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Johnny

It was hard to believe the film project with Olivia had ended, a whirlwind of laughter, late-night shoots, and shared dreams that had woven us together in a burst of creativity and deep connection.

As I traced back the moments we had shared on set, from the spontaneous improvisations to the quiet conversations during breaks, I couldn't shake the hope that, like the iconic duo Bacall and Bogart, we would find ourselves co-starring in other movies together, our chemistry lighting up the screen just as it had off of it.

I made it back to my penthouse later that evening, my heart fluttering at the thought of seeing her again, and as the elevator doors opened with a soft ding, she stood, resting against the wall, her figure illuminated by the soft glow of the hall light. Olivia looked up from her phone, a radiant smile spreading across her face when our eyes met. "Hey you," she said softly, that familiar warmth in her voice sending a rush of feelings through me.

"Hey yourself," I replied, walking over to her with a grin that felt uncontainable; it was overwhelming to be in her presence again

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"Hey yourself," I replied, walking over to her with a grin that felt uncontainable; it was overwhelming to be in her presence again.

"I should have called you before I came by," she admitted, a hint of bashfulness coloring her cheeks as I fumbled with the keys.

"No, I'm happy to see you," I reassured her, pushing the front door open and letting us step into the cozy familiarity of my space.

"Why? Did you miss me?" she teased, a playful glint in her eyes as I closed the door behind us.

"Oh, so much!" I exclaimed, my voice tinted with sincerity and urgency, the affection I felt spilling between us. "Did you miss me?" I asked, my gaze locking onto hers, delving into the depths of messy emotions that often tangled our interactions.

"I think that's obvious," she chuckled softly; the room was filled with an unspoken understanding, a vow that this was not the end—merely a pause in our journey together, echoing the timeless relationships that had come before us.

The two of us sat outside together, the evening air a gentle caress as it slipped through our fingers, while Hilda busied herself inside, preparing what promised to be a tempting dinner. "I'm sad it's over," Olivia confessed, her voice a whisper against the backdrop of rustling leaves, a bittersweet admission that hung between us like an unwelcome shadow.

"Yeah," I agreed, gripping her hand in mine, a subtle affirmation that we shared this melancholy moment; "so am I."

A delicate pause followed before she looked at me with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "Do you think we can be the next Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson?" she asked, her voice teasingly light despite the weight of our conversation.

I tossed my head back, laughter bubbling out of me unexpectedly, "I never thought I'd agree to this," I paused to meet her gaze, "But I sure hope so!"

Her grin widened, illuminating the fading twilight around us, but a thoughtful expression crossed her face. "I appreciate you getting that dress for me. How did you convince Collin?" she inquired.

I shrugged nonchalantly, the memory stirring a playful smirk on my lips. "It didn't take much to convince him. Everyone knew you needed that dress," I said, my eyes finding hers and locking in a silent understanding.

For a moment, silence enveloped us, thick with emotions we seldom voiced. Her eyes softened, glistening like the stars that were beginning to emerge above us. "The letter... you wrote... it was the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me," she said softly, her words wrapping around me like a warm blanket, igniting a thousand feelings I had kept buried.

"I meant every word," I replied earnestly, the sincerity of my statement echoing in the stillness.

And then came the words that rocked my very foundation. "Johnny, I'm in love with you," she admitted, her voice trembling with vulnerability, a rush of confessions spilling out. The impact was immediate—hard and fast, like a wave crashing over me. "I can't help it. This isn't anything to do with the movie. This is real. I am in love with you," she continued, her eyes shimmering with the weight of truth and longing, tears threatening to spill over.

Each syllable struck a chord deep within me, stirring a whirlwind of emotions that left me both breathless and exhilarated as I grappled with the reality of her love washing over us like an unfiltered truth on an otherwise perfect evening.

"I know," I finally breathed out, "and I'm in love with you too, Olivia," I confessed at last, feeling a weight lift off my chest as the truth hung between us.

The tears that had been building in her eyes finally spilled over, and she quickly wiped them away as if trying to chase away the vulnerability that threatened to engulf us both. "Come here, my love," I said, standing up from my chair and pulling her close, feeling the warmth radiate from her body as it pressed against mine. Her arms wrapped around me tightly, as if I was her anchor in a stormy sea, while my hands gently cupped her tear-streaked face, my thumbs brushing away the evidence of her heartbreak. "Why are you crying?" I asked, my voice soft yet tinged with concern as I searched her eyes for answers.

"Because I've never loved anyone like I love you, and I don't know how this is going to end," she replied, her words laced with love and fear.

I frowned, instinctively drawing her closer as I watched her silently sob, my thumbs continuing their tender ministrations over her cheeks. "We're going to figure it out. Okay? Now that this movie is over, we can figure it out," I promised her, hoping to instill some reassurance in her trembling heart.

But then she tugged on my shirt, her gaze pleading and filled with uncertainty. "But Johnny," she said, her voice cracking slightly, "I am not strong enough if this doesn't work out. I don't know what I'll do," she confessed, her fears hanging heavily between us like an unspoken request.

The weight of her anguish washed over me, and I felt my resolve intensify; I wanted to reassure her that love was not just a fleeting feeling—it was a choice we made every day, a commitment to face whatever the future held without succumbing to anxiety. I knew that love required courage, and even in the face of uncertainty, I wanted to stand beside her, to weave our lives together thread by thread, no matter the outcome, just so long as we faced it hand in hand.

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