Accidental Meeting (Accidental Hook-Up 3)

I tug her back into bed with me and kiss her to calm her down. She’s a little resistant at first, undoubtedly still worrying about what strangers have written about her on the Internet, but soon she gives that up and she remembers what is really important. Her and I in this bed right now. Being together and loving one another.

It doesn’t matter what will happen next. All that matters, is the here and now.

“I love you,” she murmurs to me. “You have a way of calming me down when it seems absolutely impossible.”

“I love you too. You have no idea how much.”

Mmm, she’s an incredible distraction, she’s absolutely beautiful, I adore her intensely. With every fiber of my being. Anyone that makes comments about us just won’t understand that, and I don’t care. It doesn’t matter to me what anyone else thinks. Only her and right now she seems incredibly happy and that’s all that matters.

***

The news doesn’t die down, not for a while. If anything, it gets worse for a while. I think this is what Rae wanted. Judging by everything that Tia has told me, she wanted to take her old friend down. She holds on to all kinds of animosity because Tia’s career out shone hers and she wants to take her down.

But it hasn’t done that. If anything it has made her even more in demand. Everyone seems to want a piece of Tia these days, she is raking in the offers for roles. She has already gotten to the stage where she can pick and choose what she does, which is amazing. I’m so freaking proud of her.

It’s helped me too, in a roundabout way. Having my life so focused on by other people has made me examine what I want even closer. It’s not that I want to live my life for other people but it’s lasered my focus. What I discovered from that is that I actually want to help other people. That isn’t something that I ever thought would be me, I never thought that I had a caring side, but everything that’s happened has brought it out of me.

It took me a while to find my focus but now I have it. I want to help teenagers who have family issues and need some support. I was okay, financially, but emotionally I could have used a hand. Although I don’t know if I ever would have admitted it at the time, but looking back it would have been nice.

I have found a charity that does it as well, so I got a job there and now I’m loving life. I really feel like I’m doing something positive and my own experiences can assist me with this. I’m bringing a lot to the role and I’m getting a lot from it as well. It makes me feel like I’m a well-rounded person.

My life is starting to come together. Now, there is just one thing I want and the time to ask the question is here. I have cooked a nice meal and got a lovely bottle of champagne for my woman.

She looks at me expectantly, waiting for what I’m about to say. I suck in a deep breath and prepare myself to begin.

“Tia,” I start, my voice shaking with nerves. “I’m going to ask you officially this time because I think this time is right now. Will you move in with me? My big house needs a woman’s touch… your touch.”

She bursts in to laughter and shakes her head, completely amused by me. “You know what, you’re right. The timing is right. I would love to move in with you.”

Thank goodness. Finally, everything is coming together.

Chapter Twenty-Seven – Tia

I scream top note as I hang up the phone, causing Shane to come rushing to my side. I keep forgetting that in this house, sound travels. It doesn’t matter how big it is, the noise flows freely.

“What’s going on?” His eyes run all over my face searching for answers. “Are you okay?”

“I’m good.” I clutch my chest, breathless. “Really good actually, that was good news.”

“It was? What was it?” He hasn’t calmed down at all, he still looks a bit terrified for me.

“I got a call from the director of the first movie I was in, do you remember?” He nods, still bewildered. “Well, I have been nominated for an award because of it. The ceremony is at the end of the month.”

“An award, seriously?” His whole body lights up with glee. “That’s amazing news.”

“It’s wild, isn’t it?” I press the phone to my heart. “Although probably not my best acting. That was my first major job and I have learned a lot since then. I think I’m much better these days.”

“I don’t know.” He shrugs. “I personally think that you’re amazing at everything.”