Page 20 of Shapes of Love
Right now my nerves are shot, so I reach for the sturdiest cups—they conserve heat better, so I can warm up my hands. They also have less of a chance of breaking. It makes me feel more in control of my surroundings somehow.
“Anyway.” Marissa clears her throat and places an iPad on the table. “So, here’s the tea. The paps took some pictures of you, and the press must have done some digging. They’re running a story about how Sasha’s first album is about you, Kai.”
“It’s not though.” The urgency in my voice makes me sound pathetic, but that’s where we’re at. I don’t know if Kai has even listened to my album.
“I know it’s not about me. It’s so obvious they’re songs about your favorite stories,” he says, tilting his head at me. “You act like I don’t know your favorite movies. Or like wedidn’t watch half of those shows together. Take ‘Birds of the Same Sky.’ That song is aPride and Prejudicemodern AU.” He winces. “I still remember when you and Mia both dressed up as Darcy for Halloween and your wig fell into the toilet.”
“Wait, you’ve listened to my album?”
“Of course.” His voice softens. His gaze shifts, a flicker of realization crossing his face. “I mean, it was playing everywhere. It’s not like I could escape it.”
“The thing is, you two dated,” Marissa says. “And the press has proof. They’ve found some old pictures of you.” She types something on her iPad and hands it to us. There’s another article with pictures of Kai, Mia, and me building props for our theater class. Kai’s sitting behind me, his arms wrapped around my waist.
“Who leaked that?” He bristles, and something blazes over his face, as if he’s remembering the moment in the picture.
Marissa shrugs. “It could be that one of your classmates posted it a while ago, and they just found it. They knew where to look.”
“Hmm. So this is what it feels like to be doxed.” Kai’s voice is laced with humor, but the slight arch of his eyebrows betrays his unease.
“I’m so sorry.” I’m starting to sound like a broken record, but I can’t help it. Yesterday was a mistake. If I had just come back to the meet and greet and done my job, none of this would have happened.
“Sasha, it’s not your fault,” he says. “You didn’t leak the pictures.”
“We can’t go back in time, either,” Marissa says. “But this could be an opportunity for both of you. If we play our cards right.”
“If we play our cards right… how?” I frown. There’s a look on Marissa’s face that I can’t read.
“Well, since the information is already out there…” She looks between us. “We could just go along with it?” Her fingers fly over her iPad, producing an NDA. “This is a relationship agreement. The label wanted me to float the idea your way a while ago, but I told them no, because I knew what you’d say. Initially they wanted an actor or another singer for the part, but all things considered—”
“Part? What part?” My mind reels. My label has been wanting me to what? Fake-date? I turn toward Marissa, anger surging inside of me.
“A love interest.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about this?”
“Because I didn’t want you to worry over shit like this. That’smyjob as your manager. To take some of the burden off you.” Marissa regards me with a quizzical expression. “Remember how we talked about your next album being all about shedding your teenage-girl persona? Well, demographically, it’s been hard to brand you as a more mature artist because everyone is still hung up on your love story. And a way to make people lose interest would be to give them what they want. Date for a while, break up, and release an album.”
“Absolutely not.” I shake my head. I don’t want to involve Kai in my mess. We just got back on speaking terms, and the main reason we fell out of touch is because we dated inthe first place. Also, if I do this… aren’t I just betraying myself? Why should I have to pretend to be someone I’m not?
Kai scratches his head and looks away, his shoulders hunching uncomfortably. The thought strikes me—I don’t even know if he’s single.
“Wait, do you have a girlfriend?” I ask. “If you’re seeing someone, I’ll explain it to her.”
This seems to make Kai laugh. “No, I’m not seeing… anyone.”
“Perfect,” Marissa says. She grins at a frozen Kai, passing him a digital pen. “The idea would be for you two to date, or rather, pretend to date, for six months. After which we’ll stage a breakup and you’ll be free. It would be a mutually beneficial agreement. Kai, you’d get compensated for your time, of course. 10K a month. Also, I understand you want to be a writer of sorts—”
Kai tenses. “I—”
“This could help with exposure. And we’d put you in touch with some agents and publishers. As long as you help Sassy out. You’d do that for her, right?”
Silence stretches as Kai scans the document. His expression is unreadable.
“We need a minute,” I say, voice flat. “Can we be alone?”
Marissa’s brows knit before she pastes a smile on her face. “Of course.” With a nod, she walks out, closing the kitchen door behind her to give us some privacy.
Kai’s eyes remain on the door until Marissa is out of earshot. “Does she know you’re not straight?”
