Page 35 of Going Viral for Christmas
S
My phone buzzes. I pick it up, glimpse at the screen.
Please tell me you didn’t agree to fake date Ava Bell without running it by me first.
Matthew Chen. My agent, best friend since college, and the only person who calls me on my shit while getting paid for it.
Um…maybe…
Soren. What the fuck?
It happened so fast. Our managers ambushed us backstage.
Very corporate.
Very aggressive.
I may have been in shock.
What’s Camille thinking by not including me?
You realize I’m going to have to renegotiate this contract now, right?
That’s literally your job
My job is keeping you from making terrible life decisions.
This is a terrible life decision.
It’s good PR. Trending keywords. Cross-genre appeal. You lovethat shit.
Mhm
And how long have you been in love with her?
I stare at my phone as though I’m trying to defuse a bomb and forgot which wire is red.
What the hell are you talking about?
Bro. I’ve watched your videos about her. I’ve also watched YOU watch HER videos. You get that stupid, dopey face. Last month, you spent twenty minutes telling me about her “narrative structure” like you’re some kind of literature professor.
I appreciate good writing.
You screenshotted her author photo.
How do you know that?
Because you’re an idiot and you left your phone unlocked when I borrowed it to call the car service in Chicago.
…and?
And I swiped. Don’t act like I wouldn’t.
That’s a violation of privacy. Illegal, even.
Is it though?
What’s criminal is that you’ve got some gothic-ass ruin as your lock screen, but your ACTUAL background? Ava.
