Page 76 of Official

I didn’t run, hide, or shrink back in order to make him feel better.

I stood tall, and that’s worth celebrating.

But the laughter and cheers cease to exist for me when my eyes land on Xander. Where did he come from?

As the crowd disperses, he’s the only one left in place, working his jaw back and forth while he watches me.

“What’re you doing here?” I ask cautiously. “I figured you would’ve burst into flames the moment you walked through the door, so you obviously risked your well-being for something important.”

His lip slightly twitches. “I’m not allergic to the gym. In fact, I spend five nights a week at my gym. I just don’t work out while I’m on vacation.”

I gulp to wet my dry throat at the thought of Maui. Thevacationthat changed my life.

The word will never be the same for me.

“What do you want?” I ask weakly.

He waves his arms around the scene of excitement. “That was…”

I place my trembling hands on my hips, my heart still pounding from the commotion.

“Incredible,” he finishes on an exhale.

His praise catches me off guard, and suddenly, I’m tongue-tied.

“Did you get my text?” Xander drops his gaze down to my hand. “Teddy told me what happened with Rattle—I mean, Rico. Fuck, I can’t keep them straight.” He scratches the back of his head, his T-shirt rising above the waistband of his pants with the movement. “I thought I was the one with bad luck around animals.”

I fight a smile and start to settle into the ease of how we used to be, but I catch myself. “Wait, what did you say to Teddy?”

“Everything.” As the breath is knocked out of me, he crosses the space between us and grips my arms. “Sam, I’m sorry for what I said last night and for how I acted the last night of our trip. It takes so much courage to put yourself out there for literally millions, and you were so amazing just now with Jason. I seriously almost jumped in to punch him in the jaw for being such an asshole, but you took him down without laying a finger on him.” He chuckles and cups my cheek, his touch familiar and comforting. “You show up for your followers, but you do a damn good job of showing up for yourself too.”

I lean into his palm, and my angry resolve crumbles like a trail of dominoes. “Xander, I’m—hang on, what did you just say?” Blinking rapidly, I try to bring him back into focus as my heart rate picks up again.

But for a different reason.

“That you show up for yourself? I really admire that—”

“Oh my God, that’s it. That’s what I should do.” I grip his forearms and look into his confused eyes.

But I’ve never seen more clearly, nor have I ever felt so sure about something than I do about the idea he just gave me.

It’s the answer I’ve been looking for to what’s holding me back with my career.

“You’re a genius,” I say to Xander and jump back, scoop my bag up from the dusty floor with streaks of white chalk across the mat, and squeal. “Thank you!”

“For what?” he asks.

“I have to take care of something right now.” I kiss his cheek, pausing briefly when my lips touch his warm skin, electricity passing between us. “I’ll call you later, and we’ll talk. Promise.”

He nods, and I race out of the gym faster than any sprinting session I’ve completed. Each step I take grows bouncier as I reach my car and throw the door open. Sliding inside, I’m still wearing my smile like an accessory, and I never want it to dull again.

Especially not because I gave so much control to an asshole like Jason.

This is my life, and I’m taking charge of it again.

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