VALOROUS (A Quantum Novel)(32)

“To be completely honest… Maybe I was na?ve to think the lawyer to whom I’d paid many thousands of dollars I couldn’t afford to waste would protect me because that was his job. He was ethically required to keep my secrets. It never occurred to me for one second that he wouldn’t.”

“Flynn, before the story was made public, did you know about Natalie’s past?”

I feel his entire body stiffen next to me. He doesn’t want to be here. He doesn’t want to talk about this, but he’s doing it because I asked him to, and I love him for that.

“I knew she’d been assaulted. I didn’t know the full story until the rest of the world heard it. Our relationship was still very new at that time, and we hadn’t gotten that far yet.”

“Natalie, would you have told Flynn your story eventually?”

“I don’t know. At some point I probably would’ve had to explain why my family isn’t part of my life anymore. My closest friends didn’t know, so it’s not something I talk about—or talked about—before the whole world knew. The family who took me in after the attack still knows me as April. I haven’t seen them in years, though. They moved to Seattle after I was in college.”

“The point,” Flynn says in a low growl, “is that it should’ve been up to Natalie to decide when and what she told me. That was taken out of her hands by someone she trusted, and that never should’ve happened.”

“I can only imagine how you must’ve felt, Flynn, when the story went public.”

“I’ve never thought I was capable of murder, but in this case…”

“We could hardly blame you for feeling that way,” Carolyn says. “Anyone would. So what’re your plans now, Natalie?”

“I haven’t really made plans, other than to spend some time here in LA with Flynn. We’re looking forward to the upcoming SAG Awards.”

“You’re planning to attend? I’d heard you weren’t going.”

“You heard wrong,” I say before he can reply. “We’ll be there, and I’ll be cheering for Flynn. His performance in Camouflage was amazing, and he deserves all the acclaim he’s receiving.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Carolyn says. “Best movie of the year, far and away.”

“Thank you,” Flynn says gruffly.

“And congratulations on all the Oscar nominations for Camouflage, Flynn. Any predictions?”

“Nope,” Flynn says, making us both laugh.

Carolyn props her chin on the upturned arm she’s rested against her knee and leans in. “I have to ask… What’s it like to date the biggest movie star in the universe?”

I laugh at the fangirl question and because that’s how I’ve thought of him, too. “It’s… When I first started seeing Flynn, my roommate in New York asked if I thought I’d ever see him as anything other than Flynn Godfrey, biggest movie star in the universe. To me… He’s just Flynn, the sweetest, kindest, sexiest, most thoughtful man I’ve ever met, and I’m beyond blessed to be spending time with him, especially these last few days. He’s been incredibly supportive through all of this.”

“That’s quite an endorsement,” Carolyn says. “What do you think, Flynn?”

“I’m the lucky one.” He brings my hand to his lips, and I imagine every woman in America swooning at the way he looks at me as he brushes his lips over my knuckles.

“Flynn, you’ve repeatedly said you’d never marry again. Have you changed your mind about that since you met Natalie?”

“Absolutely.”

Carolyn clearly wasn’t expecting him to be so definite. “Do I hear wedding bells ringing for you two?”

He never takes his eyes off me when he says, “As soon as we possibly can.”

“Is that a proposal we just heard?” Carolyn nearly levitates out of her seat with excitement. He’s handed her a huge scoop on a silver platter.

“No, it wasn’t.” Flynn laughs at her reaction. “When I ask Natalie to be my wife, it’ll be a very private and personal moment between the two of us and no one else.”

“And I’ll be the first to know afterward?” Carolyn asks with a hopeful smile.

“Maybe after I tell my folks.”

“Fair enough. Speaking of your parents, Natalie, have you met Max and Estelle?”

“I have, and they’re every bit as wonderful as they seem, as are Flynn’s sisters, brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews. They’re an incredible family, and they’ve made me feel very welcome.”

“One final question before I let you go. After all these years, if you could say anything to your family back home in Nebraska, what would it be?”

Without hesitation, I say, “I would tell my sisters that I love and miss them so much. And I’d love to hear from them any time.”

“They can contact Natalie through my company, Quantum Productions, in LA,” Flynn adds. “They’ll always be welcome anywhere we are.”

Carolyn reaches across the space between our chairs and puts her hand on top of ours, which are joined. “Thank you so much for talking to me today. I hope you know how awed we are by your courage and strength. I’ll be pulling for the two of you and rooting for you, Flynn, as award season continues.”