woken up next to him this morning. But I remind myself that’s not going to happen.
Ever.
“Are you calling for a reason? Or just to check up on me?”
“Can’t it be both?”
“Well, we’ve done the second one, let’s move on to the point.”
He chuckles, drawing out the suspense, which catches my interest. He normally launches straight into it, so this delay …
“It’s big, isn’t it?”
“I may have had an interesting conversation this morning. For a fall/winter collection.”
“With …”
“Gucci Men.”
I shoot to my feet. “There’s no way.”
“Then why am I looking at a proposed contract right now?”
“Have they seen my photos?” I start to laugh. “I’m not exactly high fashion.”
“No, what you are is an insanely attractive man who has gained a lot of clout in a very short amount of time. They want to capitalize on that. They want their brand to appeal to the next generation of men who are making a lot of money and choosing to spend none of it on clothes.”
“People like that exist?”
“Have you met you?”
Shit. I pace to my window and look out at the valley. This is big. A Gucci campaign will gain a lot of social media attention, but there’s also the old-school marketing as well. Billboards, buses and taxis, magazines.
It’ll expand my reach way further than anything I’d ever accomplish on my own.
“What are the terms?”
He sighs. “Well, they originally asked for both of you, but I told them it wouldn’t be possible, so we’re currently renegotiating. They’ll have to bring another model in for you to pose with, so you better make sure your guy is fine with that and that your followers know in advance. It’s Gucci, so it’s going to be high-end and a little sexy, but I’ve made it clear that there can’t be any hints of anything romantic between you and whoever they choose. It’s business only.”
“Okay …” I clear my throat. “But, if I could get both of us, they’d be interested?”
“They would, but they’ve made it clear there won’t be any hiding his face.”
“Not even a bit?”
“No. That was nonnegotiable. They’ve already got the shots they’re using planned out, and they’ll need you in LA for them.”
Of course they do. They didn’t get to be one of the biggest brands in the world by marketing on the fly.
“Should I ask him anyway?”
“There’s no point now. They’re already in the process of writing him out of the contract and looking for another model. How haven’t you said yes yet? This is the biggest offer of your career so far.”
That’s the golden question, isn’t it? Why haven’t I said yes yet? A month ago, I would have been booking my flight already. “Send over the contract, and I’ll let you know tomorrow.”
“Circus—”
“That’s my answer.”
Preston doesn’t say anything, but I can tell he’s pissed. So I adopt the most bored tone I can manage because I know how it drives him crazy. “Anything else?”
“Eight a.m. That’s as long as I’ll give you.”
“I’ll talk to you tomorrow, then.”
I hang up before he can push.
This could actually be the answer to how I maintain a brand without Rowan involved. If I do this, it’ll lead to more followers, more interactions, which will lead to more opportunities.
Rowan and I could go our separate ways, and it wouldn’t impact on me too badly.
But … I want to do this with him. I want us to go to Los Angeles and get lost in a world of hair and makeup and bright lights and people barking directions.
It’ll be stressful and exhilarating, but will it be worth it if he’s not there?
What am I doing?
Am I actually sitting here trying to justify talking myself out of an opportunity I’ve been working toward for years, just because some old flame is—barely—back in the picture?
Some old flame who abandoned me?
I try to draw up some of the old anger but come up empty.
Five years of holding on to the bitterness, and when I need it, it’s nowhere to be found.
I guess Mom was right.
Once you forgive someone, you don’t get to use it anymore.
So I do what I always do. I go to my bedroom, grab the 8-Ball, and let it make the choice for me.
“Should I ask Rowan?”
Without a doubt.
Looks like we’re on the same page, then.
My determination to avoid him is forgotten as I get changed, grab my bike, and head into town. I probably could have called, but now I’ve thought about seeing him, I’m desperate to.
Who says people grow up?
Lucky for me,