Page 25 of Matched with the Hollywood Heartthrob (Matched for Love #4)

MIA

I can’t believe my eyes.

Jack Calloway is standing in the garden, his figure somehow out of place among the bright, innocent faces of the children who surround him. I’m frozen in place, caught between confusion and disbelief. How did he find me here? And how do the kids know who he is?

The kids scream louder, and before I can even process what’s happening, a whole group of them rush toward him, their voices high-pitched with excitement.

I blink rapidly, trying to figure out what’s going on. The kids are absolutely delighted, practically pulling Jack into the garden. They’re all bombarding him with questions, their curious faces filled with wonder.

I try to stop them because we’ve all been playing in the garden so they’re a little dirty, but I pause when I realize Jack doesn’t mind. He embraces their closeness, not minding when some of them touch his clothes and get dirt on him.

“How did you find us?” one of them asks, genuinely bewildered.

I would have laughed at the question if I wasn’t so shocked.

“Are you here to see Mia?” an older kid asks, eyes wide and innocent.

“Did Mia bring you here?” another child pipes up, practically bouncing on their heels.

Jack’s gaze doesn’t leave me. It’s like he’s magnetized to me, even as the children surround him, their enthusiasm not fazing him in the slightest. It’s strange to see him like this, so…

unguarded. I can’t decide if I feel irritated or oddly amused.

Here he is, the famous actor, thrown into a world where none of that matters, surrounded by kids who only care that he’s standing right in front of them.

He smiles, but there’s something in his eyes that seems far away, like he’s trying to piece everything together. “Uh, yeah. I’m here to see Mia,” he answers the kids, his voice light and calm.

“And how did I find you all?” He pauses for a second before replying with an easy grin. “I followed the laughter.”

The kids burst into wild laughter and I gasp when they, in their excitement, practically drag Jack down to the dirt, pulling him to sit with them. I watch, wide-eyed, as he stumbles a bit but catches himself and sits down without a single complaint.

His smile is genuine, completely at ease with the chaos around him.

The way they all crowd him, their voices overlapping as they ask questions and talk about their favorite movie, Bella .

It’s a kid-friendly movie about a little girl who loses her parents and has to live with a long-lost uncle.

Jack was the main lead in the film, and it was a huge hit. I see why the kids love him now.

And Jack—he’s just there, completely present, soaking it all in. His attention is fully on them, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he listens to their rambling stories. I’m both impressed and surprised.

For a brief second, I wonder how many people get to see Jack like this—away from the cameras, away from the staged glitz of Hollywood, just being…

a normal person. It’s an odd thought. He’s a star, but right now, he’s just another adult sitting on the ground with kids in a hospital garden, playing with dirt and laughter.

I’m about to take a step forward, not sure if I should join them or step back and let him enjoy the moment, when my phone suddenly rings. The sharp sound of the ringtone jerks me from my thoughts, and I glance down at it, my eyes narrowing with suspicion when I see it’s my mom.

“Hey, Mom,” I say, trying to keep my tone neutral.

“Mia, darling, is Jack there yet?” Her voice is bright, a little too bright. I can tell she’s been waiting to hear from me about this.

I press my lips together, the frustration bubbling up in my chest. “You really sent him here, didn’t you?”

“Oh, sweetheart, calm down,” my mom responds with a laugh. “Jack seemed really concerned about you. He wanted to know where you were. Said he wanted to check on you.”

I release a sharp breath. “Mom, you know how I really am about people finding out I used to have cancer. Especially someone like Jack,” I whisper into the phone. “You should not have done this.”

There’s a pause, where I think she’s feeling a little sorry.

“I didn’t tell him about that, sweetheart. It’s your secret to tell, okay? Even though I’m not sure why you’re treating it like it’s something to be ashamed of.”

“It’s not that, Mom. I just don’t want to be looked at with pity. That’s all.”

“It’s all in your head,” she says. “If I were you, I’d announce it. Let people see how strong I am. Besides, Jack is a good guy.”

“How do you know he’s a good guy?” I grit my teeth.

“I’m your mother, I know.” Then she gasps. “Oops. Someone just came into the store. Bye-bye now. See you later. Love you.”

She hangs up before I can even get a word in. Ugh! She’s so infuriating. But as I look at Jack and the kids, I ask myself if I’m really mad or performing? Something about the scene warms my heart.

He’s not just sitting there passively, trying to appear homely for the onlookers, no. He’s fully engaged with them—laughing at their jokes, listening to their stories, his attention entirely focused on them. He seems to have forgotten he came looking for me. The thought makes me chuckle.

He’s gentle, easygoing, like he’s known them for years. It’s the way he kneels down to their level, making sure every one of them feels seen. I watch as one of the younger kids shyly hands him a flower, and Jack smiles, accepting it with such warmth.

My chest tightens a little. There’s something so natural about it, and I can’t deny that it strikes a chord within me.

The way he’s treating these kids, with so much kindness and patience…

it’s nothing like the person I expected him to be.

This is a side of Jack I didn’t know, and for some reason, it unsettles me. I don’t want to know him like this.

“He’s so handsome, isn’t he?”

The sound of Nurse Winnie’s voice breaks through the quiet garden, and I turn to see her standing behind me. She’s got a wide grin on her face, clearly captivated by Jack, her voice full of admiration.

I don’t answer right away. Instead, I just glance at Jack again, my chest tightening a little. I can’t deny that he looks good, but the way she’s fawning over him makes me feel uncomfortable.

Winnie doesn’t seem to notice my hesitation, though, as she continues. “And I heard he’s here for you,” she adds, her tone playful, giving me a knowing look.

I roll my eyes, trying to hide how her words make me feel. It’s a simple comment, but it does something to me. Maybe it’s the fact that I haven’t really let myself think about what Jack’s presence here means, or maybe it’s just how much I’ve been avoiding the man himself.

Before I can respond, Winnie’s already pulling out her phone. “Hold on, let me grab a picture,” she says, already aiming her camera at Jack.

I move quickly, stepping in front of her with a slightly panicked look. “I’d prefer you don’t,” I say, trying to sound casual, though my voice comes out sharper than I mean it to. “He came to town for a bit of privacy. But even if you do, please don’t post it.”

Winnie gives me a wide-eyed look, then nods, realizing the weight of what I’m asking.

“Got it. No posting. But at least I can talk to him, right?” She winks at me, the playful glint still in her eyes, and before I can protest any further, she’s already making her way toward Jack, adjusting her uniform and patting her hair.

I watch as Jack turns his attention fully to Nurse Winnie, the two of them engaging in conversation with ease.

It’s like they’ve known each other for years, the way he smiles at her and nods while she talks.

I can’t help but wonder what they’re discussing.

Does he talk to everyone like this? Does he act this comfortable with everyone?

My stomach churns slightly as I shove my hand into my pocket, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling creeping up my spine.

I can’t stop myself from glancing over at them again, but it’s hard to ignore the fact that it feels so natural, so effortless, between them.

I almost feel like I’m intruding on something that doesn’t involve me.

And it bothers me more than it should. I’m fighting the urge not to inch closer to them to hear what they’re saying.

Just as I’m starting to feel like an outsider in my own thoughts, Winnie finally straightens up, clapping her hands together lightly to grab everyone’s attention.

“All right, kiddos!” she announces, smiling brightly at the kids around Jack. “Time to head back to your rooms. Let’s go!”

The kids groan in unison, clearly not ready to part from the fun.

They become persistent, tugging at Jack’s sleeves and pleading for him to come with them.

At first, I think they might give up, but their smiles are too big, and their enthusiasm is contagious.

They refuse to leave until Jack walks with them.

And Jack? He doesn’t hesitate for a second. He smiles, getting up without complaint, his hands raised in mock surrender as the kids drag him along. It’s almost like he’s been doing this for years.

Winnie falls into step beside him, chatting with him in a light, easy manner about how exuberant the kids are. Their energy is definitely something else. It’s hard to believe these kids are battling such tough illnesses with the way they’re all laughing and playing around.

I hang back a little, walking behind them, my heart swelling as I watch Jack, of all people, being so genuinely engaged. He’s not faking it—he’s fully present, and I can’t help but smile.

I follow them into the hospital’s brightly colored hallways, and I notice that everyone here is equally as friendly.

Nurses and doctors smile and greet Jack as if they’ve known him for years, exchanging jokes and laughs as they pass by.

It’s like the whole hospital has embraced him, and it doesn’t matter who he is in the outside world.

Here, he’s just another person among many.

Winnie leads the group to the kids’ rooms, and to my surprise, she doesn’t stop at the door. Instead, she opens it wide, gesturing for Jack to follow her inside. The kids are still buzzing with energy, practically bouncing around their beds like he’s the best thing that’s happened to them all week.

I hang back in the hallway, allowing him more time with the kids.

I usually kiss them goodbye before I go, but today, I let Jack and Winnie handle it.

I quickly head into the bathroom to wash my face and hands before meeting Jack again.

There’s a small, quiet part of me that’s still very unsettled, something I don’t fully understand.

Jack’s demeanor with the kids, the way he softened around them, left an impression on me I’m not sure how to process.

I stare at my reflection, wondering if I’m going crazy feeling this way over him.

So what if he’s good with kids? Am I attracted to every man that’s good with kids now? Or what?

After a few minutes, I feel ready to face the reality outside the bathroom.

I open the door and step into the hallway, immediately spotting Jack.

He’s standing down the hall, alone, arms folded behind him, staring at the wall of pictures.

On this wall are hung portraits of kids who have passed through this hospital, having battled terminal illnesses and won.

My picture is smack in the middle, and Jack is staring at it.

It was taken when I was a little girl, bald and fragile, sitting on a hospital bed with a big smile, surrounded by the staff who helped me through my battle with leukemia.

I can still remember that moment. I can remember how sick I felt, how small I was, and yet how loved I felt in that room.

It was something I never wanted to share with anyone, let alone him.

I freeze, hoping he won’t recognize that it’s me. After all, it was decades ago, and I was bald, fragile, sick. He suddenly turns, his gaze meeting mine, and it’s full of concern and what looks so much like pity. My heart lurches.

“Mia,” he says quietly. “It’s you.”

Before he can say anything more, I turn around and race toward the garage, fighting back tears. Of all the things I want to see in Jack’s eyes, pity isn’t one of them. I wish I came in my car, but I took an Uber down here because my car was over at my parents’ house.

I’m about to take another step when I feel a hand on my arm. Jack pulls me back gently, and my heart leaps into my throat.

“Mia, stop,” Jack says, his voice low and steady. “Why are you running?”

I try to shake his hand off, feeling the rush of frustration bubbling up. “I’m fine. I just—just need some space,” I say quickly, my words a little too sharp.

Jack doesn’t let go. He stands there, his grip firm but not threatening. “Are you all right?”

“Stop, okay?” I push him away. “I don’t need your pity.”

“What?” He frowns. “Mia, I don’t pity you.”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I look up at him, startled. “I don’t pity you,” he repeats, his voice softer now, more sincere. “I admire you. I admire how strong you’ve been and how strong you still are.”

I freeze, looking up at him. His eyes—those deep, intense eyes—are searching mine, and for the first time, I see something real. He isn’t lying. He’s not just saying this to make me feel better or because he thinks it’s what I want to hear. There’s no pity in his gaze. Just admiration. Respect.

The wall I’ve spent years building around myself starts to crumble, brick by brick. I can feel the walls inside me crack, and I hate it. But at the same time, I can’t stop the warmth spreading through my chest, the tingling sensation that sweeps over me as his words sink in.

Jack’s still holding my arm, and I don’t pull away. Instead, I let him hold me there, standing in the dim light of the garage, caught between the weight of everything unsaid and the sudden vulnerability I’m feeling.

“You’re strong.” His voice is impossibly softer, and it does funny things to me. “You experienced a terrible ordeal, and no one would blame you if you didn’t want to come back, but you come back for these kids. It’s way more than some mothers would do for their kids. You’re an angel, Mia. You?—”

Without thinking, I reach up, my hands brushing the side of his face. I look at him for a moment longer, my heart racing, and then, before I can stop myself, I close the distance between us.

I kiss him.

It’s not gentle. It’s not slow. It’s a kiss that’s as much about need as it is about something more—something deeper that I can’t even begin to explain. His lips are soft against mine, and for the first time in a long while, I feel something. Something real.

Jack pulls me closer, his hands finding their way to my waist, pressing me against him, and the kiss deepens. It’s everything I didn’t know I needed. His warmth, his presence, his sincerity. I want to pull away, to stop this, but I can’t. I don’t want to.