1. Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Sean

"Ava Norris has just broken up with her fiancé after seven years of dating! This is huge news, considering the fact that he just proposed to her last week, and they have been relationship goals for the longest time. And people, we have reasons to believe that this breakup was inspired by– " The presenter adjusts her glasses, deliberately heightening the tension. She coughs and then dramatically clears her throat, "None other than the most eligible bachelor in the industry, Sean O'Connell." She winks at the camera. "This is causing quite a stir, as fans of both actors have clashed in their bid to defend their stars. However, the insane chemistry between Sean and Ava cannot be overlooked. Her poor ex-fiancé! But who would blame Ava? I would do the same. Sean is delectable, handsome, rich…"

The presenter's passionate musings stop as the TV blinks off. I turn away from the screen to see my manager, Warren, and the rest of the team staring at me. "Why did you turn it off?" I ask with a roll of my eyes. "I was enjoying that."

"What?" Warren's mouth falls open, his eyes narrowing into a glare. "Did you hear what she was saying?"

I fold my arms behind my head and lean back, letting a smile grace my face. "She said I am delectable, handsome, rich–"

"Sean!"

"What?" It's my turn to glare, but it doesn't last. Glaring is kind of Warren's thing, not mine. I've been told my glare makes people laugh, which is annoying, by the way.

"Sir–" Franca, the young college student who is my assistant and also manages my social media accounts, starts. "Uhm–I envy your ability to find humor in everything, but this is serious." The intensity in her eyes communicates just how serious it is. "Ava is also a big star, and although her fan base might not be as large as yours, it's large enough to cause a commotion. They've been attacking your reputation as a ladies' man."

"I thought being a ladies' man was a compliment," I tell her.

"That depends on the situation. This isn't the situation, sir."

The "sir" sounds like a petty jab, and I narrow my eyes at the Gen-Z social media manager to let her know I caught that. She immediately lowers her eyes. Coward!

The truth is, I know. I know what is going on and that it's more severe than my team is letting on. I also secretly have access to my accounts—don't tell Franca, she has accused me of micromanaging sometimes—and I see the comments and messages I get from Ava's fans. They're not pretty. At first, this entire debacle started as a joke. One random user posted that I was the cause of Ava and Will's breakup. Next thing, the internet was running with it.

Sometimes, I wonder who the "internet" is. Are they actual beings or just automated bots? I go with the latter because most of them have no brains of their own.

The biggest movie of the year is Web of Love, where I starred as the lead alongside Ava. It was a romantic show, and as always, I put in my best. Apparently, my best was "too much" because the entire world now believes my chemistry with Ava could not be contained on screen and must have bled into our personal lives. It was funny when a few hardcore fans posted slow motion edits of us at press events to prove our chemistry extended beyond the screen, but then it got out of hand. As an unfortunate coincidence, Ava breaks up with Will, her boyfriend of seven years, just weeks after the movie comes out. The breakup cemented their herd belief, and they agreed that I was the cause of it.

I've been called several names by random Ava fans in the past few weeks, the funniest one being "handsome turd." It sucks being called a turd, but at least I'm a handsome one. I blame Ava. With all the speculations and rumors surrounding our "chemistry," couldn't she wait a few more months to break up with Will? I'm just kidding. Ava has been the sweetest in this trying time.

"Why are you smiling?" Warren asks, leaning his forearms across the table.

"I was just thinking of Ava."

When their mouths collectively fall open, I realize my wrong word choice. "Not that way," I quickly correct. "I'm not helping matters, am I?"

"No." Marie, my publicist, shakes her head. She's been quiet since this meeting started, but now she looks like she has a lot to say. "Can I say something?"

I knew it. "Please, go ahead, Marie." I smile.

"I understand that you have absolutely nothing going on with Ava Norris; you're just super talented."

"Thank you." I clap and stare pointedly at Warren, who does think I might have something going on with Ava. If he wasn't my manager, I have a feeling he'd be leading the internet mob against me. Warren rolls his eyes, a hint of a smile in his eyes.

"But I also think–" Marie continues, "We should take this very seriously. It's not dying anytime soon because you're still making appearances. You should lay low for a while."

A frown mars my face, and I sit up. "I'm low-key, you know that. Or do you have any special idea in mind for laying low?"

Marie and Warren exchange glances and my blood runs cold. Individually, they're overbearing and "too much"; if they team up, they'd be insufferable. The shared gaze is disconcerting.

"I'm waiting…" I probe, holding their gazes.

"Okay." Warren takes up the conversation. "Your next major project doesn't start filming until July." He whips out his tablet and starts scrolling. "Before then, you have a series of appearances, interviews, and the like, nothing serious."

Nothing serious? My eyes narrow.

"Sean… " Warren looks up at me again. "I'll suggest you keep things low key and stay out of the public radar until your next project. The internet will move on to something else very soon."

I don't immediately say anything, but my gaze flits over the three staff across the table from me. Warren manages to hold my eye for a few seconds before lowering it, but Marie and Franca will not even look at me. "So this is your magical plan?" I ask. "For me to disappear until everything dies down?"

"We are so sorry, Sean." Marie shakes her head, "Trust me, we're doing all we can. This is just a precautionary measure."

"Precautionary measure," I echo.

I can't find it in me to be upset at this turn of events. Having been in this industry for as long as I have, I'm aware that some situations require nothing but silence and absence. There is little Warren and Marie can do to curb this. Situations like this must run their course until the little fingers behind the mob accounts decide to move on to other prey. I am not scared of these faceless trolls, but my brand and reputation are of the utmost importance to me, and I must protect them.

As I ponder this, a vibration in my pocket brings me back to the present. I take out my phone and stare at the device, an automatic smile crossing my face at the name flashing on the screen. It's Jamie—my best friend of over two decades. His call feels like a reprieve, and I hit the answer button like my life depends on it.

"Hellooo, Jamie," I sing.

Jamie pauses. "What? Why'd you call my name like that?"

A chuckle escapes my lips. "A man can't miss his best friend? Wow." This isn't a joke. I miss Jamie so much; it's like a physical ache. I haven't seen the idiot in five years.

"Shut up," Jamie laughs. "I don't have time for your shenanigans today. I'm calling for a different reason."

"What?"

"Remember our football team in high school? The Bears?"

"Yes?"

"I just got an invite to their annual game. They're playing against the Panthers. It's next week. If you were here, I'm sure you'd be the first one on the field." Jamie is laughing, but I'm not, which is weird because I'm usually the one laughing. But a thick shroud of melancholy and nostalgia has descended on me; it's hard to shake it off. The Bears were my football team when I was in high school, while the Panthers were our number one rival. The Bears-Panthers rivalry has existed for decades, and it'd be fun to watch the game play out.

"Also, Evelyn was contracted as the official supplier for the event," Jamie continues. "That's huge. Has she told you yet? She is—"

The mention of Evelyn is another knife stab to my heart. Evelyn O'Connell is my little sister, and although we talk on the phone as often as we can, I also haven't seen her since my last visit home. I haven't seen my family in five years!

As Jamie drones on in the background, an idea forms. Well, since my team thinks I should lay low for a few months, isn't this the perfect time to go to Willow Falls for a visit? As soon as the idea forms, it takes root. The more I think about it, the better it sounds—excitement courses through me, igniting my blood. I am going home!

"Jamie," I stop him in the middle of whatever he's saying. I wasn't listening.

"What?"

"Will you be able to come pick me up at the airport tomorrow?"

"Wait, what?"

"I'm coming home, Jamie." Warren, Marie, and Franca stare at me with their mouths agape while Jamie almost screams my head off.

"I'll be at the airport. Just send me the details. I'm so excited. This is amazing. Your family is going to flip! We've missed you so much, Sean!"

"Me too. And hey, don't tell anyone. Keep it between us. I'm dying to surprise them."

"You bet." Jamie laughs.

"I'll call you back in a few," I say looking back at the faces with wide eyes and gaping mouths. "I've got to deal with my team."

"Sure."

I hang up the phone and meet their eyes. "What?" I ask with my hands in the air. "You want me to lay low. I'd rather do that while visiting with my family and friends. I'll be back in June with more than enough time for my next movie."

"Well…uhm," Marie splutters. "We're pretty sure things will die down before then. You don't have to be gone for that long."

Smiling, I push myself up from the table. "I'm going to take advantage of this situation and go home. I haven't seen my family in five years," I say, like the realization is just dawning. I'm suddenly impatient. "Franca, book me the earliest flight available. If you find one for tonight, sign me up. Otherwise, early tomorrow morning is great."

"Okay, sir." Franca hurries out of the room, sensing my urgency. She seems to be the only one with any common sense around here right now.

"That's too soon," Warren says. "You haven't even packed your luggage."

"You're right." I walk around the vast desk. "Let's go. You're going to help me pack."

Warren's groan follows me outside the office, and I chuckle, noting the bounce in my step as I walk to the elevator. I'm going home.

As soon as I walk out of the airport onto the busy sidewalk, I feel the tension roll off of me in waves. The air in my home state is lighter and fresher. I take a deep breath and a smile crosses my face. I don't hear camera shutters as paparazzi hunt me, or the chaos of fans looking for a picture, autograph, or my heart. I love what I do, but let me tell you, my choice of career makes people a little crazy. People will ask you for the craziest things with a straight face. Some of the things I've heard would blow your mind. Don't get me started.

However, Willow Falls, which is about an hour south of the airport, is too tucked away in its little, bubbly world to keep track of famous actors and wealthy people. There, I can be myself. I can be Sean, the son of Mark O'Connell, the retired high school history teacher. Not Sean O'Connell, the handsome and rich actor who broke up a seven-year relationship.

"Sean!"

At the calling of my name, I turn sharply in the direction of the voice. Jamie is leaning against the hood of a car parked by the side of the busy road, an affectionate smile on his face.

"Welcome home, brother."

I hurry toward him, arms outstretched. I give him a big squeeze and pat his back. It's been too long. I feel tears prick the back of my eyes. When Jamie pulls away, his eyes are also glassy, but he blinks them away.

"I can't believe this is you." He looks me over. "Wow."

"I know, right?" I grab him by the shoulder and pull him toward me for a side hug. "I missed you too. You have to find me an invitation to that game."

"Are you here for the game? Or are you here to visit your friends and family?"

"Well…"

"Rude." Jamie slaps the back of my head. "Get in the car," I put my luggage in the backseat and slip into the passenger side. Once I'm settled in, Jamie starts the car and we are off. I forgot how much I love my home state. The mountains, the sky is majestic, but Jamie holds my attention.

"You didn't tell anyone I was coming, did you?"

"Nope," Jamie answers, popping the "p". "Where do we go first?"

"Let's go see Evelyn at Bake My Day." Just the thought of seeing my sister has me vibrating with excitement. I chuckle as I'm reminded that Jamie drives like my grandma. Instead of urging him to put the pedal to the metal, I relax against the leather seats and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

I'm home and it feels good.