Page 53 of The Love Raffle

Oscar’s muscly arms stayed folded. “That’s a horrible idea.”

“Thank you.” Rachel sighed, exasperated, and shook her head. “No one is going to trust Levi ever again. I admit that, at first, the masses didn’t believe in Liona but as time went on, they grew invested.Everyoneloves when co-stars date. Even before the movie drops.” She laughed sardonically. “You have only proposed that idea because youknowthe benefits that will come your way through publicly dating Levi.” She jerked a thumb to him.

Amber’s mouth popped open. “What?No,no, this isn’t about personal gain.” How dare she? “I just think that this catastrophe is evidence that the truth should come out. It’s not like Levi and I can just break up.” She looked at him, silently hoping he’d speak up.

Rachel hummed a tune from Beethoven’s 5th Symphony. “Well…”

Amber’s body grew numb. She turned to Levi. “Levi?”

Levi took sudden interest in the creaking floorboards. “We’re not breaking up,” he said. “That will not help anything, Rachel.”

She got that at least. Amber was relieved that he had said something.The bare minimum.Facing his agent with little to no backup was proving to be a tough task. “Exactly. People will still see Levi as a cheater if we do.”

“Not if you break upandput out a statement,” Rachel said to Amber. “You’re going to tell the world that you were not at that apartment complex to visit Levi and deny that you’re dating him. I don’t care how you feel about it. A statement needs to come out because this needs to be resolved now.”

Amber clenched her cold fingers into a fist, her throat tightening. “Well, if I wasn’t there for Levi, then why was I there?” She spoke with a quivering voice.

Levi listened with his heart in his throat. Was Amber crying?

“Don’t worry. We will come up with that for you.” Rachel walked back and forth, speaking in a hushed voice to herself. She eventually slowed down and raised her finger. “I’m beginning to see that removing Levi from this equation may not be an option.”

Amber tried to hide the tears that spilled out. “Right. Because he isverymuch part of it.” She glared at him.

Levi couldn’t stand by while she wept.Yeah, get a grip, Marks.“For Chris sakes, at some point, Amber and I have got to come out.” He’d known that much from the start. “If it’s what she still wants.” He hadn’t hidden from her the risks involved with seeing him publicly.My life isn’t even real.

Amber had gone over all the cons already. “I’m the last person who wants to be known as just a big-shot actor’s girlfriend, but I just think it’s silly to keep lying to people. They’re not stupid.” This was so uncalled for right now.I just wanted to take a nap.She rubbed her eyes, her body screaming for rest.

“Okay, okay, relax.” Oscar had sensed the rise in tension from Amber. He cut between her and Rachel to offer his two cents. “We can just say she formed a genuine friendship with Levi after that one date. Amber went over to ask for tips on acting, okay? We explain the trench coat by saying it was part of a costume for their session,” he said evenly. “No need to get too far-fetched with the story. We really can’t let this escalate or allow it to come out, so this is how we handle it.”

Rachel clapped over her head. “Brilliant. Now hand over your phone.” She flapped her hand at Amber.

“Why?” Amber went to get it. She’d left it in bed.

Levi swayed with pocketed hands, unsatisfied with this outcome. Rachel now held Amber’s phone and used it to access a barren Instagram account. Amber sat on the arm of thecouch. Both Rachel and Oscar worked to construct the perfect statement.I should say something.He went to Amber.

She remained disconnected. Her migraine had reached its climax. With no ideas for remedies, she just sat there, using her fingertips to stroke her forehead.

“Amber.”

It hurt to move her eyes, but Amber looked at Levi. That puppy dog aura hadn’t left. He seemed remorseful. “Yeah?”

Levi held the side of her face. “Are you okay?” He wanted to apologize once again for practically shoving her into the closet but most of all for this entire situation. She meantsomuch to him but as things stood now, this was just how it was.

“Not really. I’m so tired.” Amber looked at her feet. They were bare as her shoes had been kicked off for sleep.

“Oh. When’s your shift?” Levi worried about her health. Could she work when she was this tired?

“In a couple of hours.” Amber watched Levi’s people crowd her phone in her narrow kitchen. Oscar could barely fit between her counter and table. She’d be embarrassed but this was just a temporary arrangement. She intended on upgrading when her career kicked off.

“Maybe you should call in sick.”

“Now that’s an idea.” She moved her leg from the armrest of the couch to the cushions. Eventually, her body fell sideways to lie there, casting aside the crisis in her living space.

Levi sat on the center table and reached for her shoulder. He caressed it softly. “If you don’t call in sick then I’ll do it for you.”

Amber smiled into the seat. She opened one eye. “And risk more rumors and tarnishing your good image?”

“So, you’re mad we’re still hiding.” Could he blame her?

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