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He gave me a wry smile. “So ours would be a girl begging a guy to be her fake boyfriend so she can keep her movie deal?”
I laughed. “Something like that. I really am thankful you agreed to this.”
He smiled over at me, his teeth shining white in the afternoon sun pouring through the windshield. “You don’t get to fake date someone famous just any time.”
“Famous,” I said slowly. I used to dream of fame, of being someone big. Changing lives. And it was happening. Really happening. And Jonas was helping make sure it wouldn’t slip through my fingertips. I could kiss him again just for that.
My GPS directed me the rest of the way to Charlotte’s office, and we parked in a garage.
“I hate these things,” I muttered, walking away from my beloved truck.
“Why?” he asked, keeping pace beside me.
“Maybe it’s something about having twenty-thousand pounds of concrete and vehicles over my head.”
“Have you ever heard of a parking garage collapsing?”
“No, but that doesn’t matter,” I said, staring at the news vans parked near the elevators. This was real, and I was terrified of messing up again.
Jonas followed my gaze and said, “You’re going to do great.”
“How do you know?”
“Because if my mom likes you, you can win anyone over.”
I looked up at him, searching for a lie in his eyes. When you grow up with an alcoholic for a parent, you learn to catch them in every word. But all I saw was the truth. “I hope you’re right.”
Jonas pushed the elevator button, and we rode up together in silence. Despite the nerves emanating from every single one of my pores, Jonas was calm amongst the eye of a hurricane. I’d never admit it to him, but having him here made me feel better.
The door opened into the office space, and Charlotte’s assistant met us by the doors. She had been waiting for us.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” she said, handing me a bottle of water. “Take a sip so your throat’s not dry.” I did as she asked and then Jonas did the same. She stopped outside of Charlotte’s office, and through the open door, Charlotte asked, “Are you ready?”
“I have to be,” I replied.
She looked to Jonas, as if for confirmation, and he nodded.
“Great,” she said. “Jenny called me earlier. The studio is open to resuming production on the second movie, if today goes well.”
I let out a sigh of relief. “That’s amazing!”
Jonas nodded in agreement.
“I think so too,” Charlotte said with a wink. “Now, hold each other’s hands. We’re going in.”
We walked back with her down a hallway and through the door into a massive conference room. Chairs six rows deep were filled with reporters holding cameras and notepads, and there was a podium up front with at least ten microphones attached.
This was big.
Charlotte gestured toward the chairs on stage, and Jonas and I sat next to each other. I squeezed onto his hand, and he gently squeezed mine back. “I’m here for you,” he whispered.
My nerves stilled, if only for a moment.
Charlotte cleared her throat and said, “Welcome to our press conferences about theSwipe Rightseries. I’m excited to have Mara here, the fabulous author of the story, and her boyfriend, Jonas.”
Muttering broke out around the room.
“Before you ask questions,” Charlotte said, “Mara would like to make a statement.”