Page 55 of Promise Not to Fall for the Rich & Famous

“We understand that during your time at an undisclosed resort, you fell for your surfing instructor,” Tristi said. “Is that a fair statement?”

Gage nodded. “Yes.”

“Sources say that it was a lot like paradise for the two of you,” Brock said. “All the feels of a new relationship. But can you tell us about how things went wrong, and whatyou’dlike to do, withStar Chat’shelp, to make it right?”

“Sure, Brock.” Gage leveled a look at the camera, and Carly felt it all the way down to her sock-covered feet.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” Jill said in a whisper.

“It’s so romantic,” her mom gushed.

“I won’t go into too much abouthowwe fell in love,” Gage said, “but I will say that we did.”

Jill jumped up and down at her end of the room. “That was on live TV, Carly. He’s not hiding it.”

The warm tingles radiating throughout Carly’s frame said she was registering that fact for herself.

Gage continued. “Pictures started to show up of the two of us on the beach, so we tried keeping things behind closed doors.”

“Sounds right,” Brock said. “You want to protect this woman that you’re falling in love with.”

Gage nodded. “Exactly. I hoped to keep her name out of the press until I finished filming. I knew I’d be gone for a whole month, and the last thing I wanted was for her to be hounded while I was away.”

Tristi piped up next. “The paparazzi can get aggressive,” she said. “I’m sure that’s not a surprised to any of you folks at home. And they got hold of some private information anyway, correct?”

The mere question poked at that wounded spot in Carly’s heart.

“Right,” Gage said. “They discovered Carly’s full name—luckily they didn’t divulge her last name—and exposed a private piece of her past.”

“That being the loss of an infant when she was just eighteen years old,” Brock said in a sober tone. “Our viewers want to know if it was something you already knew about.”

“Yes,” Gage said. “This was not only a very private matter, but also the most painful experience she, and I assume the infant’s father, had ever gone through.”

“We understand that early on in the pregnancy, doctors knew the infant wouldn’t survive, is that correct?” Tristi said.

“Yes. She had a condition. It’s called anencephaly. It’s believed that chances of that condition and others are greatly decreased when the mother takes folic acid prior to pregnancy. For that reason, I’d like to help raise awareness by takingdonations for the NBDPN—that’s the National Birth Defects Prevention Network, right here on the show.”

“Wow…” Carly managed. “That’s the one I told Gage about.” Doses of shock and excitement exploded within her. She could hardly believe her ears.

“That’s right,” Tristi assured, squaring a look into the lens. “The website address should be on your screen at home now. Go to that if you’d like to donate or learn more about the defect that took this woman’s infant child.”

Tristi angled herself to face Gage. “Now, lets talk about why this information leak was painful in more ways than one. Would you like to explain?”

Gage nodded. “They didn’t simply reveal the fact that this young couple had lost their child. The articles implied the parents had something to hide on the matter, and that simply wasn’t the case. To even suggest such a thing shows not only negligence, but a complete disregard for what the families suffered.”

Carly pressed her hands to her cheeks as tears welled up in her eyes. He knew how much this hurt her. He cared. And he wanted to make things right, even though it hadn’t been his fault.

Brock shook his head. “That’s a real shame. You’ll notice that we here atStar Chatchose not to report on the story. We may like to add a splash of Hollywood gossip into your day, but we carefully screen the topics we report. And to make up for where other entertainment shows lack, we’d like to help by matching whatever funds are raised on behalf of this charity.”

“Woohoo!” Carly’s mother cheered with a fist in the air.

Jill squealed and clapped.

“I appreciate that,” Gage said with a nod.

A tally appeared in the lower corner, showing a growing number of funds coming in. Carly couldn’t believe the momentwas real. It seemed more like some sort of fairytale. Gage coming to her rescue like a noble prince on a galloping steed. Ready to defend her honor.

“So lastly,” Tristi piped. “When we spoke with Mark Craven earlier in the month, he told us that you and your instructor weren’t serious. In fact, he went on to assure America’s hopefuls that you’d be on the market by the time your movie hit the screen. Has that changed now? Does your family know how you feel about this woman?”