Page 83 of Bound To Be Mine

We both laughed, breaking eye contact. But I could feel the heat still lingering between us.

Riley wrapped up with a few more questions about the launch timeline and where people could follow for updates. She thanked us profusely, gushing about how great the interview had been and how her audience was going to eat it up.

“Seriously, you two are gold,” she said as we stood to leave. “I’m calling it now—you’re going to be America’s sweethearts.”

I glanced at Mandy, who was gathering her things. America’s sweethearts. If only Riley knew the truth.

We walked out to the parking lot together.

“That went well,” Mandy said.

“You were incredible in there,” I said. “Completely natural. You handled every question perfectly.”

“Thanks. You weren’t so bad yourself.” She bumped my shoulder with hers. “Very smooth with that whole ‘I’m here because of her’ thing.”

“I meant it.”

She looked up at me, her expression unreadable. “I know you did.”

We reached her car. She unlocked it but didn’t get in right away.

“Riley was right, you know,” she said. “About us looking in love.”

“We’re selling it well.”

My phone was blowing up. Text after text from Dash, Sebastian, even Adrian.

Dash: Dude. That interview. You looked at her like she hung the moon.

Sebastian: Well done. You two sold it perfectly. The internet is losing their minds.

Adrian: Good work. The engagement numbers are through the roof. Keep doing whatever you’re doing.

I opened Instagram out of curiosity and immediately regretted it. Riley had already posted clips from the interview, and they were everywhere. Thousands of comments. People dissecting every look, every word, every gesture between Mandy and me.

“They’re perfect together.”

“I want someone to look at me the way he looks at her.”

“Wedding planner finds her own happily ever after. I’m crying.”

“What’s up?” Mandy asked.

“My brothers. They all watched.” I pocketed my phone. “They’re all happy with how it went. Adrian says the engagement numbers are already climbing.”

“That’s good,” Mandy said. She looked genuinely pleased, not just relieved. “So we did our job.”

“We did. We should celebrate.”

“Celebrate?”

“Yeah. You know, do something fun. We just nailed our first major media appearance together. That deserves acknowledgment.”

She laughed. “What did you have in mind?”

“I don’t know. That’s the problem.” I gestured vaguely at the city around us. “I’ve been to LA dozens of times for work, but I’ve never really experienced it. Not the way someone who lives here would. So show me.”

“Show you what?”