Page 141 of Fangirl

He mutters something under his breath. “Gordon’s gonna be pissed. Nobody says no to him.”

I shrug. “Then it’ll be a humbling experience for all of us.”Especially you, I don’t say.

“So,” I add, “what’s it gonna be? Are you still my agent?”

Landon lets out a heavy sigh. “I’m your agent. I’ll make the calls.”

“Perfect.” I flash a grin. “Now I’ve gotta dash. I’ve got an appointment with a real estate agent.”

His brows shoot up. “You buying something else?”

“Sort of. Selling, actually. LA’s not really for me.”

He narrows his eyes like he’s trying to figure out who the hell I am. “Whoareyou?”

I smile, slow and certain. “Oh, sorry, forgot to reintroduce myself.”

I tap the table once. “Jake Hollander. The real version. Nice to meet you.”

CHAPTER 27

AMY

He choseEverything That Follows.

My heart hammers in my chest as I read the headline again. I don’t know why I keep rereading it. Maybe because it doesn’t feel real. Maybe because it feels too real.

Jake turned down a franchise for an indie film with heart.

And he did it on his own. For himself. Not for optics, not for applause. Just… because it mattered.

And I’m proud of him. So damn proud.

Not because he walked away from the money, though, yes, that’s huge, but because he finally chose what was right for him. He stopped trying to be what everyone expected. He followed his heart instead of the paycheck.

And that matters more than anything else.

But if I’m honest… it also hurts. Because while he’s out there figuring out who he is, I’m still here wondering if the distance I created was a mistake.

I said we needed space to grow, to breathe, to become whole on our own.

But maybe I was just scared.

I wroteBackstage Heartthinking it was fiction.

But somewhere along the way, the characters became us. A chronically ill woman learning to love herself. A man trying to outrun his shadow.

A story where they didn’t fall apart… where they healed together instead of alone.

A version of us without the fear. Without the baggage. Without the mistakes I couldn’t unmake.

Now I don’t know if the door is still open or if it’s too late.

So I do the unthinkable. I call someone I never thought I would.

Will Winters.

He picks up on the second ring.