Page 31 of She's the Star

Embarrassed to be caught eavesdropping and more than a little floored by what she told him, I stumble backward into the glass doors and then whirl around and flee inside. My feet carry me up the rear staircase. I plop down in one of the rocking chairs in Maddy’s playroom and try to parse the emotions churning in my stomach.

Surprise, obviously, but something else, too.

Something that leaves me feeling flustered, which is crazy.

My brain keeps asking, what if we were dating?

Never in a million years would I have anticipated imagining myself dating a world-famous singer. I’ve spent my whole life avoiding my father’s shadow, and yet, I can’t help wondering what it would be like to be in hers.

It’s hard to imagine…actually, scratch that, I can imagine it, and it’d be simultaneously amazing and awful.

As beautiful and awkward and lovely as she is, she’s also insanely famous and I don’t want to be in the spotlight. My heart beats faster the more I think about it. I tell myself it isn’t the idea of being in Amber’s bed that’s making my heart race, but who am I kidding?

It probably doesn’t matter anyway—I’m ninety-nine percent certain that Amber didn’t lie to Teddy because she’s interested in me. She lied because she isn’t interested in him. It would be smart if I remembered that.

“What in the hell?” I say when Amber finds me a few minutes later. It comes out harsher than I intend—partly because she looks sheepish and partly because I’m surprised she followed me so quickly. I thought I’d have more time to gather myself.

She squeezes her eyes shut. “I’m so sorry. How much did you hear?”

“You told him you were with me.”

She groans. “I’m the worst. I shouldn’t have done that. Obviously I was lying and…I’m sorry,” she repeats as she sits down across from me. “It’s just…he’ll stop asking me to give him another chance if he thinks I’m with someone else and the lie just sort of spilled out.”

“Why me?” I ask.

“Why not you? You’re new. You’re here.”

I wince. That’s even more unflattering than what I thought she’d say. Reduced to a point five percent chance that she’s interested.

“I mean…shit…that came out wrong. The rest of my team have been with me for years. Teddy wouldn’t believe I was hooking up with Brian, or one of my security guys, or one of the band, or one of the dancers. He knows?—”

I hold up my hand because I need her to quit talking. “I get it.”

“You do?” She sounds surprised.

“Sure. You’re talking to the guy who got fired from his last job for sleeping with a married woman. It makes total sense that I’d sleep with my boss, too.”

It’s her turn to wince. “I didn’t mean to imply—” She shakes her head. “I shouldn’t have lied. I know better. I’ll call Teddy and tell him the truth.”

“No,” I say quickly, refusing to consider why I don’t want Teddy to know that Amber and I aren’t fucking. “It’s fine.”

“It isn’t fine. I’ve made you uncomfortable. I don’t want that.”

“I’m not uncomfortable,” I insist.

She tips her chin down and looks at me through her eyelashes. “You flinched and ran away when you realized I saw you watching us and right now, your skin is flushed and you’re sweating. You’re obviously uncomfortable.”

“Fine.” I swipe at my brow. “Maybe a little bit. You surprised me, okay?” My hand drops into my lap. “The truth is, I want to help. If telling Teddy that we’re dating gets him to leave you alone, then I’m glad you did it.”

“Wow. That’s unexpectedly kind.” She winces again. “Unfortunately, I didn’t actually think it through before I said it. He isn’t going to believe me once he sees us together for more than a minute.”

“But if we act like we’re dating, he’d believe us. We can fake it?” I don’t plan to suggest it, but now that I’ve put it out there, the tension in my body eases.

Her eyes are as big as saucers as she blinks at me. “You’d fake a relationship with me to deter Teddy?”

“To deter him—yes. I honestly don’t think I could manage it on a big stage, but for a couple hours in your backyard with just Teddy around, it wouldn’t be too difficult.”

“Wow. I’m not sure I deserve such understanding.” She rests her head on the back of the chair, her gaze shifting to the ceiling. “I wouldn’t normally consider lying, but it’d be such a weight off of my shoulders if Teddy and I could settle into co-parenting without him thinking there is any possibility of getting back together.” She flicks her attention back to me. “Does that make me an awful person?”

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