Valorous(33)

I put down my spoon and push the bowl away. Going to him, I put my arms around him from behind and lay my head on his back. “You worked so hard for this, Flynn. The film means so much to you. You can’t miss out on the award shows.”

“Yes, I can.”

“You’re not missing it. If you’re worried about me, I’ll stay home and cheer for you from the sofa.”

“I’m not leaving you home, and I don’t want to expose you to more bullshit.”

“Will you look at me? Please?” I pull on his shoulder, compelling him to turn and face me.

He does so reluctantly.

“We can’t hide out. That’s not how I want to live.”

“I can’t protect you from what they’ll say, the questions they’ll ask. They’ll violate you all over again.”

“Then let me do the interview so I can put my story out there in my own words beforehand. There won’t be anything left to say after that.”

“I don’t like it.”

“I know, but I want to put an end to this story so we can get on with our lives.”

“What if it has the opposite effect? What if it throws gas on the fire and makes things worse?”

“If we make it very clear that we’ll never again discuss it, that should put an end to it for us. Others can say what they will, but it’ll be a dead subject for us.”

His cheek twitches with tension as he contemplates what I’ve said. After a long pause during which I have no idea what he’s thinking, he says, “Carolyn Justice. She’s the only one I trust to handle this properly.”

Carolyn Justice is a goddess, and I’ve been a fan of her show for years. “Okay.”

“You’re sure, Nat? Please don’t do this for me. My career and I will be just fine if we never say a word about this to anyone.”

“I’m sure, and I’m doing it for us, so we can have some peace and put a stop to the frenzy. If we do the interview and answer all their questions, then maybe they’ll move on to something else, and we can go to the SAG Awards without worrying about getting slammed with questions.”

Another long silence ensues. “I’ll have Liza set it up.”

“Are you angry at me?”

His eyes widen with surprise. “Angry at you? Why in the hell would I ever be angry at you?”

“Because I’m pushing you to do something you don’t want to do.”

He places his hands on my shoulders and draws me into his embrace. “I am not angry at you. I could never be angry at you. I think you’re fearless and fabulous and you amaze me every day with your strength and your courage and your fortitude. I’m angry that you’ve been put in this position in the first place. I’m angry at people who feed off the pain of others. I’ll never understand how someone entrusted with your most personal business could sell you out to the highest bidder.” He looks down at me and kisses my forehead. “I am not angry at you.”

I snuggle up to him. “You’ve been so tense.”

“A lot on my mind, sweetheart. This has been so nice, to have this time with you, relaxing and sleeping and stuff.”

I laugh at the word “stuff.”

“But I have to go back to work one of these days.”

“I’ve sort of wondered when that would happen.”

“We’ve got a meeting coming up for the foundation, and at some point I’ve got to be at the office with Hayden. He’s into postproduction on the new film that has defied naming. I’ve got to make some decisions on future projects. A lot to do.”

“I’m sorry if I’ve been keeping you from your work.”

“You haven’t been. I’ve enjoyed every second that we’ve spent together, and I’m looking forward to much more.”

“I was wondering… About the foundation.”

“What about it?”

“Would it be possible—and please feel free to say no if it’s not a good idea…”

His smile makes his eyes twinkle, and I’m struck again by how gorgeous he is. That I get to hug him and kiss him and make love with him any time I want still amazes me all these days later. “What’s your idea, sweetheart?”

“I’d like to be involved with the foundation.” I swallow hard. “If it’s okay with you.”

“Yes, of course it’s okay. I should’ve thought to ask you.”