Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 51427 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51427 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Oh, shit.
He’s right.
I sang Gabe’s praises like those things he did were nothing. They’re not nothing. They’re wonderful. But there’s no room to linger on how wonderful since Gabe and I have an end date.
“Maybe,” I say, then run my finger along the rim of the iced tea glass, trying to sort through the ping-pong game my feelings are playing.
“Ellie,” Maddox chides, seeing right through me. “This guy sounds like more than a maybe.”
Ugh. Why does he have to be so right? I toss my hands up in the air, giving in. “Fine, you’re right. I like him. There. Are you happy?”
He laughs again. “Don’t ever change.”
“I won’t,” I say, playfully defiant. Then I relent. I’m not a secret keeper. Not from my friends. “We fit. We just fit so well,” I admit, relieved to stop fighting my feelings. Well, for a second at least. “Do you know what I mean?”
A look of longing flashes in Maddox’s warm brown eyes. “I do,” he says a little wistfully.
But there’s a hint of pain in his voice too that worries me. I cover his hand with mine. “Did I touch a nerve?”
“No.” He sighs and slumps back in his chair. “It’s fine.”
Wait. Hold on. He’s notoriously private about his romantic life. For him to even say it’s fine is revealing. “Maddox…have you met a guy you like?”
His resigned smile is answer enough. Judging from his expression, whatever happened with this guy isn’t still happening.
“I did,” he says, a big admission for him. “But it can’t work out.” He’s resolute, but I can hear, too, that he’s trying to be strong.
“Why can’t it work out?” I ask desperately because I feel it desperately. I want all the good things for my friends. I want Maddox to have mad, passionate, soul-deep love.
He takes a beat, dragging a hand through his hair, then taking his time as he answers with, “It’s complicated. And risky. And probably a bad idea.”
I frown then squeeze his hand harder. “This guy sounds great actually.”
Maddox cracks up, a deep laugh that seems to move through his body. “I haven’t told you a thing about him.”
“And yet I still know,” I say. Maddox might be careful with his words, but he’s not the only intuitive one. “I can read people too.”
He smirks. “And what’s the story in the book of me that you’re reading, Ellie?”
I point at his chest. “I think he sounds great because it sounds like you have big, monster feelings,” I say, my eyebrows arching in query. “Feelings you have to fight off.”
He sighs. Long, maybe a little frustrated. “It doesn’t matter,” he says, his tone concise, ending the conversation about his mystery man. “Enough about me. Tell me more about your guy and your monster feelings.”
“No way do I have monster feelings,” I say with a scoff. But my heart is drumming a little harder, a little faster.
Stupid heart. Stupid feelings.
Maddox snorts.
“I admitted I like him,” I say, with an I’ve given in already smile. “Do you want me to serve my heart up on a platter?”
“That’s the idea.”
I roll my eyes.
Maddox doesn’t back down. Just keeps his gaze locked on me. “You like him. He’s good people. So what’s the problem? Seriously? Everything sounds great.”
My heart pangs, the start of an ache. But there’s no space for heartache when we’re ending too damn soon.
I take a fueling breath to reset since the answer is simple. The problem is neither Gabe nor I want more. We’re both devoted to other things. “I need to focus on my show, and he needs to focus on football,” I say, chin up, armor on. “It’s an important year for him and it’s a critical time for me. And we both just got out of bad relationships so…”
“Timing. Circumstances,” Maddox says sagely, getting it.
“Yeah. They’re not lining up. So it’s best to just focus on work,” I say, bright and cheery.
Like I have to be.
I do love my job. I am excited about it.
And hell, I moved across the country for this. I should concentrate on my monster feelings for The Dating Games.
For the next few hours, I dig into the script as he works on deals. We order lunch, and as we eat our quinoa bowls, I show him a scene. He laughs as he reads it. “That is a most excellent dating challenge. Try something that scares you,” he says with a smile. “I can’t wait to see it on air.”
As the sun travels across the summer sky, we take a break, changing into our swimsuits and jumping into the pool.
I chat about Los Angeles and my new home and Gigi, doing my best to help keep his mind off his romantic woes. Mine too. But now and then, he gets a faraway look in his eyes. Maybe soon he’ll tell me more about his guy and what went down.