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Thorne thrust his phone out toward me, and I blinked up at him, confusion warring with my curiosity as I took it and glanced down at the screen to find a picture. It was a still shot of Batter and Bake—or what was left of it—with a dozer beside it. The driver of the machine gave the camera a thumbs-up.
“I don’t understand,” I said, handing it back to him.
“I’m rebuilding it. Batter and Bake will remain. In fact, it’ll be better than new.”
“What?” My stomach clenched.
He nodded. “I signed a contract this morning, and the crew arrived a couple hours ago. That’s why I was late to school; I was signing the paperwork and going over blueprints with your parents.
Unbelievable.
“My parents know about this?”
“Well, yeah.” He grinned. “I wouldn’t rebuild their bakery without consulting them first. I’m notthategotistical.”
“But . . .” I shook my head. This changed nothing. “You can’t just go around erecting buildings and . . . and . . . This is insane. We were both there. It’s not your responsibility—”
The heat of his mouth shut me up as he pressed his lips to mine, and though I should’ve pushed him away, I didn’t. Instead, I kissed him back, memorizing the shape of his mouth and the taste of his kiss like it was my last, so that when he pulled away a second later, I’d have this memory to cling to.
He pressed one final peck to my lips and murmured, “I’m able to help because I can.” He brushed the hair back from my face. “But I’m doing it because I love you. And that’s what you do for someone you love. You have their backs. And if I didn’t have the money, I’d build it myself with my own bare hands if I had to.”
I stared at him, into his emerald eyes, and blinked back tears. “Well, that’s a bit dramatic,” I said, my voice thick.
He grinned and ran a hand down the length of my hair. “Even if you and I were only a publicity stunt, I’d still do this. Because I like your parents. Because it’s the right thing to do. Because I can. But we’re not just an arrangement or a contract. At least I hope not, because I stopped doing this for the media attention back on that red carpet when you first kissed me. But if you don’t feel the same way, if you can honestly say you feel nothing for me, I’ll leave you alone.”
I sniffed and glanced down at my desk. “So no contract?”
“What contract?” I met his eyes to ensure he was serious, and he held my gaze. “It might break my heart, but if you feel nothing for me, I’ll leave you alone. But you should know, we start filming Friday. My role is secure, so this has nothing to do with needing somethingfromyou. I need you because I’m falling for you. It’s just that simple.”
I exhaled, relief and fear taking hold of my heart in equal measures, as all my pent-up emotions came tumbling out. “But you’ll be so busy. And you could have anyone. Plus, after filming, you might—”
He pressed a finger to my lips, shushing me. “I want you, Scarlett. That’s it. I can figure the rest out as I go.” Then he inhaled a shaky breath, and the vulnerability in his eyes turned my stomach to knots. “The question is, what do you want?”
I closed my eyes, unable to believe this was really happening, afraid to allow myself to feel. “Don’t make me say it,” I said, my voice thick with tears. If I cried right here, right now, in front of my classmates, I would never forgive myself.
He grinned. “Say it.”
“No.”
He rolled his eyes. “You’re so stubborn.”
“And you’re pushy.”
When he barked out a laugh, I reached out and cupped his face in my hands. “I’m falling in love with you too.”
A smirk curled his lips. “Say it again.”
“Get a hearing aid, Roberts,” I said, with a playful shove, and then I kissed him.
Epilogue
SCARLETT
Penelopeheldherhandsover my eyes, her bony fingers pressing into my sockets so hard I feared she might permanently push them into my skull.
I shuffled forward, hands out in front of me, Frankenstein style.
“Just a couple more steps,” Topher said, his voice rumbling out in front of me.
