Page 24 of Kali & Grayson
I reluctantly step away from Grayson to lead him toward the studio, but he catches my hand and lightly tugs me back into his chest.
“Wait,” he says.
Had he changed his mind?
“Kali,” he whispers, pressing his forehead to mine, “I love you. I’ve been trying to find the perfect way to tell you that, but I just can’t hold back anymore. I love everything about you. Your smile, your heart, your drive, your stubbornness, even the way you steal the blankets in bed. I love it all.”
Unexpected tears spring to my eyes.
I blink hard, desperate not to mess up my makeup right before introducing my boyfriend to my fans for the very first time, but one tear escapes no matter how hard I try not to let it. He tenderly kisses it away and cups my face in his large hands.
“I love you,” he repeats as if he’d been waiting to say those three simple words his whole life.
“I love you, too,” I say, going up onto my tiptoes so that my lips can capture his again.
He sweeps me into his arms, kissing me passionately, just as Liv pokes her head out of the studio.
“Guys! We’re live! Come on!”
Laughing, Grayson and I slowly step back from each other. I take his hand in mine, fingers lacing tightly, and lead him to the studio.
I settle down on the plush couch with Grayson between Sutton and me, then smile at the camera, my hand still in his.
“Hello, Glammers!” Sutton says. “We’re so excited about this video and know you will be, too. Not only are we introducing you to the hunky new man in Kali’s life, but we’ve got some fabulous new things to share with you, too!”
While Sutton talks, I catch sight of my reflection in the video monitor that’s always beside Liv and the camera. This time, there’s nothing fake about my smile. Whenever I’m around Grayson, I’m filled with buoyant, bright, effortless joy.
I clear my throat, tightening my hold on Grayson’s hand, and nod at the camera. I can see comments on the screen flying by so fast that I can’t even read them. Judging by the sheer amount of heart-eyed and grinning emojis, I know our fans are just as excited about meeting Grayson as I am to introduce him.
I look away from the screen to gaze at him. He returns my gaze and caresses the back of my hand with his thumb.
“Ready when you are,” he mouths with a wink.
Despite my millions of followers and my fame and the pressure of being the “It” girl all the time, I know now that I have a soft space to land whenever I need it.
Our love story has only just begun, and I can’t wait to see where Grayson and I go together.
