Page 36 of The Fangirl and the Playboy

Fuck. I knew it.

“What’s happened?” I ask. “Did you and Stella break up?”

“Quite the opposite,” she answers quickly, a shaky laugh in her voice. “I’ve realized I really am in love with her, and I don’t want to hide, anymore.”

“Wait, really?” I ask on a rushed exhale. “Jules, that’s great.”

“I’ve been so stupid, trying to hide who I am for all these years. I’m not a kid anymore, and I have nothing to be afraid of. I’m taking an interview withEntertainment Todaytonight, and Stella is coming with me. We’re going to announce our engagement.”

“Engagement?Jules.Congratulations. Really. You deserve all the happiness in the world.”

“Thanks, Gavin. I really appreciate your support, but I’m concerned how all this is going to affectyou.”

“Me? Why would it affect me?”

“Because as far as the world knows, you and I have been on again, off again lovers for more than a decade. Once the truth comes out, people will think I’ve played you for a fool and you were too dense to realize it, or they’ll think you knew all along and helped me cover it up for years, making us both liars.”

“Well, that last bitistrue,” I say, but the joke falls flat. I heave a breath. “Listen, Julia, don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

“You’re going to be raked over the coals either way, Gavin.”

“Like I said, I’ll be fine. I can handle whatever they throw at me. I’m just so pleased for you. You’re finally going to get your happily ever after.”

“I am,” she says, and I can hear the tears in her voice. She sniffs and clears her throat. “And what about you?”

“What about me?”

“Are you going to get your very own happily ever after?”

“I don’t know,” I say honestly. “The more time I spend with her, the more those old feelings come bursting back to the surface. She’s really turned out to be an amazing human, just like I always imagined she would.”

“You still love her.”

It’s not a question, and I don’t respond.

“You’rean amazing human, Gavin Reese,” she says after a beat of silence. “Give her some time. She’ll figure it out.”

“I hope you’re right, Jules.”

“Okay, well, I’ve got to go. Stella’s holding lunch for me. Will you watch my interview tonight?”

“I wouldn’t miss it.”

“Love you, Gav,” she says.

“Love you, too. Bye.”

We end the call, and I lean back against the couch with a long exhale. I feel…so many things.

Joy for my friend.

Pride that she’s finally ready to stop hiding and live her true, authentic life.

And if I’m being honest with myself, the greatest emotion I feel is relief. As willing as I’ve always been to help her out, it’s liberating to know my services won’t be needed anymore. I won’t have to pretend to be her boyfriend. I won’t have to lie to the ones I care about.

I won’t have to keep secrets from Willow.

If she sees that interview, it won’t be hard for her to put two and two together. She’ll realize why I did what I did.

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