Page 75 of Stolen

“Well, don’t count out their gifts. Hundreds of people showing up means hundreds of air fryers,” Jacob joked.

“Ah, yes. Hundreds of air fryers. Exactly what I need,” I joked right back. “Seriously, though. I just want something beautiful and meaningful. Oh, and not too cookie-cutter, because if someone else has the exact same wedding as me, then, what’s the point?”

“I get that.” Jacob nodded along with his words.

“What about you, Jacob? Have you ever thought about what kind of wedding you’d want?”

“Not really, no,” he admitted. “I just figured whenever it was time for me to get married, I’d let whoever I was getting married to handle all that stuff. I’m pretty much just going along for the ride.”

“Oh my God. You’re the perfect groom.” My eyes went wide. “The kind of guy who’ll just say yes to whatever to make his partner happy? God, whoever you end up married to is going to be so fucking lucky.”

Jacob didn’t say anything after that, only offering me a small smile. I returned the expression as I pressed my head deeper against his chest, closing my eyes as sleep suddenly overwhelmed me.

As I suddenly felt like maybe I was the luckiest person in the world.

18

JACOB

Ilove you.

I love you, Leo.

The thoughts came to me as Leo woke up in my arms the next morning, his head still cradled against my chest. He looked beautiful as dawn spilled through the window, casting the perfect shadows across his features. I’d been lightly tracing those same features with my fingers as he slept, taking in every bit of them, loving the way his skin felt under my touch.

He was mine.

At least for now. Even though he’d agreed to come with me to Parker’s wedding, there was still a ticking clock between us. For all we knew, we’d fizzle out before we even got the chance to attend the wedding in a few months, Leo having long forgotten my name and my face. Even though it felt impossible to me that we’d ever be able to forget each other, I also knew that Leo was a jet-setter, the kind of guy who met new people pretty much every day.

And maybe soon, I’d be just another one of those people in his rearview mirror.

“What time is it?” Leo murmured, as he looked up at me.

“It’s just seven,” I replied. “Don’t worry. You didn’t sleep in or anything.”

“Damn. Maybe one day.” Leo playfully snapped his fingers as he spoke. “Still, I should probably get ready for that interview with Tommy.”

“I didn’t even know Tommy did interviews.”

“Only for high-profile celebrities.” Leo let out a nervous laugh. “He’s one of the guys that people likeVoguecall when they want to do a quirky spot for some up-and-coming starlet.”

“Leo?”

“Yeah?”

“You do realize that you’re an up-and-coming star, too, right?” I pressed. “In the PR world?”

Leo shook his head. “It’s not the same thing, Jacob. There are some people who are just born to be in front of the camera, and then, there are people like me, who are born tomanagethe people born to be in front of the camera.”

“There’s no way you really believe that.” I scoffed. “Baby, you’re going to shine on camera, the same way you shine when you’re just talking to people.”

“But I’m not really good when there’s a camera in my face?—”

“Then, how about you practice with me? Beforehand?” I interrupted him, as I shifted out of bed. I grabbed for my phone, holding it sideways, pretending like I was filming Leo.

“Leo Sullivan, PR extraordinaire, can you tell me a little about yourself?” I started, moving the phone even closer to his face.

“Uh, what do you want to know?” Leo’s cheeks were already turning red.