Page 212 of Just for the Cameras
I lean my head back as her hand finds my length, and she starts pumping me.
Perfect.
She’s so perfect.
“Of course not. It’s you and me, right? Any outside noise doesn’t matter.”
Fuck, I hope that stays true. Because I know there will be a shit ton of outside noise.
I won’t deny that it stung when neither Coach, nor Gretchen, nor my dad—not that he surprised me—believed I was capable of having a lasting relationship.But I will prove them wrong.
Maple Baker is the best thing to ever happen to me.
CHAPTER 39
MAPLE
“I’ll text you,” Graydon says,his mouth inches from mine before he lets his lips linger for a few more seconds. “Bye, beautiful.”
I smile. “Bye.”
One more kiss, then he takes off down the hallway before I shut the door, lean against it, and slide down to the floor, where I let all the pent-up tears I’ve been holding back for the past fifteen hours spill over my cheeks.
I cover my face with my hands and allow my sobs to rip through my body.
For the anger and frustration to take over.
For the fear and worry to consume me.
And for every last word Gretchen said yesterday to seep in.
After she cornered me into signing an NDA about my future breakup with Graydon, Gretchen put me through a crash course in what to expect when Graydon “does end things.” There was no doubt in her mind that the breakup was inevitable, and I felt like absolute shit.You’re just a zookeeper. What draw could you possibly have?
I was shown examples of the narrative we’d follow, of how I’d have to take the blame, which would then mean I’d be followed and pursued by the media for explanations and statements.
It was…unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, like witnessing your funeral before it even occurs. Then I was thrust back into work, where I had to act like my heart wasn’t being torn apart, one word at a time. Ittook everything in me to hold back, to not crash and burn in front of all the visitors, but as the day went on, my heart weighed heavier and heavier, and when I didn’t think I could do it anymore, I slipped and fell into the flamingos’ water. Hank thankfully brought me home so I could shower, and I blamed my tears on embarrassment.
Then I cried in the shower, sobbed actually, letting the hot water sluice over me. When I got out and saw Graydon’s text, I knew I was going to have to pull it together before he got to my apartment. So I thought of his handsome face and pushed away the idea of having to say goodbye to it.
By the time he came around, I’d had enough time to put on a happy face and push the day to the back of my mind. I’m glad that I did because I saw the worry etched all over his brow, and I didn’t want him worrying about me. He has enough going on in his life, and I’ve learned that he’s not great at processing stuff when he’s overwhelmed, so I took the burden of what happened and let it rest on my shoulders while I eased his anxiety.
But now that he’s gone, I let all of that bottled-up anxiety and fear pour out of me.
I don’t know how long I stay there, sorrow racking my body, but I stay there until I don’t have one more tear to shed. On a shaky breath, I stand from the ground and move over to the kitchen, where a mug of cold coffee waits for me.
Graydon made it.
My lip trembles.
Of course he made it.
He’s sweet and considerate and cares about me.
My lip trembles some more from the thought of losing that, losing him.
No, not again. Keep it together.
My phone rings from the other room and I hurry to go answer it. When I see Graydon’s name appear, my heart races with excitement. I take a second to steady my voice before answering.
