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The ugly, jealous monster in her also resisted. Reese knew in her mind that it would be fake, but jealousy burned in her throat. Morgan’s feelings toward Sterling weren’t manufactured. Reese would have to orchestrate their relationship, set up dates for them, watch them be physical, even photograph it. The thought killed her.
Reese refreshed Sterling’s Facebook page, reading through comments and posts from fans. They were not good. She thought about her job. If she didn’t fix this, Kevin had already told her she was out. Creating a fake relationship wasn’t a big deal. Right? She would get over her jealousy and be professional about this. She needed to, for his sake.
“Reese?” Sterling looked at her, questions all over his face. He could tell that she wasn’t happy about this.
“It’s probably our best option,” Reese admitted.
“You really think so?”
It felt like he was asking something else. Like why Reese hadn’t offered to be his fake girlfriend. But just as she and Morgan hadn’t talked about the fact that they both liked Sterling, she and Sterling hadn’t voiced anything about how they felt. Reese nodded, looking at her lap. Sterling sighed.
Morgan linked her arm through Sterling’s. “It will be easy, big guy. And if Reese thinks it will help, then it will help.”
Reese gritted her teeth. That made it sound like this whole thing was her idea, not Kevin’s idea that Morgan kept pushing. She did not want her name attached to this. When she was out on her own, this would not be how she operated. Clients could come or go, but she wouldn’t take part in this. Right now, with Kevin holding her job over her head, she didn’t have that luxury.
“I guess I’ll do it,” Sterling said. He didn’t sound sure.
Morgan leaned her head on his shoulder. “We can pull this off. And when you’re all settled with a new contract letting you make the music you want to make, with this label or another one, it will all seem worth it.”
Sterling had not looked at Morgan since they started this conversation. His eyes were fixed on Reese, burning. She felt like he could see all of her thoughts—the hesitation, the jealousy, all of it. He looked like he felt betrayed. Like he was challenging her about all of this, even as he agreed.
“What are we talking, here?” Sterling asked. “Stage some photos for social media? Go on a public date or two?”
“Pretty much,” Reese said. When he put it like that, it didn’t sound like such a big deal or such a breach of integrity. She shouldn’t care if he didn’t. “I’ll write up a social media strategy tonight. The three of us can talk about this tomorrow on the bus. Maybe you two should talk about expectations. Um, as far as sleeping arrangements, physical stuff. Couple stuff.”
Sterling barked out a laugh. “Sleeping arrangements? Physical stuff?”
Morgan gave him a playful shove. “People will expect to see us together. Hand-holding, hugging, kissing. I doubt we’d have to worry about people waiting outside of our hotel rooms or anything, but it’s something to think about.”
Sterling’s eyes flew to Reese. She sighed. “This is part of what you’re signing up for with a fake relationship. It has to look like a real relationship.”
“I get that,” he said. “I just …”
Reese could sense his conflict now that he was thinking through the situation and the setup. This is just one of the reasons she didn’t like this kind of strategy. It was hard to maintain a fake relationship for long. Real feelings got tangled up with the ruse.
When she was giving into her insecurities, Reese still saw Morgan as the perfect girl for Sterling. Best friend, rocker chick, worked in his industry. They had history. They laughed together. Maybe this fake relationship would make him see it for himself. The fake relationship would turn into a real one. Her stomach fell at the thought.
“It’s just me, Sterling,” Morgan said. “What are you afraid of?”
Sterling gave a last look to Reese that she found hard to read. “It’s just a little weird. We’ve been friends for so long. The thought of more sounds … strange. Are you sure about this?”
“I’m doing it for you. For your career,” Morgan said. “You’re my oldest friend. I’d do whatever it takes for you.”
Reese felt like she was sitting in on a very personal conversation. She realized that she had the edge of the table clenched in her hands. She released it and the breath she had been holding. Morgan and Sterling needed to get out of her room, now. She didn’t know how much more of this conversation she could take. When they were gone, she could try to switch her brain to strategy mode, so she could make a plan for how this would work. And how she could keep her own rogue feelings in check. Her emotions felt way too close to the surface right now.
Morgan yawned and put a hand on Sterling’s shoulder. “I’m headed to bed. Night, sweetie.”
Sterling laughed, but Reese thought it sounded a little forced. He avoided looking at either of them. “Do we need pet names?” Morgan asked Reese.
“No pet names.” Sterling said.
“I don’t know. You look like a Pookie to me.” Morgan teased.
Sterling followed Morgan to the door, but after she walked into the hall, he turned back to Reese, like he wanted to say something. They shared a long look.
This shouldn’t hurt so much. It shouldn’t feel like a breakup. But it definitely was a let down.
“Come on, Pookie!” Morgan’s laughter trailed through the hallway.
