Maddy came to sit on her other side. “I’m sorry it came outthe way it did. You must have thought the worst. Those photoswerefrom the set, but he was just comforting me. It was the day I told him about Richard. I don’t even know who took them, but they obviously sold them to start rumors.”
Olivia was ashamed to admit that she had thought the worst—and that she’d fallen victim to the folly of believing what she saw in the tabloids. Images of the photos had been burned in her mind, and she suddenly saw them in a new light.Of courseChuck had been comforting Maddy. He was giving her a hug and trying to cheer her up like any loving big brother would. “I wish he would have told me the truth from the start,” she said.
“He couldn’t,” Chelsea said. “He had to leave it atartistic differences, which is a load of crap. And Richard took advantage to ruin his reputation. But here’s the thing, Liv. He’s so in love with you. Likeembarrassinglyin love with you. That’s the whole reason he went on that ridiculous show: he wanted a chance to get you back. To prove to you that he could do better. He doesn’t care about the money. He did it foryou. Everything is for you.”
Olivia’s breath was suddenly hard to catch. She was winded sitting down and felt like she’d been punched in the stomach at the same time her heart had lifted off to the heavens.
She knew Chuck loved her. She’d always known. But hearing Chelsea say it in such certain terms had her spinning.
She felt everyone in the room softly smiling at her.
“We have to go, but you should answer his calls, Liv.” Chelsea squeezed her hand and stood up from the couch. “It was nice to meet you both.” She waved at Mansi and Grandma Ruby.
Olivia stood up from the couch. She wasn’t exactly sure yetif she was ready to talk to Chuck or what she might say to him, but his sister’s visit had changed everything. “Thanks for coming over, Chelsea.” She turned to Maddy. “And I’m sorry for what happened to you. I hope that experience doesn’t deter you from working in the industry if it’s what you really want.”
Maddy gave her a soft smile. “Thanks. I don’t think it will. And I’m glad to know there are guys like Chuck around to make a difference. I just wish we could help him out somehow.” As Maddy stood to leave with Chelsea, her words landed on Olivia with a stirring sense of urgency.
Chuckhadmade a difference for Maddy personally, but the truth had remained private. No one knew the real reason why he had been fired. The ripples of his actions would stay limited to the small pond of her life.
Unless Olivia did something about it.
A plan unfolded in her mind, and she quickly stood to catch the girls before they left. “Actually, Maddy, I think there might be something we can do to help Chuck.”
Maddy turned back to her with a hopeful look in her eye, and she knew she could easily get her on board.
Chapter
15
On Sunday morning, Olivia foundherself riding the elevator up to Chuck’s apartment. It was the first time she’d returned to the scene of their breakup since it happened. This time, she wasn’t coming over to give him a piece of her mind. More like a piece of her heart. And three thousand of the best, most terrifying words she’d ever written.
When she’d pitched her idea to her boss Stephanie, she’d gotten near immediate and emphatic approval. She’d memorized Stephanie’s email and let the words bounce around her mind like a sugary little treat when she needed a boost of courage to remind herself that what she was doing was the right thing.
Yes.Thisis the hard-hitting piece I’ve been waiting for. I knew you had it in you, Olivia.
She ran the words through her mind once more as the elevator dinged and emptied her out into Chuck’s hallway. She hadn’t given him a heads-up that she was coming, but she knew he was home. Chelsea was still in town and had told her where to find him.
Olivia had worn a sundress and sandals and pulled her hair half back to contend with the warm day. She’d spritzed herself with perfume and painted her lips pink. Her heart nervously trilled as she stood at his door with her purse over her shoulder and an envelope in her hands. She knocked and held her breath.
A calm quiet hummed through the building. On a sunny weekend day, most residents were out at a farmer’s market or hiking or dining al fresco. According to Chelsea, Chuck was at home in his pajamas bingeing strawberry Pop-Tarts and Netflix.
When he eventually opened his front door, Olivia found him looking freshly showered and startled. His hair was damp and mashed and a few water droplets dotted his collarbone above his tee shirt’s neckline because he’d missed with the towel like he always did. Her knees wobbled and her heart walloped her ribs as if she needed a reminder how reflexive her desire for him was.
“Olivia. What are you doing here?”
“Hi. Can I come in?”
“Of course.” He didn’t hesitate for even one second.
She crossed into his living room and saw evidence of his despair. A small pile of dishes on the coffee table; empty bottles; a Pop-Tart box on its side, crumbs and wrappers leaking out; hoodies slung over the back of the couch. The tall windows on the opposite side of the room that normally let in a dazzling view of West Hollywood were at half-mast with their blinds pulled.
“Sorry,” Chuck said, and hurried to clean up. “I didn’t expect anyone to stop by.” He scooped up the dishes and bottles and wedged the Pop-Tart box under his elbow and hauled it allto the kitchen. He gathered up the hoodies and threw them down the hall toward his bedroom. “What’s up?” His embarrassment bled through his attempt to sound casual. He put his hands on his hips and gave her a cautious smile.
Olivia squeezed the flat envelope to her chest one last time, holding it close, before she extended it to him. “I have something for you—it’s not achallenge, don’t worry.” She gently smiled.
He took it with a curious tilt of his head. “What is it?” He undid the tab at the top and slid out the small stack of pages.
“It’s a profile on you. I finally wrote it.” She watched his eyes scan over the title and first few lines. Her heart quickened as his face flushed. He looked truly shocked.