Page 83 of Stolen Hearts
I get why Alexander wanted to shave his beard off. He’s shedding the look that holds so many negative memories and connotations for him. But seeing him there on the screen, freshly shaved, waiting through the commercial break for the second half of the interview, brings back the same swirling nausea in mystomach that I had during the TV interview where he denied the truth about the leaked video of us kissing in June.
It's a different studio. There’s a different setup. He’s in a different outfit.
My mind tries to overrule my body, to settle my stomach, but the fact that Connie and Paul are standing alongside me, next to Caryn and Chloe, does little to quell my desire to run back to the hotel and bury myself under the covers.
Alexander’s gaze drifts past the camera toward me, just before the show returns from break. The dimple in his cheek deepens as the smile across his face widens. It’s the same smile he wore when we agreed to take things slow.
He’s right. We can’t change the past, but we can write a new beginning.
“Damn, look at him,” Chloe says, pointing not at Alexander, but at the model we’d picked to serve the Brewed drinks to the host and Alexander. He’s a striking Colombian guy, with green eyes, olive skin, and a buzz cut. The black T-shirt he wears, emblazoned with the Brewed logo and one of their taglines,One cup away from tolerating humanity, highlights his bulging biceps as he passes Alexander one of the Coal Brews.
I smile at Chloe and cock an eyebrow.
“And we’ve been told you’ll be releasing a physical version of your coverIt’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Yearexclusively in Brewed stores from December 1 and online via your website today.” The host reaches for a mock-up sleeve of the seven-inch vinyl.
Alexander attempts to fake sip from the cup, but the right sleeve of his camel-colored aviator jacket gets caught on the chair, almost sending his drink flying from his hand.
“I’m so excited, I can’t even hold my drink straight,” he laughs and readjusts himself.
“But on a serious note, I’m really excited about this because all the profit from these records will be going to support theamazing work that RAINN does. So please, if you can,” Alexander turns and looks directly into the camera, “preorder a signed copy from my website today, or get one in store on December 1.”
In the blink of an eye, the segment is over. Paul and Connie look pleased as someone from the TV crew removes the mic pack from Alexander’s jeans pocket and the mic from his jacket. He quickly takes a photo with the crew and their Brewed cups before leaving the set.
“Everyone happy?” Alexander rubs his hands together as he steps over the camera cables.
The hordes of girls outside bang up against the window, a bunch of cardboard signs held in their hands.We Love You Alexander. Morganites Forever. Alexander quickly waves at them before turning back to Connie.
“It’s like you’ve picked up right from where you left off.” She pats him on the back.
“Alex, you remember Chloe and Caryn.” I reintroduce them to him.
“Thanks for everything you’ve done so far. I’m looking forward to spending some time with you this week,” Chloe says, before dissolving into a puddle of water when Alexander goes to hug her.
“I’m so sorry.” She blushes as she notices her makeup on his jacket.
Caryn rolls her eyes at the whole ordeal, which makes me smirk, and briefly exchanges pleasantries with Alexander before putting her leather gloves back on.
“Can I get a photo please?” the model in the Brewed top asks Alexander while passing me his phone.
“Sure.” Alexander nods and puts his arm around him.
Alexander’s head barely comes up to the model’s shoulder. The model’s hand slides down toward Alexander’s ass as I go to take a photo. Rob leans in and moves the model’s hand back up,but not quickly enough to stop the pang of jealousy from hitting me straight in the chest.
It seems everyone is fawning over or wants a piece of Alexander today.
I pass the phone back and walk off set toward the car. Alexander falls in beside me, while everyone else walks in front, and I fill him in on the next stop, where he’ll be the barista for the first activation event.
“Don’t think I didn’t see you getting jealous there,” Alexander whispers in my ear.
“I know. I wish he’d slid his hand over my ass,” I say, elbowing him in the ribs.
The plan had been to keep the various activation events at the Brewed stores across the US low-key, both for security reasons and to capture genuine shock on people’s faces when they were served by Alexander. But one of the hosts onThe Viewlet slip that Alexander would be at the Brewed on Fifty-Ninth and Broadway at three this afternoon, and now, not even two hours later, we have the NYPD outside the store, managing the influx of people trying to get inside.
“This is great.” Caryn’s eyes light up as we pull up by the subway exit in the SUV behind Alexander’s car. “Make sure you capture all of this, as well as the content inside.” She taps her leather glove on Pedro’s leg.
The social media guy from Brewed barely looks old enough to be working at the company. He wears a baggy white T-shirt sporting the Supreme clothing-line logo and blue stonewash jeans, seemingly all the rage with the Gen Z and Alpha generation at the moment, judging by the attire of the crowd outside the car window.
I open the car door and am instantly met by the piercingsound of screams, something I’ll never get used to. I follow Caryn, Chloe, and Pedro into the store, fighting my way through the crowd, which has overtaken the entire sidewalk and spills out into the street.
