Page 245 of Just for the Cameras
“Says who?”
His eyes find mine. “Says me,” he says with conviction. “As your man, it is my job to make sure you’re okay and safe. With the season starting and the media attention that we will draw, I want you to know that if you want to back out, I understand.”
“Stop saying that,” I say, growing angry. “I’m not backing out.”
“It’s going to be hard, Maple. The fans will be rude and ruthless and—”
“I don’t give two shits what they say.” I lean back, irritated with him. “You keep saying that the public will hurt me, but this conversation right now, with you pushing me away, telling me I can back out, that’s what’s hurting me.”
“I know, I’m sorry.” He sighs out his frustration. “I just, I can’t stop worrying about…everything.” He drives his hand through his hair. “I’m sorry, Maple. Please…please forgive me. I just want to protect you, and I’m not going about it in the right way.”
“You’re not.” I cross my arms over my chest. “Let me show you just how brave I can be. Okay?”
He nods. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“Thank you.”
He pulls me into a hug, then buries his face into my neck, holding me close and kissing me. I push my hand through his hair, holding him tight, letting him know that I can be the rock that he needs, that he doesn’t need to be the sturdy one all the time.
After a few seconds, he pulls away and asks, “Can I bring you back to my place and make dinner for you?”
“Only if you do it shirtless.”
He smiles softly. “Deal.”
CHAPTER 44
GRAYDON
“How do you feel?” Huttonasks as we set the weights back on the racks.
“Good, ready. How about you?”
“Flexible.”
I eye him, causing him to laugh. “Scarlett has been taking me to her Pilates classes this off-season, and at first, I thought it was stupid, as if I needed to go to a class like that, but my man, I’ve never been more humbled in my entire life. My body was shaking uncontrollably. It was humiliating, but I stayed consistent, and now, I feel more ready than ever for the season to start.”
“You’re telling me that you’ve been keeping it a secret this entire summer that you’ve been taking Pilates classes?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“So I could have this moment with you right now, while you watch me attempt to do the splits right in front of you.” He starts spreading his legs and lowering his body to the ground.
“What the actual fuck,” I say in shock, watching my friend slide closer to the ground, only for him to stop about a foot and a half away and then topple over to the floor. “Uh…that wasn’t the splits.”
“No, but I was close.”
“Not really.”
“Pretty close.”
“You were closer to the ceiling than the floor.”
“Oh fuck off, I was close.” He stands. “Watch this.” He kicks his leg up toward the ceiling. “Look at that flexibility. Never thought you would see that from me, did you?”
“Honestly, I couldn’t have predicted this entire conversation. Consider me surprised.”
