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“I don’t know either, honestly.” I sit on the couch next to him, staring ahead. “This whole acting thing is new to me. And I haven’t had a serious boyfriend for a long time.” I shrug, feeling helpless. “So I’m not exactly the expert either. But this has to be a good first step. That we’re sitting here talking about it. Don’t you think?”
“A very good first step.” The corner of his mouth ticks up. “And I want to try. Whatever it is, I want to make it work. I’m into this, Riley. This feels different for me.”
I’m sitting still, but my heart definitely isn’t. He cares about me. Forreal.
That said, I don’t know whether to fully give in to this relationship. I can’t help but remember Eva’s words, and, hello—Maddox doesn’t want kids. But I’m falling for him, and my heart needs me to play this out. If I get crushed, so be it. Because if I don’t, I’ll regret it forever. “This is different for me, too.”
His eyes burn into me. “And, as always, you’ve looked so damn hot on set for two days. It was so hard to keep my hands off you.”
“You don’t have to keep your hands off me now.”
“Oh, but I do.” Maddox smiles and stands up. “Come with me.” He takes my hand and leads me through his house and out the patio doors. I gasp when I see what he’s done.
In the middle of the backyard, dozens of candles fill his gazebo and light up the night sky. There is a table set for two with flowers and plates, and sets of tea, each place setting with its own name tag—mine says Rook, Maddox’s reads Madman—and a bouquet of pink roses in the center of it all. A small orchestra plays in the background under the stars.A freaking live orchestra.
I gasp. “What is all this?”
“It’s me giving you what you deserve.”
I’m floating as Maddox pulls out my chair and waits for me to sit. The chef from Seared made our meal—Japanese Kobe steak with sauteed mushrooms—which our server brings us, still steaming with a side of feta blueberry salad. While we eat our divine food, we’re back to our old selves. We talk about our goals forUrban Dawn, and I feel so incredibly special as he looks at me like no one else exists. Maddox chuckles as he tells me a story about him and his dad. “One time, Dad took me fishing because he was told it was what fathers do with sons. So we went, and he practically lost his mind when we actually caught one. He was beside himself when the fish, punctured with a hook in its mouth, struggled. He cried, like real tears, when we released it back into the water.”
I laugh. “So, you guys ever go fishing again?”
“Never.”
We keep yammering on while savoring every bite of our exquisite dinner.
Maddox grabs my hand and says, “Hey. I saw that article. The talentless hack one. I hope you know it was next-level bullshit.”
I wave a hand. “It’s fine. I’m over it. Really.” Irefuseto let the trolls ruin this moment with Maddox.
“You sure?”
“Yeah. It was too stupid to take seriously.” I wish I really believed that.
“Exactly.”
After we finish, Maddox says, “Come to an origami lesson with me.”
“Really?” I smile. “I’ve never done it before.”
“That’s okay. It’s a one-on-one class I scheduled with an origami master. He has works featured in museums, and I’m so pumped he agreed to give me a lesson.”
“Are you sure you want to share it?”
“With you, yes. It’s tomorrow night.”
I’m beyond thrilled he’s inviting me into this private part of his life, especially after admitting how hesitant he is to let someone in. “Perfect, then. I’ll be there.”
“Promise?”
By the pleading tone of his voice, he sounds almost insecure, which is so not like him. I say, “I’m adding it to my calendar for tomorrow right now.” I take out my phone and schedule it.
“Thank you.”
“Origami…” I trail off, sighing. “You know the moment I fell for you?”
“So, you’ve fallen for me?” A provocative smile plays around his lips. “Was it when I kissed you at the toilet paper charity ball?”
