Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
“They lived in the same city,” she pointed out. “They had common interests.”
“Nick and I are similar in many ways.”
“He lives in California. You live in Canada. You write fictional characters. He plays them.”
“So you think what I feel isn’t real?”
She sighed and leaned back. “I think you’ve met a man you’ve crushed on for a long time. He is playing a character you invented. I think it might be easy to mix up reality and fantasy.”
I thought about what she said. It didn’t come from a place of malice, but one of concern.
“When Nick and I are together, it’s us, not my characters.”
“I don’t want to see you hurt.”
“Maybe I won’t be hurt. Maybe all I want is an affair.”
She shook her head. “You aren’t built that way, Mila.” She paused. “Have you slept with him?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“He says he won’t take something I’ve saved unless I’m a hundred percent sure.”
She pursed her lips. “My opinion of him has grown a little.”
“He sees me differently than other guys, Andi. He sees Mila. He likes my quirks. I like how I feel when I’m with him.”
“Which is?”
“Not poor little Mila, the bullied kid. The delicate flower everyone watches out for. He makes me stronger, and I think I’m good for him. And he makes me braver. I don’t understand it, but it’s true.”
“For how long?”
“I don’t know.”
“How will you feel when this bubble bursts? When the filming in Ontario is closer to home and things change? When the filming wraps up? Do you see him flying back and forth? Would you move to LA?”
I knew I couldn’t move here—even for Nick. I shrugged.
“Maybe he’d move.”
“And what about when he has his next episode?” she asked quietly. “When you see the disorder and not the man?”
“I can help him.”
She shook her head. “That is a huge burden to take on. Mental illness takes a toll on the person and those around them.”
“He is not a burden,” I protested.
“But it’s true, kiddo. It affects those they love. It drains you. I know.”
“I know you do.”
“You know if you got serious, your identity would eventually come out, right?”
I paused. I hadn’t thought about that completely. I supposed it was naïve to think it wouldn’t be discovered.
She stood. “I’ll be honest, Mila. I don’t know if you’re looking at the whole picture. Relationships are hard. Long-distance ones, especially so. Plus, his celebrity status and reputation? And his issues? Your privacy? His agent? The world he lives in—that’s a shit-ton of problems to handle. You need to think long and hard about it.” She held up her hand before I could protest. “I know you’re a grown woman and you can make your own decisions. Just be sure they’re based in reality. Not fiction. Imagine a life with Nicholas outside of this world. With your family. With the demands on him. I know you want kids. Does he? Bipolar is thought to be genetic. Would you want to risk that? Would he? Is that something you can live with? Be honest with yourself.”
Then she walked away.
I gave up waiting for Nick by ten. I went down to the pool, needing the physical release. I did lap after lap, finally stopping and treading water in the deep end. I huffed out a long exhale of air, my thoughts still chaotic and jumbled.
“Something on your mind, Mila?” Nick asked from the shadows. He sat forward, into the faint light reflected off the pool. I could see the exhaustion written on his face as he contemplated me. “You’d think you were being chased by a shark the way you were swimming.”
I shook my head. “Just doing my laps.”
“Sorry. Amber kept us on set late. Since they’re dropping BC and moving up Ontario, she wants all the garage scenes done.”
“I assumed so.”
He sat back, crossing his ankle over his knee. “You didn’t assume I was with another woman or out carousing?”
“Were you?”
“No.”
“Good. I didn’t think so.”
“I was surprised by your lack of texts and calls.”
I laughed dryly, drifting toward him. “Sorry, do you want me to play the jealous, suspicious type?”
“No. It was a pleasant surprise. MJ blew up my phone. That was enough.”
“No doubt messages filled with love and encouragement.”
He barked a laugh. “Yeah, something like that.”
I rolled my eyes, pretty sure of what the messages would contain.
“I assumed you were on set and busy. I also thought you would call me when you got back if it wasn’t too late. I heard Amber say something to Andi about filming late and that tomorrow is a closed set, so I knew you were working.” I chose my next words carefully. “I’m also aware you don’t owe me any explanations about your whereabouts, Nicholas.”
He tilted his head, narrowing his eyes. He stood and pulled his shirt over his head, kicked off his shoes, and pushed his shorts off his hips, leaving him in black boxers. I swallowed at how sexy he was in the dim light, the way it played over his tight muscles and torso. He stepped into the pool and headed my way. He reached through the water and dragged me into his arms. He stared down at me. “You can ask me anything, Shortcake. I’ll tell you.”