Unscripted Hearts

re I'd be a moron if I c

d's house, I jabbed a fing

drunk, let desire take over, and

's allure really t

heavy but carrie

ornful look at the flower shops ne

ale, I sank into a rocking chair an

boyfriend?" A smoot

turned into an

s flew

guy I'd dodged

It's blinding me. I nee

to dar

caught

ow you got caught up, couldn't resist

pulling curious gla

him a

ne wouldn't read "Top Actor Weeps O

rabbed his hand, and pulled h

Don't you know who you are?

d. "Makenzie, do

s sent a jolt

shirts, always dressed like

iously tem

ring, and stumbled over my wor

s lips togeth

show. I need an opposite-sex fri

cou

ie, you're my only girlfriend. If

d stepped back three

, my mistake. Female friend. I didn't me

ire

I looked

ere. What are y

t watched me with hope a

looks, felt like the guilty on

ght,

e counter, igno

have a bunch of baby

use

n churned

to smac

se he fluttered his lashe

p opened, Andrew came to cel

ndship, I thought I could

oke up with my cl

with vivid, adul

top. Let me

pare me, I'm

es shut, refusin

s hands. Total

m, Beth Carter, were f

otal crybaby, always com

built an uns

he idiot,

a sharp

aled my friend

swered

timing. I was about to

"You free in

s up? You s

oke me. I spilled everythi

see your awkward face, haha! So

e. "Yeah, Clare, my head was full of Andr

ongue. "You're tota

ung

she eve

ew kept stopping by, filling

ng work-obsessed celebrities in a week-lo

Andrew, sitting all p

ed, "It's

ero, stone-faced actor, even escape-room

me, I wanted to st

mes, smirking at Andrew

taring at the camera pract

of nerves

to reassure me. "Makenzie,

d his arm. "You thin

passenger seat turned and

s, I had

ade was already

ng stream? Is this t

ail look

ans are sp

iews, and the show clearly kne

of the van, the crew gave

inking I was subtle. "Why

stressed from work and

etting it, my gaze s

scanned the crew with

voices overlapped

breath to st

blend into the background,

s in mind, I fo

een a while." A guy

guest info Andrew had

er Tatiana Fowler by his side. Her delicate feature

, Andrew." A couple a

s Daniela Morgan and model Jed Fos

his warmth spreading to my palm. For

e window at the

e the

riend, Makenzie Barnes.

nd nodded

me a plate of snacks, angling himself to

t to meet you!" A sweet, soft

ing star Maia Barnes and her p

, pleated skir

s spar

al cu

p his distance, narrowed his

walked over t

surprise, clearly unprep

no

it, Andrew was on the

front of him,

t happened? Did you

pt his he

p, tears shimmer

His usually calm voice quiv

, am I

p with th

vibe adorable? She's all cool and toug

ed? A prank? They we

tares, I scooped Andrew up

l-on princ

socks, holding a first-ai

owed no sign

ked, "Where...

disappointment flashed

ok his

Even if she pushed me, I won't blam

t, "That's some

Andrew's ankle with so

I'd felt for

room. As we left, h

f you want to befriend

my expressi

I throw away our twenty years of

iet resentment. "Then why di

and clamped a han

camera behind us. "Andrew,

ould reply,

e-couple show, right? Why do

see it's all Andrew p

s. It'd be weird if

hat right? Sl

these two h

orning, I

t part of the villa, it

fect for morn

our of sparring had been

skippe

'd set for myself

ember this was a