Page 107 of Famous for a Living

I know them. I live them.

And that’s scary.

And hearing what happened to Mark gives me the final push to realize I need to do something about it. I need to make a plan.

Not just for peace for myself, but for others.

I will do something about it.

I will find a way to start using social media as a tool, and not let social media use me.

I feel the determination in my bones as bold and sure as the night I left the hospital, and my home, at seventeen.

I’m aware of all this as I hold my gaze steady and the fire crackles besides us.

Aware of the work I have ahead of me to better myself, not just for Zaiah’s sake because he deserves someone who looks him in the eye during dinner, but for me.

I want to be this person.

His hands slip down from the collar around my neck, to my elbows, as he takes a final step in.

I’m not the person he expected to fall for. He’s the last person on earth I’d expect to fall for.

There’s no promise of tomorrow, or an answer to how we can possibly make this work.

And yet.

There’s now.

I lift my chin, and the silent conversation passes between us.

Do you want me to kiss you now?

Yes, very much, please.

And then he is. His hands drift back to the collar of the coat and tenderly, slowly, he lowers his face to mine.

One of his hands moves to my cheek. Cups my face. Slides softly to the back side of my neck, pulling what is left of the day’s curls from inside his coat.

Everything feels gentle.

There’s a timidness, even. Something I hadn’t expected.

A controlled propriety, as if to say, “I want to be here in this moment, but want to make sure, absolutely sure, this is right, before giving away my whole heart.”

So much communicated in such a kiss.

Part of me wishes for more, but another part of me, a wiser part, agrees.

When he steps back, it’s only far enough to look down into my face. “I . . . like you.”

“I . . . gathered that.” I smile lightly.

“I’d like to take you out on a date.”

“If this is you asking me out to that antique store that’s half pawnshop, half hot dog stand, I’m going to have to think about it.”

His lips twitch, the smile beneath his beard rising. “Noted.”