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Reese could see that. On the stage, Sterling came to life. Rarely in life did you get to see someone doing exactly what it seemed like they were meant to do. She saw that in him. It was beautiful and made her ache to find something of her own that lit her up. There was something exhilarating about planning and executing a social media campaign or even winning a board game, but those things felt so small. Everyone couldn’t have a big-stage life like Sterling, though.
“He’s very good on the stage,” Reese said.
Morgan laughed. “Everywhere else? Well, that’s up in the air.”
She sounded slightly bitter, her face drawn. It wasn’t a good look on Morgan. This was the first official day of the fake relationship and Reese was anything but jealous. She reached out and squeezed Morgan’s hand.
When Morgan looked up, her eyes looked damp. “You warned me.”
* * *
Sterling felt like the tour bus was shrinking. He wished he had paid more for the style of bus where his room was at the very back, not almost a hallway between the front of the bus and the back lounge. Morgan and Reese were in there and would have to come out, right through his room. Which left him with no escape. Bus bathrooms were not the kind of places you escaped to. Not even to use the bathroom.
He found Moby in the front lounge, video chatting. Sterling sat just out of view, watching Moby. Even without hearing the voice, it was clear Moby was talking to a woman. One he liked, based on the smile, though that wasn’t saying much.
“Some of us have to work,” the woman said.
Moby laughed. “This is me working, baby. Maybe you’ve got the wrong profession.”
“Probably. But your profession is what’s keeping you on the road and not here on a date with me.”
“You want a date?”
“What do you want?”
Moby grinned. “I thought you had to get back to work. I won’t have time to list everything I want. Plus, some of the things might not be appropriate with listening ears. Although this conversation might help Sterling with new songwriting material.”
She laughed. “Until later, then.”
Moby blew a kiss to the screen. The intimacy of the conversation had Sterling feeling itchy. Moby set the phone down on the table and rubbed his hands over his face. “This tour can’t end fast enough. I need to meet this woman.”
“You haven’t met her?” Sterling couldn’t hide his shock.
Moby didn’t seem bothered. But then, not much bothered him. He put his feet up on the table and leaned his head back into his hands. “Just on video. It’s Reese’s friend, Staci. She said she met you before.”
Sterling was surprised. “At the meet-and-greet where I met Reese.”
Moby laughed. “I heard all about that. Apparently Staci has a video. Said she’s keeping it to make sure Reese behaves.”
That moment seemed so long ago, back when Reese had simply been another fan who took things too far. Sterling had to see it. “I want to see it. Will she send it to me?”
Moby whipped his head to Sterling. “Only if you’ll let me watch.”
Sterling grinned and Moby had his fingers on the phone almost instantly. A few minutes later there was a notification and Moby opened up his email, clicking on an attachment.
It took until the third time watching for Sterling to lose his embarrassment enough to laugh at the video, where a tipsy Reese clung to him in front of the backdrop. Sterling’s face in the video looked like a stone. He was so furious that it radiated off of him. If Reese hadn’t been so affected by the alcohol, she probably would have run away, screaming.
“We need to save this for your rehearsal dinner, man,” Moby said, laughing.
“What?”
Moby held his gaze. “Oh, are you pretending like you don’t like her? Are we still doing that?”
“I don’t know what you mean. I’m dating Morgan.”
“Fake dating Morgan,” Moby said. “But we can play that if you want to. When you’re ready to man up about the fact that you are human and do, in fact, have feelings for Reese, come talk to me. I never shy away from talking about my feelings. That’s how I’ve got a girlfriend I’ve never met and you have a girl you like right in front of you and won’t do jack about it.”
Sterling’s face felt hot and he stood, wanting to get out of the room and away from the conversation.
