Page 83 of Never To Be Mine

“Or you could actually be happy for once. Maybe build something real with someone who clearly challenges you and makes you better. Seems worth the risk to me.”

I sat with that for a moment, letting it sink in. When had I ever let fear of failure stop me from pursuing something I wanted? I’d built an entire business from scratch, weathered public criticism and setbacks, pushed through every obstacle that had come my way. Why was I suddenly so terrified of taking a chance on this?

Because it mattered. Because she mattered in a way I hadn’t anticipated.

“You’re right,” I said finally. “I should go for it.”

“Good.” Micah picked up his tablet again. “Now, which one of these do you want me to polish up? I can have a final version ready in a couple of days.”

I considered the options, running through the pros and cons of each approach. The clip with Jack alone was solid, exactly what you’d expect from a major brand commercial. The one with Jack and me together had that buddy appeal, the endorsement factor that could really move product.

But the one with Juno and me? That one felt different. Real. And that was my goal. I didn’t want to look like a muscle-bound health freak. I wanted it to be something anybody could relate to.

“It would be crazy to not use Jack Montana, right?” I said. “I mean, you paid him.”

“Yeah,” Micah agreed. “Although the people online love you and Juno together. They love stories with happy endings. Real life has so few of them.”

I thought about the comments on the video of us making up, all the people who’d picked up on the chemistry between us even when we’d been actively trying to hide it. People responded to authenticity, to genuine connection. Maybe that was worth more than a celebrity endorsement.

But I also needed this partnership with Young at Heart to succeed. I needed to hit that million-order mark. And using Jack Montana’s star power was the smart business move.

“Do me a favor,” I said, making a decision. “Polish up the one with Jack alone and the one with Juno and me.”

Micah raised an eyebrow. “Both?”

“Both. I want to see them finished before I decide which one to actually use. That way I have options.”

“Fair enough.” He made some notes on his tablet. “I’ll send them over as soon as they’re ready.”

“Thanks, man. Seriously. This whole thing has been incredible.”

“That’s what brothers are for.” He stood up, stretching. “Plus, like I said, this is good for my portfolio. Win-win.”

I followed him out of the theater and back through the house. At the door, he stopped and turned to me.

“Hey, Hollis?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t overthink this thing with Juno. I know that’s your default setting, but sometimes you just have to trust your gut and jump.”

I nodded, appreciating the advice even if following it scared the shit out of me. “I’ll try.”

“Good. Now get out of here. I’ve got editing to do.”

I drove back to Santa Monica with the windows down, letting the ocean air clear my head. My phone buzzed multiple times with messages, probably Toby with content ideas or customers responding to something on social media. But I ignored it all, too caught up in replaying that footage in my mind and what that look really meant.

27

JUNO

Isat in one of the leather chairs across from my father’s desk, my phone clutched in my hand like a lifeline. Any minute now. Hollis was supposed to post the commercial any minute.

“You seem nervous,” Dad said, looking up from his computer screen.

“I’m not nervous.” Lie. I forced myself to set the phone down on my lap instead of refreshing Instagram for the hundredth time.

Hollis had told me it was awesome but refused to send me a teaser.