This One Moment (Pushing Limits, #1)(61)

Alyssa was normally gorgeous, but in her silver gown she was stunning. The cleavage-revealing dress was fitted to midthigh, then cascaded to the floor. Her hair was knotted in a bun, adding to her elegance.

“You look great,” I said.

“You don’t look so bad yourself.” Her gaze traveled down the tux that I felt like an idiot in. The record label had arranged it too.

“Are you ready?” To leave. To stand in front of hundreds of fans. To deal with the media storm.

I offered her my arm and I escorted her to the awaiting limo. The driver opened the door and I helped Alyssa in, then joined her. She patted the black leather seat next to her. I took the one across from her.

She giggled. “I’m not going to bite, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“I know, but I’m happy here.”

“Okay.” She moved to sit next to me. I wasn’t sure if it was intentional, but she practically sat in my lap.

And that’s when I smelled the booze on her breath. Shit. She rested her hand on my knee and gave it a light squeeze as the limo pulled away from her house.

“Alyssa, you’re a nice girl, but I don’t feel that way about you.” My voice was cautious, quiet, like how you’d talk to an animal you don’t want to spook. I didn’t want to upset her when we were attending the premiere, but I needed to ensure she understood this wasn’t real.

“Why? Because of the girl in the pictures?”

“Yes.”

“But she lives in Minnesota and you live in L.A. Are you really planning to have a long-distance relationship?” Her lips pressed together into a slight pout.

“We’re not having a long-distance relationship.”

“She’s moving here?” The pout disappeared and the corners of her mouth dipped down.

I shifted my knee, subtly removing her hand from it. “No. We’re not together.”

It took a moment for it to sink in. Her eyes widened. “You’re…you’re in love with her, aren’t you?”

I nodded.

“Does she feel the same way?”

I shrugged. “I’m not sure.” And I wasn’t. I’d seen her love for me in her eyes, but she hadn’t actually said the words I’d longed to hear.

Alyssa scooted back, leaving more than a foot of space between us. “What do you mean, you’re not sure?”

“Just that. I have no idea if she loves me.”

“Well, what did she say when you told her you love her?” When I didn’t answer, she said, “You did tell her you love her, right?”

“Not exactly.”

Fine lines crossed her forehead. “What do you mean, ‘not exactly’? You either told her or you didn’t.”

“I told her she was my heart and soul.”

Alyssa nodded what I could only guess was her approval. “That’s not bad. And what did she say?”

“Nothing. We were too busy kissing.” I felt like I had back in high school, when Hailey used to give me advice about dating and girls. Or at least she did until our senior year. Then the advice suddenly stopped.

“Okay, so what did she say when you asked her to move to L.A.?”

Now it was my turn to frown. “I didn’t. I mean, I didn’t ask her to move to L.A. She wants to study physical therapy and get into the program back home. I figured she wouldn’t want to move here.”

“But you didn’t give her the choice to decide if she wanted to move here with you.”

“Sure I did.”

Alyssa shook her head as if I was an idiot, and maybe I was. “No, you didn’t. You decided she wouldn’t want to move here because of her goals. You never asked her. Maybe she wasn’t sure if you wanted her to come here to be with you.”

She had a point. I’d just assumed Hailey wouldn’t want to move to L.A. But she had never indicated she would want to or that she would be fine with my constant touring.

I pointed this out to Alyssa.

“What was she supposed to do?” Alyssa replied. “Your record label and my agent decided we’d both benefit from this fictitious relationship they dreamed up. And with our fans so enamored by the idea of the clichéd good girl taming the bad-boy rocker, why would she risk everything when it was already determined you two can’t be together?”

She had a good point. “So what should I do?”

“Ask her if she wants to live with you. She doesn’t have to physically live with you if she’s not comfortable with that. But at least she could live in the same city as you.”

“And what about the record label?”

“Couples break up all the time. If I want to break up with you, there’s nothing stopping me.”

“Except for the recording contract they offered you.”

“I don’t think they’ll change their minds because of that. Tell you what. Why don’t we take one step at a time? We’ll attend this premiere as a couple. Give the audience what they want. Then the first chance you get—sooner rather than later—you go back home and ask Hailey if she wants to move here. And then we’ll see what happens.” She tilted her head to the side. “Does that sound like a plan?”

I wasn’t sure if I was making a mistake or if I was about to cause myself more heartache, but Alyssa’s plan had merit, except…