Page 41 of Certified Heartthrob

A nagging feeling started gnawing at my gut...one that suggested I may never get over Mark. I kept trying to tell myself that everyone felt that way after a breakup, but one day they miraculously felt better and finally indifferent to the person they’d once loved. This didn’t feel like that, though. I guessed he might always be the one who got away...or the one who ran away, pushed me away, however you wanted to put it. It hadn’t exactly been my decision. Better to just accept it and move on.

I climbed into the backseat of a cab, mustering up my determination all over again. I wondered how many more unfortunate blows like that I would suffer before the end of the day.

Then my phone chimed with a message request. I glanced down, expecting something from another tabloid or blog...But no. It was from...Audrey?

“What the hell does she want?” I grumbled, clicking the message open. I cringed as I read it, wondering what new heap of salt she was going to try and rub in my wound.Hasn’t she done enough already?

Audrey: Hi, Camille. I know I am probably the last person you want to hear from right now…

You can say that again…

But...I thought you deserved to know the truth. What you saw at Mark’s apartment really was just a big misunderstanding and it was all my fault. Nothing happened between us, even though I have to admit I wished something would. I went there to try and get him back, but he wouldn’t agree to it because he only has feelings for you now. Messing things up with him was the biggest mistake of my life, but I figure I can at least try and save you from making the same mistake. So...you win. He’s all yours, and you’re a lucky girl.

I blinked several times at the message, trying to wrap my head around it. Why on earth would she say all of that unless it was true? And what good would any of this do for her or Mark if this was all just a scheme against Heartstring, like I had spent the last few days convincing myself it was?

Before I could even process this, my phone started ringing. This time it was a call from Heartstring headquarters, so I didn’t hesitate to answer.

“Ms. Meadows...this is Jake from the customer service management team.”

“Yes, hi, Jake. What’s going on?”

“A rather urgent matter, I’m afraid,” he replied with panic in his voice. “There’s a customer who has been blowing up our phones all morning, insisting to talk to someone at the executive level. He’s demanding we find the specific profile of someone who doesn’t appear to be on our site. It’s the weirdest request we’ve ever received. But I’m afraid he’s quite insistent…”

“What?” I groaned. Like it was our problem this guy couldn’t find some random woman on the site! That’s not how things worked, and it did not bode well for how I could expect the rest of my first day back to go.

“Look, Jake. I’m just a few minutes away from the office. Meet me at my door and we’ll get this sorted out.”

Twenty minutes later, I was sitting behind my desk, waiting for Jake to patch the disgruntled customer through to my phone. “This is Camille Meadows, Heartstring executive,” I answered. “What seems to be the trouble?”

“The trouble is that your site promises true love, but the woman I love doesn’t appear to be featured anywhere. I’ve been swiping all morning and I can’t find her.”

I swallowed hard, instantly recognizing the voice as none other than Mark Silver.

“Well, I don’t know what to tell you, sir,” I said slowly, my voice tight. “Not everyone believes in love...or online dating. Surely you of all people can understand that.”

“I used to,” he replied. “But not anymore. I know who I want.”

“But does she want you back?”

I heard him smile through the phone. “Why don’t you tell me?”

“Did you tell Audrey to message me?” I asked, my heart pounding.

“You wouldn’t listen to me. So, I had to turn to the only other person who knew what really happened.”

I blew out a shaky laugh, fighting back tears of happiness. “She seems to think I’m a lucky woman...and that it’d be a mistake not to give you another chance.”

“I can only say that I was lucky to ever have a chance in the first place.” He sighed. “And if you were to ever give me another shot, I’d do everything in my power to make sure you never regretted it.”

My heart pumped harder with adrenaline and a surging, overwhelming need to see him. All the reasons not to were rapidly melting away. “Where are you?”

“Go to your window,” he told me.

I looked down at the busy sidewalk and saw him standing there among the crowd with his phone to his ear. “Don’t move.” I smiled, hung up the phone, and raced to the elevator.

I ran outside as fast as I could. The moment I walked out of the building, Mark’s stride quickened to match my own—sending us crashing into each other right there in the middle of the sidewalk. He swept me up into his arms and spun me around, kissing me deeply.

“I’m so sorry for everything,” he whispered against my lips. “I love you, and I don’t ever want to let you go again. And honestly...nothing about that scares me anymore.”

---