Page 16 of Fake Out

She’s right. I do drink too much, and it’s what got me into this situation in the first place. If I hadn’t been drunk at that bar, maybe I wouldn’t have gotten into the fight.

Sighing, I make a decision that surprises even myself. I march over to the liquor cabinet and begin grabbing bottles by the neck, pouring their contents down the drain. The sound of liquid splashing against the stainless steel is strangely satisfying.

“Charlie?” Marissa says. “What are you doing?”

“Getting rid of temptation,” I reply, my voice resolute.

I can tell she’s impressed by this impulsive gesture, but it doesn’t feel impulsive to me — it feels necessary.

“Here, let me help.” She reaches for a bottle of whiskey and begins emptying it into the sink.

As we pour out the decadent collection, I feel a weight lifting off my shoulders, like I’m actively shedding the mistakes of my past. It’s been too long since I’ve had any fun without alcohol, and just thinking about that alone makes me disgusted with myself.

“Are you sure about this?” she asks, her eyes searching mine as she sets another empty bottle on the counter. “Quitting cold turkey isn’t going to be easy.”

“Easy or not, it’s what I have to do,” I say. “I can handle it.”

“If you say so,” Marissa replies, though I can sense her concern. “I didn’t mean for you to… I mean, if this is what you want, then I support you. But you don’t have to do this for me.”

“It’s not for you,” I tell her honestly. “It’s for me. So I can be someone I’m actually proud of.”

She gives me a small smile, her hands still wet from the liquor we’ve poured down the drain.

“That’s a good reason,” she says, stepping back to let me toss the last empty bottle into the recycling bin.

“Thank you, Marissa,” I say, grateful for her kindness and understanding. “I appreciate it. But I think I’ll be fine. This…” I glance at the row of empty bottles, feeling a mixture of disgust and determination. “This is long overdue.”

“Good for you,” she says softly, giving me a warm smile. “I believe in you, Charlie. You’ve got the talent and the drive to make a real comeback. You just need to believe in yourself, too.”

It’s the nicest thing she’s said to me yet. Hell, it’s the nicest thing anyone has said to me in a long time.

For the first time in years, I feel… seen. Truly appreciated.

Which is kind of crazy. I’ve stood in front of thousands of adoring fans, and I thought they saw me.

Yet now many of those same fans have turned on me, and here is Marissa, someone who barely knows me, willing to take a chance.

The unexpected tenderness in her gaze tugs at something deep inside me. It feels like a small flame has been ignited in a furnace that’s been cold for far too long.

“So.” She suddenly claps her hands together, ending the moment. “Shall we get started?”

I clear my throat. “Uh. Yeah. Let’s do that.”

The room feels warmer, the air almost electric as we settle down at the sleek glass table to finally have our meeting. I try to focus on the task at hand, but my gaze keeps drifting to Marissa. Her smile is contagious, and her legs seem to go on forever beneath the hem of her skirt. God, this woman makes it so hard to think straight.

Why am I like this around her? I’ve been with countless beautiful women before, but none of them have affected me quite like Marissa does.

As she tosses her hair over her shoulder, I catch a whiff of her perfume — delicate, floral, intoxicating. It’s enough to make me lightheaded, and it takes all my strength to focus on the words coming out of her mouth.

“Okay, so I have some good news for you,” she announces with a big smile. “We have a handful of meetings with teams lined up, all thanks to the new image we’re pushing.”

“Really?” My heart races, a mix of hope and anxiety welling up inside me. “That’s incredible. Thank you.”

“Of course. It’s my job to help you succeed, remember?” She smiles warmly, and I find myself smiling back, caught up in the genuine happiness that radiates from her.

“Where are these meetings? Who are they with?”

“Well, they’re kind of all over the country.” She chuckles and opens her phone to show me a list.

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