Of all the feelings I had while standing in the elevator, the sensation of sweat collecting on my palms was the worst one. 

Shuffling on my feet, I stared at the grey carpet and listened to the electronic voice counting down floors. Then I wiped my clammy palms on my thighs, for the millionth time, and took a deep breath. It only caused goosebumps of anticipation to rise on my skin, as if the hair on my arms knew what was coming for me and was trying to fly off my body.

A warm hand slid into mine, "You okay?" 

"Yeah," I force myself to breathe out. Looking at Robin causes the corner of my lips to curl up, and I shrug one shoulder half-heartedly. "Just anxious." 

Robin nods understandingly and squeezes my hand, "Me too."

After Desi called, Robin and I left immediately for the house to pack our things. It was hard to explain why we had to leave early, but the minute I enlightened them of our situation the whole room was filled with thick turbulence. 

"So, she's trying to get... pay back?" Mom summarized, looking between the two of us angrily. "Maizy wants to get back at Leah for hiring Robin without her permission, and ruin Robin for...what? Being in the wrong place at the wrong time?" 

Robin cleared his throat, "Well, it's a little more complicated than that." 

"Bullshit," Nora pronounced, and started to rage clean the girls toys from the living room floor. "She's out to hang you for being people she can't control, and she hired your co-star to make more money off the drama. Leah had the final say on the co-star and Maizy went over her head." 

Interjecting I raised my hands, "We don't know anything for sure. This might all be a big misunderstanding. That's why we have to go back today." 

Everyone felt angry and protective, something I expected from my family. But the worst part was how sad they looked as we wheeled our suitcases downstairs. With hung heads and solemn eyes, there was a sense about the room that that made me feel afraid. It was like having a dream end before you're ready to wake. I knew this dream was the kind I might never have again.

I think my mom sensed that way too. The way she looked at me and Robin had my stomach bottoming out. 

Hovering in the doorway, we turned to say our goodbyes, but no one moved to give us a hug. That was until mom stepped forward and wrapped Robin up in her arms. It wasn't the kind of hug that said, "see you later" or "we're happy you came." My mom hugged Robin goodbye.

As she told him how happy she was to have met him, and for staying with us, Robin's eyes slowly trailed to me. A sickening, hollowing, look was in his expression, and I watched him swallow hard against my mom's shoulder. After that we all hugged and gave our partings before Robin, and I walked back to the car in silence. 

It was a long walk... and an even longer drive back home.

Another floor dings and Robin shakes his head with furrowed brows. I sneak a peek up at him and our gazes locked. He smiles, just a little to reassure me, and my world spins a little slower. That movement alone helped my head quiet down.

Just like that, amidst all the worries and fears, I feel... so happy. I have no idea what else there is to say or do, other than mentally sit with the content disbelief that I am happy. That he makes me happy. 

"I'm glad you're here," I murmured, tightening my fingers around his as if he were slipping away. 

Looking at our intertwined hands I remember that Desi, Henry, and Drew don't know about the newest development between us either. They think that the worst part of the situation is that Maizy has gone off the deep end in a vindictive spiral. Little do they know... Robin and I have been in the water waiting for her with floaties and a celebratory daiquiri. We created an additional scandal without them knowing. 

"Robin, what do we do? About us, I mean. A relationship almost ended your career last time, and that one wasn't even real." The realization hits, and I feel the warmth drain from my cheeks and a swirling start in my stomach, "What if this is what Maziy wants? What if she knows we're together somehow and she did this to call us out?" 

Robin shakes his head, "Maizy doesn't know. Even if she did, it doesn't change anything between us."

I frown doubtfully, knowing full well our relationship being aired out before a promotional release would be a PR nightmare. Not to mention, we just got started. There's every chance that things between us would be forced to end before they began. Robin ignores my reaction and persists in his rationalizing. 

"If you want to keep it a secret until after things are settled, then we don't tell anyone. If you want help, we walk in that room and spill our guts. Either way, Drew, Desi, and Henry know what they're doing. Everything will be okay." 

Secrets. My stomach sinks, and I swallow hard. Dishonesty. Again...

"I don't want to lie to anyone," I shake my head. "We tell Desi, Drew, and Henry right out."

Robin nods, looking relieved. His eyebrows pull down in thought, and I scan his face greedily. Every line, every detail, every curve. I drink it in, not bothering to resist the sense of longing it produces in me. 

He's not going anywhere. You don't have to miss him. 

But I did. I missed him. I missed waking up in the same house, bantering over dinner, sitting together on my parents couch watching movies, and sneaking late night coffee back up to my room. We wouldn't be able to do any of that now that we were back. Especially if we told Henry and Drew. They would make sure we were as far apart as possible until the book and movie were out.

"The world was perfect a few hours ago." I whisper incredulously, trying to wrap my head around the events of the last few days, "Now..." 

The promise I made him to protect his career resurfaces in my consciousness like a burn. The turning in my stomach intensifies. Except, it feels less like churning and a lot like guilt.

We knew this might happen. It's okay. We'll be careful. It's fine. I try to remind myself, but it doesn't get all the way through. Meanwhile, Robin strokes his thumb across mine and I look at him. His eyes stare profoundly into mine, as if he's reading my every thought. 

He clearly has telepathy, because after a few moments of examining me, he says, "Leah... We didn't do anything wrong. You haven't done anything wrong. You know that, right?" 

With those astounding hazel eyes peering into the depths of my soul, I let those words echo in my head like a spell casting away all my doubts. We didn't do anything wrong. 

Then why do I feel like this? 

Robin steps closer to search my expression more thoroughly, "You're still freaking out, aren't you?" 

My face crunches up out of reflex and I nod. 

"Okay," He clears his throat and lifts his other hand up, "Hold this. Then take a deep breath." 

Complying, my hand takes his other one and I hold both in the air between us. Staring into his eyes, I take a deep breath in. Exhaling is all I have time to do before Robin pulls our hands into his chest, steps forward, and kisses me. My stomach erupts into a million flutters, and I forget everything I'm thinking in an instant. He shuffles closer, releasing one of my hands to caress my cheek as he moves his lips against mine with a tender passion.

It's so perfect, so right...I feel myself fall for him all over again. Helplessly. Hopelessly. 

The elevator dings one last time, warning us that we're on our floor. Robin stops, steps back, and breathes out. He holds our hands against his heart and cracks into an upside-down smile. 

Before the doors open, he whispers, "Better?" 

My heart skips as I stare at him. Of course it was. 

He reads my dazed expression, and I see Robin spinning in his thoughts. There's a moment where I believe he'll smash all the buttons on the wall and keep us here forever... Then I realized that's what I wanted to do. He was just trying to make me feel better. 

The doors open and we're immediately met at the threshold by Henry. I quickly drop Robin's hand and go to straighten up but stop the moment I take in Henry's appearance. His face was wan and serious, he was in jeans and a tee-shirt, and... now don't be too alarmed... but...

Henry's hair was not combed. 

It was undoubtably air dried, loose, and completely opposite of his normal clean-cut look. Upon deeper inspection, you could see a trace of stubble growing on his jaw and chin. But even this was not what had Robin and I gawking at him. 

It was the giant stack of tabloids he was carrying in his arms that did that. 

Henry shakes his head gravely, "It's got worse." 

Those three words are all it took for Robin and me to follow Henry back down to Desi's office. Each of us was holding a few tabloids, flicking through them frantically. Headlines raced across my vision. 

Robin Moore Making Comeback as Romance Star for Debut Novel.

Previous Co-Stars Delynn Crawley and Robin Moore in Secret Relationship?

Crawley Speaks Out About Scandal: Robin Moore Vindicated!

Horror Stars Reunited: Delynn Crawley Spills Secrets on Page 4!

Reprobate Robin Moore Turned Silver Screen Romeo. 

Desi was waiting in her office with Drew, pacing back and forth. The stem of her glasses was in her mouth, and she was chewing on them violently when we stepped in. Once she saw me, her eyes went wide, and she rushed to the doorway. I was swept up into her arms and hugged tightly. It was so sudden, and so out of character, that Henry and I both gaped at each other. 

"Are you okay?" She pulled back, scanning me. "Do you need something? Where's your head? What's your anxiety level? Don't panic, okay? I am going to find that bitch and give her the scariest encounter of her life--" 

"Desi," I pulled her back in for a hug, "I'm fine." 

She sighs against my shoulder, and I feel her relax. Then she tenses up twice as much. Her body is so still it feels as if I'm hugging a statue. Desi drops her arms from me and steps back. The room is deadly silent until someone's throat is cleared. 

"Am I interrupting something?" 

Turning I found Maizy standing behind us, arms folded arrogantly across her chest. The entire floor is standing up, watching us. Behind Maizy is Delynn Crawley. 

Maizy smiles at having all our attention, "Leah, you remember Delynn, right?" 

----

Hi lovelies! 

Another chapter here for you! I was thinking of making this one longer, but I think i'll save what happens next for a separate event heheh. 

I hope you are all doing well! <3 

Talk soon, 

e.g.