigfeelingshe had for Mia, and the fact that he wanted the whole world to know how he felt.
Mia was right after all,he realized, groaning internally as he thought about that fateful day in the lecture hall.Iamthe type of person to obnoxiously show off the person I like to everyone.
Mia’s face was blank with surprise as she asked, “Noah, what are you doing?”
Fear belatedly struck his heart as he realized Mia could shoot him down when he was the most vulnerable. He slightly lowered his hand but pressed on.
“Sorry I didn’t respond sooner,” he said. “I watched today’s episode and then drove here as fast as I could from Vegas and thenranacross the beach because I realized I was going to miss the stream, thanks to LA traffic. The whole time, I was thinking about how to best give you myanswer. And now seems like the best time. Only if you’re okay with it, of course.”
Biting her lip, Mia took Noah’s hand and let him guide her to the front of the camera.
Reassured by the warmth of her hand, Noah addressed the camera directly. “For anyone who’s been sleeping under arock,this is Mia. She’s the creator ofThe Cuffing Game,as well as the host. And it took me a while to realize it, butshe’sthe person I want to cuff with on this show.”
Several gasps came from behind the camera. Noah looked up to see that Shirin, Tiana, Violet,andCarlos had come out onto the beach to rejoin the crew. Some of the cast and crew members seemed taken aback, but no one looked truly surprised.
He turned around to address Mia directly. Her eyes were wide, and her mouth slightly agape.
“Mia, you’re amazing, and I like you. I know I’ve already told you this in private. But I wanted to tell you this in front ofeveryoneso you have no doubt that this is what I think of you. You’re super observant and ambitious and justsocaring. Yes, you initially made this show to forget you like me”—a few people chuckled, and Noah smirked before continuing—“but there’s no doubt you care deeply about everyone here. People who aren’t in film school don’t realize how much blood, sweat, and tears a single production like this takes. They don’t realize the countless sleepless nights andmonthsof preparation ittakes to make everything happen. But I do. And people may think it’s weird you created this show instead of just telling me how you feel. But you know what? You were totally justified in what you did. When we first met,Iwas a complete asshole to you. And I had so many walls up that made it hard for you—for anyone, really—to get to know the real me.”
“So he’s self-aware,” Mia said. “Finally.”
Her words were as blunt as always, making Noah laugh.
“Yeah,” he said. “Sorry it took me so long to get to this point. Hell, I would have made a show to avoid my feelings for me, too. Actually, a movie, since I like films more. A thriller, maybe?”
Mia made a face, and Noah pressed his lips into a line so he wouldn’t burst out laughing again.
“Anyway, I like you, Mia. And after watching your interview, I’mpretty sureyou like me, too. So, without further ado...”
Noah put his hand on his waist, so that his arm formed a circle. An invitation.
Mia blinked, as if she could hardly believe what was happening.
“I’ve always wanted to do this,” she whispered. Then slowly, as everyone around them burst into applause, she linked her arm around his.
Noah was about to ask Damien to cut the live stream when, so softly that he almost missed it, Mia asked, “Can I kiss you?”
Noah’s heart beat faster. She was asking him for permission. In these current circumstances.
He suddenly understood what people meant when they said they “swooned.” Because that was exactly what he was doing over Mia right now. His entire body felt hot, and not in a bad way.
“You can always kiss me, Mia,” he said, with a grin so wide and genuine that his mouth hurt a little. Then Mia stood up on her tiptoes to finally,finallykiss him.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Mia
Mia’s show was completely going off the rails, a situation right out of her nightmares. But instead of feeling like she was spiraling out of control, Mia was on cloud nine.
