When Love Collides With Dark Past

Perkin

tem built on anonymity and screens. Then, one Tuesday, I blew it

. Instead, in a moment of sleep-dep

he video in our chat. I frantically jabbed at the screen, trying to un-send

y branding consultant, not some girl who sends him silly cat videos. A sliver of guilt pricked at me; I had been so cold to him

e an apology, his

s that

was an acci

was wondering

n caught me

hat I

, personally. You know I enjoy rainy days and cla

, a new message popped up. It was a video. My

les in his forearms, taut with effort, then up to his chest, the thin fabric of his gray t-shirt clinging to him. He was sweating, a light sheen on his skin. He glanced a

black screen, my heart pounding

d more

what? Woodwo

s of you. Loo

ter hours; the space was empty. The camera angle was slightly awkward, but it did a very good job of showcasing the way his back muscles moved un

world never saw. The intimidating author was, in private, a

only one who

tracted to him. Deeply. It wasn't just his brilliant

s add

ofessional line blurred until it disappeared completely. We were no longer consultan

ion that stretched late into the ni

t to be wit

even typed out, sen

pretend this is just a friendship anymore. Let me be your boyfriend

e real voice I' d never even heard. But it also felt... right. He saw me. The real me, the one hiding

Ok

.:

an try. But th

, a shield agai

deo chats. Just messages and the occa

es (even though we both already kne

ts to end it, we end i

had a secret, anonymous, online boyfriend who happe

uldn't touch me. I helped him navigate his growing fame, and he became my biggest cheerleader, encouraging

blisher forc

ng a book tour. Across the

bubble. The real world was invad

t. That wa

with people. You know that. I can' t

ught of sitting across from him, in the flesh, with nowhere to hide... it made me feel physically ill. The b

o. I

ashamed of me? Or are

of desperation,

orking. We want

does that m

ybe we shou

nic and confusion from him. I silenced my notifications, my heart aching with a pain so sharp it stole my breath. This wa

nce contract-the same publisher that represented Cristian Lancaster-feeling hollowed out. Genevieve Griffit

her office. "Cristian is threatening to cancel the entire book tour. The biggest laun

ally charming and personally ruthless. She had made it clear that she considered Cristian not just

im on the phone. Kiana, I need you to handle this. Take the final campaign proofs

t rigid. "M

sweetness, "I don't want to get my head bitten off,

to have. The thought of facing Cristian-the real, breathing Cristian, who was currently heartbroken because

ea," I said, my voice barely a wh

ou' ll do what you' re told. He' s on

housand pounds. I had to face him. The man I loved, who though

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