Page 109 of Seeking Stars
"So what do I do?"
Ely left her food on the table and surrounded Ana's shoulders with an arm. "You learn to be okay with it and let the people who love you hold you while you weep. That should include Liam, by the way."
Ana sighed. "I don't want my career to collapse. To break."
"I don't think all the tabloid nonsense will ruin it; at worst it might slow it down for a bit, but you won't lose it all, and not permanently. You've worked hard and your films will stand the test of this crap. Especially if you let Liam help you balance things out with his influence."
Ana shook her head. "Isn't that using him?"
"It's not using him if he honestly wants to help you. Isn't that like allyship? Using his power to help you use your voice. I'd expect that from my partner."
Before Ana could reply, the doorbell rang and she got up to open the door— not before taking a look through the peephole. It looked like a mailman. The memory came back to her: Liam had sent her his key.
"Shit," she mumbled, a spear to her heart, before opening the door and signing off on the certified delivery.
"What's that?" Ely said, curious, as Ana returned to sit on the floor.
"I think I know."
Ana opened the envelope and peered inside; upon confirmation, she angled the package to let the keys inside slip onto her hand.
Ana sighed, and her heart flew up to her throat. "These are the keys to Liam's house in LA."
"What?! I thought— well— wasn't he giving you space?"
"He told me he sent them before we had the phone call."
Ana took a note from the envelope.
Ana,
As much as I feel like I want to do a grand gesture, I don't think it's what you need from me at the moment. So please let me show you in this small way instead how much I believe in us.
- Liam
Ana couldn't help it, her eyes filled with tears. Ely leaned toward her and read the note in her hands. Without saying anything, she hugged her.
"You haven't asked," Ely finally said, letting go. "But I think Liam might be it for you."
"I think so, too."
"And you messed up."
Ana sniffled. "I did."
"If this weren't Liam McMillan, if he weren't the hottest actor in Hollywood and had more money in his bank account than our whole town put together," Ana chuckled at this with her, "even if he were a random Liam in the world... this is someone who clearly wants you in their life. Isn't that what this should really be about?"
Ana didn't reply, but not because she disagreed— she didn't reply because Ely was right.
"The question is, do you want him in your life?" Ely added.
"That's never been the question," Ana said. "I know I do."
"It is the right question, my friend. All this stuff around you two— that's going to die down. After you're together for a while, people will get bored because there will be no news."
"Do you really think it'll die down?"
"Okay, maybe there's always going to be a bit of that, so I oversold it," Ely joked and Ana laughed. "But I'm sure it'll go down to something you won't even think about much. Even if it didn't, though— Liam is worth that mess, and I know you know it."
