I’d walked away to shield him from the brunt of this and he’d charged straight into the fray to defend me anyway. He’d given up the role he’d fought so hard for and had forever tied himself to this scandal when he could have stayed quiet.

I’d made a terrible mistake and couldn’t get to my car fast enough to get to him.

48

Alex

“May I come over?” was all the text from Elena had said, so I’d been pacing while I waited for her to arrive, too afraid to hope. I was a wreck. I kept raking my hands through my hair and I knew it was probably standing on end by the time she finally pulled up in front of my house. I wanted to run out to see her, but I forced myself to stay rooted to the spot and calmly open the door only after she knocked.

When she came in, we stood in the foyer and I watched for her to give some indication of how she was feeling.

She said, “You didn’t release the breakup statement. Was that to help me because of Max or because you don’t want to break up?”

“Both.”

She looked close to tears. “I’ve fucked up your career and dragged you into a scandal and you deserve better…even if you’re such a dumbass you thought it was a good idea to use sex to prove I love you.”

“Elena, sweetheart, none of this was your fault. Can I hug you?”

She nodded almost hesitantly, so I pulled her gently to me. She felt stiff in my arms at first, but then she sighed and the tension drained away.

I kissed the top of her head and said, “I wish you hadn’t thought you had to face it alone, but I respect that you needed it to be on your terms. I’m so sorry I was a monumental asshole. I’ll regret the way I acted that night for the rest of my life.”

“Seriously, what were you thinking?”

“I was thinking you’re everything I’ve ever wanted and I didn’t know how to fully trust that because of my fame and the way things had started between us. Then Max said all that stuff and it was the same day things were ending and it just felt like there was no time and I needed some kind of sign to know I was the exception for you or I was going to lose you. But that was unfair and I’m sorry. Trust is something I’m working really hard on, and being with you has helped me to grow, but I know I’ve still got work to do.” I was talking too much, but I needed to get all of this out, needed her to know. “And I’m so sorry I piled that on you when you were already struggling with Max. I don’t deserve you.”

She tilted her head up to look at me, wrapping her arms around my neck. She leaned in to kiss me, but stopped short to say, “I love you too, Boy Scout.”