𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐑𝐄𝐅𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 (EDITING)

𝟒𝟎

florence

The tennis court was filled with laughter as Scarlett's attempt at a throw became the subject of our amusement. I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight, earning a protest from Scarlett.

"Hey, it's not funny!" she declared, though I continued to wear a mischievous grin. Lizzie joined in the laughter, finding amusement in the lighthearted moment. "But you're doing better than me," Lizzie confessed, and Hailee chimed in, "I think we're all terrible at it."

"I mean, you're amazing. Sports is not my forte; I'm terrible," I admitted with a self-deprecating laugh. Hailee smiled at me, offering words of encouragement. "You're not that bad," she declared. "Yeah, you're not that bad. We are terrible," Lizzie pointed between herself and Scarlett, emphasizing the collective lack of tennis prowess.

I leaned my head on Hailee's shoulder, savoring the warmth of the moment as her arm wrapped around my torso. Hailee spoke up, her words bringing a mix of excitement and nostalgia. "Can you believe tomorrow marks our three-year anniversary?"

"Three years?" Lizzie screeched, her surprise evident. "How long have you been hiding from us?" she asked with a teasing grin. "Three years?" Scarlett echoed, disbelief coloring her tone. "How?" she questioned, genuinely curious.

I couldn't help but laugh at their reactions. "You guys do know I met Hailee when we were both teenagers," I explained. "Well, I knew that, but what?" Lizzie inquired. "Oh, right. We met again at some event, became friends, and eventually it leaned into us dating. We've kept it a secret until... four weeks ago," Hailee disclosed.

"But obviously, the internet does know," I added, acknowledging that our relationship had recently picked up the public knowledge. "Yep, three years," I confirmed with a nod, a genuine smile gracing my lips. Scarlett's eyes widened, and she exchanged glances with the others.

"Three years of secrets?" Lizzie raised an eyebrow, a mix of amusement and curiosity in her expression. Hailee chuckled, "Well, we weren't hiding it from you guys intentionally. It was just a private thing."

"It's amazing how you kept it under wraps for so long," Scarlett remarked, still processing the revelation. "Yeah, it's been quite the journey," Hailee agreed, squeezing my waist affectionately. As the conversation continued, I felt a mixture of emotions—relief, excitement, and a touch of vulnerability.

Most people often had their suspicions, but Hailee and I had been shrugging them off. The fear of potential backlash and negativity held us back from making our relationship public. With Black Widow recently released, I was especially wary of attracting the wrong kind of attention. Despite the apprehension, a part of me yearned to share our love with the world, to be my true self without the need for secrecy.

The internal conflict between the desire for authenticity and the fear of judgment weighed heavily on my mind. The entertainment industry could be both supportive and unforgiving, and navigating those waters required careful consideration. Yet, the urge to embrace our truth and live openly became increasingly difficult to ignore.

"I love you," I whispered to Hailee. She smiled at me, her eyes sparkling with affection. "That's impossible; I love you more," she declared playfully.

"Stop it! You're making me feel single!" Evan exclaimed, adding a touch of humor to the moment as he stomped his foot on the ground and leaned back in his seat. Laughter filled the air, and I joined in. "Hey, you'll find someone, don't worry," Hailee reassured Evan, Scarlett nodding in agreement.