by Judy Corry
There was a knock on the door. Drew bolted away from her, nearly tripping over one of the chairs. Kate slid off the dresser and smoothed her hair as she watched Drew answer the door.
"It's time to go now," she heard Alexis's voice on the other side of the door. "Go ahead and get in the car with Oliver. I need to talk to Kate for just a moment."
Kate's stomach twisted with dread.
Did Alexis know?
Who cares if she knows, Kate thought defiantly. When Drew turned back to put on his suit coat, Kate rose to help him. She needed to tell him not to do it.
But Drew had his jacket on in a matter of seconds and was just about to walk out the door before he turned back and swept Kate into his arms.
"Everything will work out," he whispered in her ear. And then as he pulled away, his fingers trailed down her arms until they reached one of her hands, which he squeezed three times.
Then he disappeared out the door.
Kate's mind reeled. Had Drew just squeezed her hand three times on purpose? The three squeezes that meant I love you?
He knew about the gesture. He'd been there when she had told the story to Decklan and Tayden. Had he just told her that he loved her?
And now he was going off to propose to Gwen?
Desperation bubbled up in her throat, almost choking her. If she told him that she loved him, would it stop him from going through with the proposal?
Was she losing him because she'd been too scared to trust him?
Kate wanted to run after Drew, to tell him that she loved him too, but Alexis was blocking the door.
"Is everything okay?" Alexis asked, seeming to take in Kate's distress.
"I just," Kate started, covering her heart with her hand to keep it from exploding. "I need to talk to Drew again. There's something I have to tell him."
"You can tell him later." Alexis waved her away as if her request was trivial.
If I wait, he'll give away my proposal. "I just need one minute."
She pushed past Alexis and ran out the door, just in time to see Drew shut the door of a black SUV and drive away. Leaving her to watch the taillights.
She was too late.
Her shoulders sagged as she trudged back to the hotel room where Alexis was waiting for her.
"What's wrong, Kate?" Alexis asked.
Kate wiped at the tear that had trickled down her cheek. "I needed to tell Drew something."
"That you're in love with him?" Alexis crossed her arms.
Kate nodded, unable to speak from the sadness drowning her.
Alexis stepped forward, setting her hands on Kate's shoulders. "It's just a fake proposal. It's not the end of the world, sweetie."
Kate's breath hitched in her throat as more tears threatened to spill. "But I love him."
Alexis gave her an understanding smile. "I know."
"You do?"
"I'm not blind. Watching people fall in love is kind of my job." Alexis shrugged.
"Then why are you telling him to do this?"
She let her hands drop and took a seat at the chair Drew had occupied earlier. "Ratings. It's all about the ratings. Though, to be honest, I would much prefer to have a real proposal instead of a fake one. But such is life. Anyway, that's not what I wanted to talk to you about. I'm in here because I wanted to talk to you about your screenplay."
Kate's heart stopped. "My screenplay?"
"Yes. I finished it. Sorry things were a little crazy these past few weeks."
Kate's heart paused as she braced herself for the blow. Usually it wasn't a good sign if it took more than a couple of weeks for someone to read your screenplay from start to finish.
"I loved it!" Alexis said.
Kate did a double take of Alexis's smiling expression, not believing her ears had heard her right.
"You l-loved it?"
Alexis beamed. "It's exactly what I've been looking for. I've already read through it three times. I just wanted to be sure of something before I talked to you."
Sure of what? That Kate would let Drew follow through with the fake proposal?
But when Alexis spoke, she realized that wasn't it at all. "I showed it to my colleague, Dana Prince, and she is really interested in it, too. We'd love to talk about it over lunch sometime soon. My schedule should free up once the season ends next month, and then I'd like to see what we can make happen for your screenplay."
Kate's hands and fingers went numb about halfway through Alexis's speech. Was this really happening? She sat on the bed before her knees gave out. She knew her face had gone pale.
Alexis smiled knowingly at her. "It really was great. You have a lot of talent."
Kate nodded, trying to loosen her tongue. But all she could think about was the fact that The Dana Prince wanted to be part of this. Dana Prince was like royalty when it came to directors.
She swallowed. “Yes, lunch would be great.”
Alexis grinned, and somehow, Kate knew this wasn't the first time Alexis had surprised someone with this kind of news. "I'll talk to Dana when we get back to Burbank and we'll set something up."
Kate nodded dumbly, still in shock. Someone wanted her screenplay. Not just someone. Alexis Olley and Dana Prince wanted her screenplay!
"Anyway," Alexis said, adjusting her purse on her arm. "We have a proposal to watch. Let's go. It's almost sunset."
37
Drew
During the entire drive to the proposal site, Drew tried to figure out how he was going to get through the next hour. He barely saw the beautiful, lush surroundings as the SUV drove past. Oliver and Joe were joking around in the car, but Drew couldn't relax. His mind was moving a million miles a minute, but instead of coming up with the perfect words for Gwen, all he could think of was Kate, their kiss, and how this might affect their relationship. Would he even be able to propose to Gwen with Kate watching?
But once everyone had shown up at the set, it didn't seem like he needed to worry about Kate watching it after all. She was nowhere to be seen. Had she stayed back at the hotel?
Drew made his way over to Alexis to find out.
"Where's Kate?" he said, playing with his cuff links, attempting to look a lot calmer and more collected than he felt.
"She decided to wait in the car for this one. I figured that, under the circumstances, I could let it slide this time." She gave him a look that told him she knew exactly what was going on between them. He had practically just told Kate that he loved her and wanted to marry her. All that was left between them were the actual words coming out of his mouth.
"We better get this thing rolling then." Drew straightened and walked back to his spot on a wooden platform that the set crew had rebuilt that week.
Just get down on your knee and ask Gwen to marry you. Just get down on one knee and ask Gwen to marry you. Drew chanted in his head, as if it would make the road ahead of him easier. He could see it all then. The magazines, the photo shoots, the interviews. All the things he and Gwen would have to go to once the show finished airing. There was no way he was going to be able to make it through everything. He wasn't that good of an actor. He wasn't that good of a liar. And he really, really didn't want to pretend anymore. This wasn't him. He wasn't the kind of guy who was okay with lying to the world. If he was, he would have gotten engaged months ago.
Gwen turned the corner and started toward him. The cameras followed her quietly as she walked down the wooden plank walkway, her heels clacking with every step. She looked just like she had months before. Beautiful. Her smile was brilliant. She even winked at him like she had the first time. Like they shared a secret. Everything was so surreal. It was like déjà vu. He had gone back in time to the exact moment when he'd let everyone down. The moment when he couldn't propose to Gwen because he wasn't in love with her. It was ironic that he was back there again, liking her even less but planning to propose anyway.
Gwen came to stand in front of him again, just like she had before. He smiled, reached for her hands, and cleared his throat to prepar
e for the words he needed to say.
38
Kate
Kate stared ahead at the seat in front of her, trying to figure out how much longer they would be. If Drew was able to scrounge up some last-minute acting skills, it shouldn't be too much longer. But since this was Drew, it could take another hour or two. Hopefully they wouldn't lose the sunlight before it was over. They were scheduled to be there for another two days, just in case they needed to reshoot tomorrow, but she really hoped Drew would just get it over with. Rip off the bandage. And rip out her heart.
The van door slid open, startling Kate from her thoughts. It was Oliver, looking very outdoorsy in his t-shirt and shorts. He ducked his head inside. "Drew says he needs you."
"What do you mean he needs me?" Heat prickled at Kate's face.
Oliver shrugged. "He's having a hard time getting the words out. He says he always does better when you're there. He said something about you two running lines before."
"Yeah, but…" The last thing Kate wanted to do was help Drew run these lines. He could get these out on his own. It was his deal after all. She wanted nothing more to do with it.
When Kate didn't move, Oliver cocked an eyebrow. "Alexis said something about your job requiring it…"
Kate squeezed her eyes shut. Was her job really worth it?
Maybe her job wasn't. But her screenplay was.
She sighed and slowly climbed out of the vehicle.
Oliver filled her in on the plan as they hurried to the set. "The plan is for you to stand on the platform with Drew. You'll stand in for Gwen and we'll just cut in a bunch of the old footage to make it look like he's really talking to Gwen. All we really need is to show his face as he says the words, get a shot of him down on one knee, and then we can get Gwen back in the shot for the hug and the kiss and the ring exchange."
Kate tried to numb herself from all feelings. This was just a job she was paid to do. Her feelings meant nothing in this situation. Drew was faking it just as much as she was. She could do this. She could trust him to stay true to his word to her, even if it was hard. She loved him. She would stick with him through this.
But when she saw Drew standing in the setting sun with the ocean glistening in the background, her heart went to her throat. Seeing him like that…it was torture. She almost turned back and fled—ran away from everyone so she wouldn't have to be a part of this. But Drew jogged up to her with a smile on his face.
"Thanks for coming." He was out of breath when he met her. "I couldn't get the words out on my own."
He took her hand and led her down the wooden planks past Gwen, who had a sour expression on her face, to the stage she'd help the set designers put together the day before. He squeezed her hand as they walked. Just one squeeze this time, though. Maybe she'd imagined the three squeezes the first time.
Then they stood facing each other. Him in his nice suit. Her in her t-shirt and jeans. That alone told her how different their lives were. How their paths were going in different directions. Drew was the billionaire star of a reality TV show. And Kate was a divorced nobody he had a past with.
Drew took both of Kate's hands in his and smiled. His eyes looked brilliant in the setting sun, the turquoise flecks bright and breathtaking. He licked his lips and began talking.
"From the first time we met, I knew you were something special." He smiled at her, like he had a secret. "You were wild and spunky, and always the center of attention." He paused and swallowed like his throat was dry. "As we got older, none of that changed. You were still the same crazy girl I grew up with, but you were also brilliant and beautiful. I thought I had to keep my feelings a secret because of our situation, but as more time passed, I only wanted to be with you more."
What was going on? They weren't going to be able to use any of this for the show. It was all about him and her. No one would believe Drew and Gwen had grown up together.
"What are—" Kate tried to interrupt him and tell him he was doing it wrong, but he just kept talking.
"I lost you once and regretted it every single day. I can't go back in time and get those years back. But I can make things right today. Which is why we're here."
Kate furrowed her brow. Was he talking about him and Gwen breaking up a couple of weeks ago? But no one besides the crew even knew about that. And where was he getting the years from? They'd only met a few months ago.
"There are so many things I love about you. I love the way your nose scrunches up when you laugh. I love the way you laugh at my jokes, even when they aren't funny. I love the way you tease me and make me stronger than I'd be on my own. I love your beautiful blue eyes and the way they make me lose my train of thought."
His eyes actually smiled at her when he said that. He was doing such a great job, it broke her heart that all these wonderful words would be edited to look like they were said to Gwen. She wanted them to be about her. She wanted these words to be hers to keep forever.
"When I think about my future, I can't picture everything that it will be, but one thing is always a constant in my vision. You. You are always there. Always in my life. Always with me." He sighed and let go of one of her hands. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a black velvet box before lowering himself down on one knee. Inside was the most gorgeous diamond ring Kate had ever seen. The show had never bought such an exquisite ring before.
Drew's hand trembled as he held the box before her.
"Kate Avery Dawson, will you make me the happiest man in the world and marry me?"
Kate's insides twisted up in a million knots. He accidentally used her name. Freudian slip, or was it just because he was looking at her instead of Gwen?
He waited, not seeming to realize he'd just messed up. She looked around at the producers and various crew members standing around them, waiting for one of them to correct him. But they all had big smiles on their faces like they were completely enchanted by Drew's fake proposal.
Maybe they hadn't noticed him misspeak? But she had.
She bent over so her lips were next to his ear. "You accidentally said my name instead of Gwen's," she whispered.
He shook his head and whispered back, "It wasn't an accident. Will you marry me, Kate?"
She went still.
Tears sprang to her eyes, and she felt faint as blood rushed through her head. She started trembling as she looked at Drew and saw the sincerity in his eyes. He really meant it.
"You're asking me to marry you?" she whispered.
He nodded, and his grin spread wider. "Nothing would make me happier."
She blinked back the tears threatening to slip out. "Of course I'll marry you, Drew," she said when she finally found her voice.
His whole face lit up, his smile bigger than she'd ever seen it. Then he swooped her up into his arms and kissed her.
"I love you so much, Kate," Drew spoke against her ear as they embraced again, Kate clinging so tight to him because she was sure she'd melt right into the ground if she didn't.
"I love you too, Drew," she whispered back, her voice hoarse and choked up with emotions. "You have no idea how much." She laughed as he picked her up, spinning her around several times before setting her down.
"Now let's make this official." Drew pulled the ring out of the box and slipped it on her finger. It fit perfectly.
"Is this something we're gonna have to give back to the show?" Kate asked as she admired the sparkly diamond on her ring finger.
"No, we had the jeweler rush over here once I realized I had to propose to you."
"What changed your mind anyway? When you left the hotel, I thought for sure you were going through with everything."
He shook his head. While I was waiting here, I realized something: Aiden may not have wanted us to be together back when you were in high school, but that was because he knew how perfect we were for each other. I think he was worried that if I snatched you up before you even got to college, you'd give up on your dreams and put them on the back burner to support me. He wanted yo
u to take the time to find out who you wanted to be, and then find the man who you could be happy living with forever."
"It was always you, Drew."
He nodded. "I know that now. And I think that even though we can't hear him, Aiden is cheering us on from above. I think I've finally found a way to move past my guilt. And that is by being there for you, even when Aiden can't be."
"But being there for me like a husband, and not a brother, right?" She arched an eyebrow, so he'd know she was teasing.
"Oh, definitely like a husband." He wiggled his eyebrows, and she blushed, realizing they were still surrounded by lots of onlookers and cameras.
She stepped closer and lowered her voice. "So, is Alexis going to sue you for ruining her show?"
Drew shook his head. "No, she understands. And Gwen and Dion have even promised to leave us quietly alone, too."
"But what about your fans? They're going to hate me."
"No one could hate you, Kate. They're going to love you, almost as much as I do." He got a nervous look on his face, the first one he'd worn since she'd come out of the van.
"What is it?" she asked.
He took her hands in his. "Alexis does have one request."
Kate looked behind her to where Alexis was standing. Instead of scowling at her like she'd feared, Alexis had a huge grin on her face.
Kate turned back to Drew. "And what's her request?"
Drew swallowed. "Since we have about five weeks before the season finale airs, Alexis was wondering if we'd mind filming our love story for the world to hear. And then, you can say no if you want to, but she was also hoping to film our wedding live."
"But I thought you wanted to be done with this whole being in the spotlight thing."
He grinned, like he was glad she'd said that. "I just told Alexis that I'd put that out there."
"You know you want us to do your wedding, right Kate?" Alexis called from behind her.
Kate shook her head and laughed. "I'll be happy to talk about how we fell in love. But no, our wedding will be just for us and those we love most."