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He sat on the couch next to Erin with their knees touching. A tingle of jealousy bit at my heart. I listened as he talked about how he had started the business and how he was moving his brand eastward to open a gym in New York City.
“And what does your wife think about your success?” Erin asked, a little too flirty for my taste.
Chad smiled and tried to look humble. It must have been hard, given how amazing he looked. “I’m married to my work, Erin.”
“You’re a bachelor?” Erin said, trying to sound shocked. She put her hand on his knee and looked at the audience. “Well, I bet a lot of the single ladies in the audience are glad to hear that! And maybe a few of the married ones!”
The audience went wild. Just then, someone touched my shoulder. I nearly jumped out of the chair. I turned to find Sara standing there holding a clipboard to her chest. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“Oh, no, just nerves,” I said.
She gave me a concerned look. “You look a little pale. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes,” I said, swallowing the lump that had lodged in my throat. “I’ll be fine.” It was a blatant lie. I was not fine. I couldn't tell her that my heart was screaming and my stomach twisting in knots because my ex-boyfriend—my super-fucking hot ex-boyfriend that I dumped in college—was just on the other side of the curtain.
“Okay, I’ll take you on-set soon as this segment is over.” She turned to watch Chad on the monitor. “Wow, he’s really hot.” She bumped me with her elbow and lowered her voice. “He sort of reminds me of the guy in your book, the blond guy who’s into S&M, Brad? I bet he’d be great in bed.”
“Yes,” I said quietly. You have no idea…
Sara was wearing an earpiece so the director in the booth could speak directly to her. She held a finger to the earpiece and listened for a moment, then said something into the little microphone and gave me a smile.
“Okay, Zoe, this segment ends in one minute. We’ll give them a minute to clear the set, and as soon as this guest leaves I’ll walk you out to take a seat. The books will be passed out during the commercial break so everyone in the audience has a copy.”
“Um, right, sure…”
I followed Sara to the edge of the set. I was twenty feet away from Chad, who was hugging Erin and shaking Dan’s hand to thank them for having him on. I felt as if I had lapsed into a dream. My head was swimming and my vision started to blur. For a moment, I thought I might faint, but I forced myself to pull it together. I held my breath and stood behind Sara, waiting, wondering if he would even recognize me as he walked past.
I heard the crowd clapping and peered around Sara’s shoulder. Chad was walking towards me, smiling at the audience, waving goodbye. At first, he just glanced my way, then stopped and did a double take, then stood staring at me with his mouth hanging open.
“Oh my god,” he said, holding out his hands. “I don’t believe it. Zoe? Zoe Maxwell? Holy shit. I tried to call you last night.”
“You did?” I was mumbling, having a hard time forming words. I put my hands in his and he pulled me in for a hug.
“Jesus, I’ve missed you,” he said, brushing his lips to my ear. Before I could say or do anything, Sara had put her hand on my arm.
“We have to get onset now,” she said forcefully.
“Uh, okay,” I stared into Chad’s eyes. “It’s great seeing you.”
“You, too,” he said, letting go and taking a step back. He glanced at the copy of Pleasing Him Sara was holding to give me onset. “Oh my god, you’re that Zoe Maxwell. The writer?”
“We have to go,” Sara said, tugging on me now.
“Okay, well, it was good to see you,” he said as I was dragged away. He held up a thumb and smiled. “Break a leg.”
Break a leg? Oh, don’t worry. I’d probably break a number of limbs as I stumbled blindly through this interview. Chad Walters. Chad Fucking Walters, in the flesh, as if he had stepped out of the pages of my book and back into my life. At least I hoped he was back in my life…
After Sara sat me on the couch and introduced me to the hosts, I looked back toward the curtain. Chad was gone. My heart sank. Then the lights came up and audience clapped and Barbie and Ken started the segment. The next few minutes were a blur because all I could think about was Chad, the man I pushed away.
CHAPTER EIGHT: Chad
Zoe Maxwell.
Zoe fucking Maxwell.
A part of me still couldn’t believe it. I was halfway through the lobby, phone in my hand dialing Martin, when I stopped and turned to look at the large TV that was hanging on the wall. Zoe looked incredible in that pencil skirt she was wearing, the blouse that clutched her breasts, those sapphire eyes. She was smiling at the camera, and I could have sworn I was looking at the girl I had once know so many years ago. It’s like she hadn’t aged at all.
“You rock star, you!” Martin cheered when he finally picked up.
