“How can I ever trust you?” she asks, looking down at the ground.
I put a finger under chin and pull her eyes back to me. “I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure you never have a reason to doubt me again, Lee. I promise you.”
“I’m afraid, Travis,” she says, her voice quiet and small. She was afraid before I even gave her a reason to be, but her sadness is like a kick to my gut. I made it worse and knew this day could come when she learned the truth.
“If you give me a chance, I’ll make this up to you, Lee. I swear.”
“I can’t trust you. Even now, I’m thinking you’re just delivering another great line,” she whispers, stepping farther away from me.
She shakes her head no and my gut burns. I don’t blame her. I knew she would take it hard—that’s why I kept putting it off. Still, I thought somehow, she would give me another chance.
I don’t know how to fix this, but if Lee thinks I’m going to give up on her this easily, she needs to think again. For now, though, I will let her have her way. I need time to think, to plan.
“Okay, baby,” I respond, my heart in my throat. “Okay.” I turn away from her, and begin walking away, reaching for the deadbolt to let myself out.
“Stop!” she cries. I turn and have just enough time to catch her body as she barrels into me. “I love you,” she gasps, her mouth coming down on mine. We kiss then, relief swamping me as I hold onto her. It feels like my heart is beating for the first time since she walked out the door at her place. The kiss we share is unlike any that we’ve had before. This one is emotional, full of love and commitment. It’s a promise… a promise of forever.
“I love you, Travis. I loved you when I thought your name was Eugene and I love you now. I can’t let you walk away,” she says when we pull apart, unshed tears glowing in her beautiful blue eyes.
“I’m not going anywhere, Lee. I’m never going anywhere. You own my heart. Hell, you are my heart,” I promise her. “I love you, baby—completely love you.” I slowly bring her hand up and place it against my heart, letting her feel the heavy beat. I keep our hands there, and then we kiss again. This time I give her my vow without words, instead showing her how I feel with my touch and my kiss. She’s everything to me and I’m in this forever. I’m going to bust ass today and every day following so that she knows that I am always the same for her.
Forever.
Epilogue
Lee
Two Years Later
Standing at the premiere of Travis’s directorial debut, I can feel how nervous he is as he escorts me out of the limo. I smile up at him, squeezing his hand in a sign of comfort. It's all so overwhelming, with the sparkling backdrops, movie posters, and famous people milling about.
I had never anticipated my life going this way. Being completely head over heels for a man that wasn’t even my blind date, living happily in bliss while I watch his career take off like a rocket has been a crazy ride, but one I wouldn’t have missed for anything in the world. I’m so proud of him and can only beam with excitement that I get to be his arm candy for such a huge night.
“It’s going to be fine, babe,” I whisper, trying to smile at the hundreds of flashing cameras as someone directs us on how to stand. “The movie is beautiful! The hundreds of scripts you’ve been getting that people are begging you to produce should be proof of that.”
He pulls me into his side, nuzzling into my ear to whisper, “This has all been amazing, but Lee, the best day of my life was when I met you. I love you more than I could ever tell you, sweetheart.”
“You don’t have to explain. I love you the same way, but you might be wrong,” I tease, dirty thoughts playing in my head. Being with a famous movie star turned director for the night is getting me all hot and bothered. Not that we aren’t constantly going at each other already but seeing him in his own element is beyond arousing.
“What do you mean?” he asks, taking my hand to walk us down the rest of the red carpet until we walk inside the building. People still yelling out questions, taking lots of pictures, fans waving along the wall, asking for autographs.
“The luckiest you’ll ever be is tonight when we celebrate all your success together.” I grin up at him.
“You better stop now, or I’ll drag you over to those bathrooms and take you against the wall.” He motions toward the restrooms, and I have a flash of how sexy it would be. Unfortunately, I shake my head no.