Iwake up with a smile on my face, even though it’s still dark outside. Last night comes back to me in a flash. Taking Mallory to the tree house. Talking with her. Opening up to her. Reading to her. Dancing with her. Kissing her.
I absently touch my lips, wondering how soon I can do that again.
My phone starts vibrating on my nightstand. The only reason I reach for it is because it might be Mallory on the other end of the line. If it’s not her, I’m not answering.
I see Noah’s name come across the screen, and I silence it. No offense to my agent, but right now, I want to stay in my daydreams about my new girlfriend.
I still can’t believe she—
My phone blares, and I frown down at it. It’s Noah again.
I sigh. I guess it won’t be so bad answering. Not when my life is actually better than a dream at the moment.
“Hey, Noah, what’s up?”
“Holland.” Noah’s voice is grim, and I sit upright in bed.
“What’s the matter?”
“I don’t want you to panic…” Noah trails off.
“Okay, well, that’s making me panic.” I fling my legs over the side of the bed. My mind is going to worst-case scenario here. Something happened to someone in my family. Or to Mallory. I stand up. “What is it?”
“There were some incriminating pictures leaked last night.”
“Incriminating how?” I’ve never sent anyone anything promiscuous.
“You and Mallory. Together. In the rain…embracing.” He says the last word like a wince.
“Oh.” I sink down on the bed. “Okay. Yeah. We went out last night.”
Noah sighs. “This isn’t good, man. I thought I told you to stick to the show’s rules.”
“Well, sorry.” I’m not sorry at all. I wouldn’t change anything, because everything brought me to a place with Mallory that has all the makings of the love story I had all but thought I’d never have. “I actually was going to call you today to talk about the show. I want to be done. Mallory is it for me.”
I hear tapping on the other end of the line. “It’s not that simple, Holland.”
“Seems that way to me.”
“Just…” Noah grunts. “You need to come to the inn. The producers are not happy. They’re threatening some pretty hefty fines for breaking your contract. And not just for you…”
Mallory.
A memory of a number from the meeting after my tournament win in South Carolina pops into my head.Five million dollars.
“They wouldn’t.” I scramble out of my bed. My foot gets caught in my sheet, and I careen to the floor, landing with a thud. “They can’t do that. Can they?” I add.
I can picture Noah rubbing the skin of his forehead as he responds, “Technically, they can.”
My bedroom starts spinning. Five million dollars is a lot of money. To anyone. I know how hard Mallory has worked. I know the sacrifices she’s made to get where she is, to provide for her parents, to ensure her mom is taken care of. My vision blurs, and it’s getting harder and harder to breath.
“Holland. Holland!” Noah’s voice cuts through the fog.
“What? Yeah. I’m here.”
“Get to the inn, okay?MEMexecs are conferencing in with Vivian, and they want to speak to you and Mallory. I’ll be there, and I’m bringing one of your lawyers. Figure it’s best to have someone on hand, just in case.”
“Okay. Yeah. That’s good. Thanks, Noah.”
