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“I think youcan.”
“Good, because she’s right. I am a douchebag.” He turned to look directly into the camera. “But I love you, Maddie Bauers—”
Maddie sucked in her breath.
“—and, I should have told you earlier, and I didn’t. So if this is what it takes to get you back, then fine. I’ll say it as many times as you need me to.” His voice softened. “Because I choose you, Maddie.”
Maddie felt faint. “Oh, myGod.”
The actress winked at Micah. “Who could still think you were a douchebag after you’ve just declared your love on national television? You know you’ve broken the hearts of a million women across the world.”
Micah shrugged, not seeming to be bothered in the least about breaking the hearts of women across the world. And why would he be? He was in love—in love with Maddie. Her throat tightened.
The camera turned its focus to Natalia. “Are you ready to break four more hearts? Because we have five nominees for best actress and only one of them can be the winner.”
Bree turned down the volume again. Or else Maddie’s head zoned it out, because she never heard the names of the nominees. “Maddie, you have to go there.”
But Maddie couldn’t move. Micah Preston loved her. He loved her. “Oh. My. God.”
Alarm entered Bree’s voice. “Are you okay that he just outed you on national television?”
“I totally am!” He chooses me! “Oh myGod.”
“Maddie!” Bree shook her arm excitedly. “Do you still lovehim?”
“Yes!” Yes, she did. More than anything. Maybe she always had, since they first met seven years ago in the backyard of that party. She had wished and longed that he would love her back, but in her wildest dreams she never could have imagined he loved her enough to tell the world on live television. Oh, Micah!
She stood up. “I have to seehim.”
Bree nodded vigorously. “Yes. Go.”
Panic set in as Maddie looked down at her chocolate-stained white Jersey. “I’m not dressed—”
“You can borrow something fromme.”
Maddie chortled. Bree’s waist was thinner than her thigh. “Yeah, right.”
Bree looked Maddie over. “Just go like you are.” She paused, dabbing at the chocolate stain between Maddie’s boobs. Giving up, she said, “You’re fine. He won’tcare.”
“But I’m…” Maddie didn’t have time to change. She needed to get to Micah. “Okay, okay. Whatever.” In a daze, she looked around for her purse and spotted it on the kitchen table. She picked it up and slung it over her shoulder, then turned back. “How will I getin?”
Bree bit her knuckle. “Um, who’s there that weknow?”
A name surfaced through the haze of Maddie’s mind. “Fudge. Fudge’s there. Micah’s, um, sorta-bodyguard. I’ll call him.” She opened her purse and rummaged for her phone.
“Call him on the way.” Bree pushed Maddie toward the door. “It’s going to take you forever to find parking.”
Maddie nodded. Parking could be a bitch. Good thing Bree’s Echo Park apartment was close to the Nokia Theater. It would only be a ten-minute drive.
Taking one more deep breath, Maddie crossed to the door. She trembled as her sweaty palms turned theknob.
“Oh, and Maddie?” Bree gave her two thumbs up. “Yay!”
“Yay” didn’t begin to describe how Maddie felt inside, but it would have to do since there were no words for the grand, earth shattering emotions that consumed her as she walked to her car. Her horrible sadness had been, in a matter of seconds, completely diffused in the same way shadows disappeared at the switch of a light. She loved Micah, a fact she had thought would remained buried inside her for the rest of her life. But now she was on her way to see him, to tell him how much she adored him and wanted him and yearned forhim.
Tears rushed her eyes. Micah Preston lovedher!
