Page 86 of Never Date a Celebrity

“No thanks, let’s just do this.” Amelia tried not to notice how beautiful Imogen looked—it would only make it ten times harder. Her face was practically bare of makeup, her skin smooth and glowing. Though she’d clearly been crying, and that hurt to see. Her hair was tied back away from her face. And the outfit she wore clung to every curve Amelia had been lucky enough to touch. Not anymore though.

Imogen blinked at her for a second, clearly not expecting Amelia to cut straight to it. “Oh, okay then.” She rolled her lips in as she considered what to say. Then she leaned forward. “First off, I’m sorry for the message. For the last week. All of it. Sorrier than I can put into words.”

Was this like one of those sandwich things? Say something nice and positive, smash you over the head with the negative, then finish it up with but it’s been so lovely knowing you. “It’s fine. I knew where I stood when we started this. I just thought what we had maybe eclipsed all the bad stuff, but it didn’t. And that’s okay.” Amelia offered a stiff smile because it wasn’t okay with her at all, but Imogen had made her choice, and she wasn’t going to make this any harder than it needed to be.

“Except it did,” Imogen said. “It did eclipse it. I was just too blind to notice.”

Amelia looked at her, once again wondering what was going on. If this was a breakup, she might have to dump herself if Imogen kept agreeing with her. “Can you please explain what’s happening? Why are you here, Imogen?”

“For you,” Imogen said simply. “I’m here for you, Amy.”

Oh. Amelia’s heart danced a little. “But you said you couldn’t do this. Only today, in fact.”

“I was wrong. I’ve been so wrong. About a lot of things.” Imogen reached forward for Amelia’s hand. The one that still worked. “Can I?”

Amelia scanned the room. They were still in the eyeline of quite a few people, and some of those people were already looking over. Not Imogen’s jam. “What if someone sees?”

Imogen grasped her hand and held it up like proof. “I hope they see. I hope everyone sees.” She sucked in a breath then looked at Amelia so warmly it almost undid her. “I want to be with you, Amy. Privately, publicly, together, apart. I want us. Yes, some of it might take some getting used to. Some of it won’t be easy. There’ll be rough along with the smooth. But the thing I realised is that I want the rough and the smooth with you. And the in between. I want all of it with you.”

Oh, those were very good words. So good, Amelia could hardly believe they were coming out of Imogen’s mouth. “But you were right, you know. Some aspects of being in a relationship with me aren’t fun.” Amelia wasn’t trying to ruin this, but she needed Imogen to fully understand what she was signing up for. Amelia couldn’t risk another blow. Her heart couldn’t. “There are criticisms. And rumours. And false stories. You could click onto Google and see a headline that we’ve broken up, when in reality we’re better than ever. They could say I’m having an affair, or that you are. That I’ve gone to rehab when really, I’m hiding out for a week binge-watching TV and scarfing chocolate because I’ve scored some time off. They can say anything they want.”

“I know,” Imogen said. “And I can handle all that. I want to handle it. So long as I stop shutting you out when I’m scared, we’ll get through it. I’ll have you by my side, right?” Imogen looked terrified asking that. Like Amelia’s answer could break her heart all over again. And somehow, she was here asking it anyway.

Amelia knew right then she’d spend the rest of her life making sure Imogen never regretted this.

“Always. I will always be by your side, on your side, sometimes a thorn in your side.” They both laughed at that. Amelia squeezed her hand. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you, Imogen. We can get through it all together. All that matters is us. The rest is just noise.”

Imogen nodded. “I know that now. It just took me a while to catch up.”

“And your past. That awful video.” They needed to get everything out on the table before Amelia let herself feel any of the happiness trying to break through. “It will all blow up again at some point. Are you okay with that?”

“I’ll never be okay with it, but I will tolerate it. Anonymous Member 191 will probably be delighted to see me get dragged through the gutter again.”

Amelia gave her a questioning look and Imogen waved her off. “Never mind. What I’m saying is that I can cope with it now. This is my storm now, and it’s my turn to walk through it for you.”

“So, you’re in this?” Amelia asked. She wanted to leave nothing open for interpretation. “As in, together, don’t care who knows, in this?”

“I’m in this. We can hard launch right now if you want. I’ll announce to this whole room that I’m with you.” Imogen even started to stand.

Amelia reached over to stop her. “Don’t you dare. Security will think you’re a crazed fan and drag you away from me.” She gently tugged her back down. “And Imogen, I don’t want you to be away from me ever again.”

“Okay. Then I’ll drag you out into the car park and kiss you under the stars and the flashes of ten waiting photographers. I’ll do whatever it takes. Whatever you need to know I’m not going anywhere ever again.”

Amelia couldn’t stop smiling. That was quite a declaration coming from Imogen. “I don’t know how I feel about giving all those photographers a show, but I would happily take that kiss in my hotel room.” A thought hit her and she frowned. “Shit. I agreed to the action movie.”

Imogen remained undeterred. “That’s a great thing, isn’t it? You wanted that one, didn’t you? Saving the world single-handedly like a badass?”

“I did. I mean, I do. But when Always the Bridesmaid ends, it means I’ll be gone straightaway. For at least six months.”

Imogen looked almost amused. “I mean, you do live in LA. And you’re an actress in high demand. I was expecting some distance.” She squeezed Amelia’s hand tighter. “We’ll work it out. Don’t worry about it.”

Amelia nodded, her mind already whirring with possibilities. “Maybe I can come visit on my days off.”

“And maybe I can come visit you on location,” Imogen replied with a hopeful look.

They both smiled at each other.

“So, we’re really doing this?” Amelia asked, hardly able to believe it. Only hours ago, she thought she had lost Imogen for good. Now they were holding hands in a crowded room, talking about location visits and a future together. “No more running?”