this was a whole new level of intensity.
My security company had busted three different paparazzi trying to get over the gates that surrounded my property in order to take pictures. Apparently, anyone who snagged a clear photo of Maren and me together was guaranteed a small fortune, and that number went up significantly if we were caught in any kind of compromising position. It didn’t help matters that Maren’s ex had put his foot in his mouth when asked about his former wife’s association with me. He still referred to me as a pool boy whom she was using as a rebound because she was obviously not over him, and his clueless statements had gone viral and made him a national laughingstock. The rest of the world cruelly informed him exactly who I was. Being a hot topic wasn’t a terrible thing when you were trying to make a movie. But all the attention, along with Maren’s laundry list of demands, was a level of pressure I hadn’t felt since I was a child star. The last time I crumbled under the weight of all that responsibility, and I was slightly terrified I couldn’t stand up to the pressure, even with all my new, healthy coping mechanisms.
I pulled in a breath and used my free hand to rub the back of my neck. “I want to sign it mostly to prove that I can do it. None of the stuff she’s asking me to do is unreasonable. It’s how a professional is expected to act when they have so much riding on a project. I’m not just taking on a role; my name is all over this movie from top to bottom. If I can pull this off, I think it’ll prove to the people calling the shots in the industry that I’ve really changed. Everyone knows Maren wanted nothing to do with me, so if I can show her, and everyone else, taking a risk on me was the right move, you won’t have to work so hard for the next project.”
Jeno leaned on the edge of the table, gaze steady on mine. “You don’t have to worry about how hard I’m working. I know my limits. I’m more worried that you’ll feel like you’re backed into a corner and lash out to get free like you used to do. Only, this time it’s you who is purposely putting your back against the wall, so if you slip, it’s going to be hard for me to feel sorry for you. I can work twenty-hour days, seven days a week with no complaint. But I can’t do save your ass time and time again because you don’t know when you’re in over your head. I love you, bro, but there’s only so much my heart can take.”
I scribbled my name on the last line and shoved the paper and pen away. I laced my fingers together and cracked my tattooed knuckles loudly. “I’m not going to make you save me again. I’m going to show you that I can be someone who can save you. Because I love you, too, Jeno. I’m going to act right. I’m going to make this movie. I’m going to show Maren that she can forgive me, and I’m going to make your mom eat her words. I’m not worthless, and you are not wasting your life because you chose me over the path she picked for you. You’re the only person who has never stopped believing in me, so don’t give up now.”
Instead of responding, he pulled out his phone and tapped out a message. “I told Lennon I’d be in touch once we signed. Our lawyers and the finance people still need to look over it again, but I think everything is in place. You and Maren made this bed. You both have no choice but to lie in it now.”
I clapped my hands together loudly and rubbed them together quickly. “This is when being sober sucks. I feel like we should have a drink to celebrate or something.”
“We can go to the gym or something instead. Put all that hype to better use.” Jeno scowled at his phone. “Hold on a second. Lennon asked if she could call.”
I felt my face fall into a frown. Immediately I wondered if Maren had come to her senses and was going to pull the plug on everything. I should’ve known better than to get my hopes up. If there was a constant in my life,