Page 20

CHAPTER 20

JORDAN

T o say I’m on edge is a gross understatement. All my senses feel like they’re working overtime. I hate that Lucy is seeing this side of me.

We’re at Pierson Automotive shooting a commercial spot and taking pictures. I know I’m ruining every take right now, but I can’t stop. It feels like I’m walking down a path and I’ve come across a sign that reads Danger Up Ahead: Wild animals, falling rocks, a cliff, and a sniper. Just turn around and you won’t die. But certain death awaits if you keep going .

And for whatever reason, I’m still walking. Like a zombie. Except in this case, I’m a zombie with heightened senses. This analogy is getting worse. Basically, I know what I’m doing will eventually lead to astronomical problems for myself and maybe even Lucy.

But I can’t stop.

And she’s standing across from me looking so gorgeous in her jersey, with her makeup all done, her hair blown out, and a shy smile on her face. I should be soaking in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I’m taking pictures with my dream girl and then being gifted a new car.

I try to feign happiness as the director of the commercial shouts instructions. Lucy is a natural. It’s like she was born to be front and center–even her humility translates through the camera. I’m the awkward stick figure standing next to her.

The director walks out from behind the camera with a pained look.

“You know, I think we can work with what we have. Why don’t you guys head over to the other backdrop for some pictures?”

His tone is that of a vet deciding to put an animal out of its misery. Maybe they should just cut me out totally and only use Lucy. That would solve most of my issues.

Lucy grabs my hand, then pulls me off to the side behind a very smelly Porta Potty. Her face is concerned. “What’s wrong? You seem really miserable. Did something happen? Did I do something?”

I can’t help but chuckle. The idea that she did anything to cause this is genuinely laughable.

“No, of course you didn’t do anything. I’m just uncomfortable in front of cameras, that’s all.”

Her pointed look tells me she’s not buying a word of it. “Hmm, that’s really interesting. I seem to remember that when you guys were shooting some promos a couple of weeks ago for a hype video, the camera loved you. Everything you did was charismatic and natural and you are super attractive, so this shouldn’t be hard for you.”

I grab her hips and pull her toward me. She looks so good right now, I can’t be blamed for my thoughts.

“Oh, I’m super-hot, am I?”

She flushes but doesn’t back down. Instead, she stands on her tiptoes with her lips inches from mine. I feel the warmth of her breath as she speaks. “I believe I said ‘attractive.’ But yes, you are hot. Are you surprised by that?”

I give a low laugh, and my eyes drop to her lips. She knows she has me as a smile starts to break through .

Her tone is teasing now. “So, how about you put it to good use?”

I can’t control how fast my pulse is racing now.

“I can think of quite a few ways I could put it to good use right now. None of them require a camera.”

Finally, she pulls my head down a couple inches to close the gap between our mouths. If someone had asked me if a Porta Potty-adjacent kiss could be life-giving, I probably would’ve been confused at the question. But as I hold Lucy tight to my body and my lips collide with hers, I couldn’t care less about our location.

That is, until we hear a quiet cough and the director’s assistant is standing awkwardly a few feet from us, trying to tell us where to go. She stares at the ground and squeaks out the words as fast as possible.

“We’re ready for you over at the second set. Just whenever you guys are done…or ready, I mean.”

She almost sprints away as Lucy bursts out laughing. Putting one hand on each of my cheeks, she pulls me down to her level, and I’m transfixed by the deep blue of her stunning eyes.

“Hey. We’ve got this. Just pretend we’re by ourselves. If other things start to creep into your mind–’cause I know they will–just look at me. Be here, in this moment, with me. Please?”

I can’t say no. Physically or legally, I bet. She’s too cute. I can’t turn her down. “Okay. I can do that.”

“Thank you.” She almost sings the words as she pulls me out from behind what I now realize is a very smelly Porta-Potty. We head over to the second set and luckily, this one feels a lot more natural–the car is parked right on a basketball court.

They hand each of us a ball and basically tell us to do what we do best: smile and dribble. I relax ever so slightly. This is where I’m most comfortable. On a court with Lucy, laughing as we start competing in dribbling contests. She’s sending the ball behind her back, between her legs, moving so fast it’s hard to follow it–but I don’t miss a beat, dribbling right along with her.

The photographer is snapping away, and I think I’m finally giving them usable content. Then Lucy starts spinning the ball on her finger and I follow her lead. Without saying a word out loud, we both know we are competing over who can keep it going the longest.

Everyone involved in the shoot begins to meander over the longer we go. Suddenly people start picking sides, choosing their fighter. Chants start breaking out and I hear Lucy laughing, a sound that has truly become one of my favorites.

I take a few steps toward her, acting like I’m going to hit her ball away–I never would, of course. She glances at me and a look of challenge and flirtation plays across her face, which is a balance she has mastered.

I whisper so only she can hear. “Hit mine away–it’ll definitely be a crowd-pleaser.”

Her eyes grow wide. “No! I don’t want to cheat!”

I shrug. “Fine. Then I’ll hit yours away.”

“What? No!” Her reaction is knee-jerk as her opposite hand smacks my ball away before she can stop herself. I act appalled as the crowd roars with laughter. She looks so cute and embarrassed, I need to save her. I hit her ball away and then without thinking, I wrap my arms around her from behind and pick her up.

She’s squealing, and I can’t stop smiling. I hear the click of the camera and realize that this moment is too good not to use. It got a little intimate. Suddenly we weren’t just two athletes—we were a couple who appeared very much in love.

With her feet back safely on the ground, Lucy turns and looks at me with a triumphant grin. “I knew I could get you to relax. That was actually fun. ”

Well, at this point, it’s very obvious we’re a couple, so I pull her in for a hug. I can’t help myself. She’s the only person who could’ve gotten me to forget the weight I’m carrying, even just for a little while.

Her presence makes me feel like the load is lighter.

Now I have my arm around her shoulders and we take some normal, non-competition, smiling pictures. The photographer looks positively giddy as he walks out from behind the camera.

“Oh, we got some great stuff, kids, great stuff. You guys–” He gestures expressively toward us in a circular motion. “—are friggin’ adorable. This will sell huge –” Another animated gesture over his head. “—and probably go viral.”

My mouth gets dry.

The video director is standing off to the side and mutters under his breath, “I wish I could’ve gotten that type of content.” He’s visibly bitter.

The photographer rolls his eyes, then turns like he’s off to deal with his petulant child.

“Come along, Reggie. I was taking some video while I took photos. I’m sure we got some content that could work for you.”

Reggie skips off behind him like a happy little leprechaun on his way to the base of a rainbow.

I, on the other hand, have a rock in the base of my stomach. The word “viral,” while very exciting to most people, is unsettling to me. Lucy squeezes my hand. Once again, she just knows.

“Don’t worry. I’m sure the photographer wasn’t in the know on the terms of the agreement. They said no social media. That’s what we agreed to—only local commercials and ads in programs and magazines and stuff. This is certainly not in danger of going viral. It’ll be okay.”

I nod and force out a pained smile.

We walk hand in hand back toward the dealership. The court we were on was set up in a field behind the main building. My nerves are gradually subsiding over the course of our walk through this peaceful little prairie. We head through the main doors and onto the showroom floor, where we’re meeting someone who has all the leasing paperwork for us to sign.

Normally, what with my major and the job I’m aspiring to, I’d want to read the legalese myself. But the university’s lawyers and compliance already looked it over and told us we were good to sign.

As we get to the final page, I glance up and see the photographers and marketing execs walking into a conference room at the back of the main lobby. There’s someone with them I don’t remember seeing at the shoot. Her hair is in a tight bun at the top of her head, and she’s wearing a bright pink suit and very high heels. The color and demeanor make her stand out. She’s acting like the one in charge, so it’s odd that we didn’t meet her.

Before closing the door, she turns our direction and smirks.

Oh, that’s why we didn’t meet her. We already know her.

Sasha–I just didn’t recognize her in gaudy business attire.

I knew she had some sort of job here, but I guess I assumed it was basically fake. Like a way to pay her without actually having her work. But she just walked into a conference room full of people in control of this advertising campaign like she was the boss.

Because she is.

Because she’s the heir to the company.

Basically, my fate is in the hands of Sasha at this moment. And so is Lucy’s. And there’s not a person in the world who would love to see our lives ruined more than Sasha freaking Pierson.