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He reached over and laced our fingers together. “We’re not repeating your mother’s history.”
“Yeah. It just … there are so many what-ifs in my head about us. I don’t want to repeat our own history. Let alone my mother’s.”
“You’re not planning to marry Martin again, are you?” he asked with a tilt to his lips.
“No!” I gasped, swatting at him.
“Then, I think we’re safe on that front.”
I laughed. “You’ve got jokes.”
“Hey, I saw him kissing you on set.”
“Yeah, and I went apoplectic and screamed at him.”
Maddox smirked. “Oh, I saw.”
“Felt good?”
He chuckled. “Maybe a little.”
“I’m still amazed you’re working on this movie.”
“Yeah, well, there’s one thing you haven’t considered.”
“What’s that?”
He took my hand and brought it to his lips. “You’re in the movie.”
We arrived in Atlanta four hours later. My stomach was in knots as my dad answered the door. He looked the same as ever—unruly hair as dark as night with week-old scruff. He was dressed in a paint-splattered T-shirt and shorts he’d had my entire life.
“You made it,” he said, pulling the door open for the pair of us. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Hey, Dad.” I threw my arms around him, squeezing the life out of him.
“Whoa there, Josie. It’s good to see you too.”
I laughed and released him. “Remember Maddox?”
“Nice to see you again, sir,” he said, holding his hand out.
My dad shook his hand. “Heard a lot about you, but I haven’t seen you since you were about fifteen. You’ve grown up.”
Maddox ran a hand through his curls. “A little, yeah.”
“Well, let’s get you inside.”
Dad took my suitcase out of my hand and carried it to my old room. It was no longer a place for me. More like an art room that happened to have a queen bed in it.
“Sorry about the mess,” he said, kicking at a tube of paint on the ground. “This room has the best light.”
“It doesn’t matter to me,” I assured him.
I’d tried to get Dad to move into something nicer when I got Academy money, but he was happy, living here. We’d bought the place, so he no longer had to rent, but he didn’t want anything bigger or better. That was all me. So, I’d given up on that and let him live the life he loved. He had the studio, which had taken off in the last couple of years, and I was so proud of him.
“You like beer?” my dad asked Maddox.
He laughed. “Yes, sir.”
“Ah, drop the sir bit. You can call me Charles.”
Maddox nodded and followed him into the kitchen. We were only here one night. Tomorrow, we’d be staying with Lila and Cole, but I couldn’t come into Atlanta without paying my dad a visit.
I changed into something more comfortable and found my dad and Maddox in front of an easel, holding beers and discussing the merits of the project. I completely disappeared as Maddox suggested some technique and my dad’s eyes got wide and excited as he learned that Maddox was also an artist.
“You told me he did visual effects,” my dad accused.
I laughed. “He does.”
“Art is my first passion though,” Maddox said. “I sketch a lot with charcoals or graphite when I need to clear my head or visualize what I want to create on the computer.”
“Oh no, I’m going to have to listen to nerdy art-boy talk all night, aren’t I?”
My dad beamed. “As if you’re not used to it.”
I was. And watching my father not just accept Maddox, but also immediately love him made my heart bloom. I hadn’t realized how similar they were until that moment as they ignored me and focused on the artwork.
All thoughts of bringing up my mother’s journal vanished. I’d made the same choice as my mother. I’d chosen the rich guy … twice. Instead of the artist who adored me. I wouldn’t make that same mistake again.
22
ATLANTA
PRESENT
I woke at the break of dawn to prepare for my audition. I’d thought I’d be more nervous, considering how much I wanted this part, but I felt ready. As if I’d been waiting my entire life for this. Maddox offered to drive me to the studio, which I considered denying, but I could see he was just as excited for me, so I let him.
Two hours later, it was all over. I was giddy as I traipsed out of the studio toward Maddox’s Jeep. He stepped out of the truck and grinned as I skipped toward him. I didn’t even think; I flung my arms around his neck and kissed him.
He laughed as he twirled me in place. “So, I’m guessing the audition went okay?” he asked as he set me back on my feet.
“Glorious. I was made for this role, Maddox.”
He followed me around to the side of the truck and opened my door for me. “That good?”
