Page 45 of Fake Out

“It’s okay,” her muffled voice says through the wood. “You finish your call. All good!”

I can tell how embarrassed she is, though, and I feel like an idiot for not being more careful.

“Charlie?” Tim is saying. “You there?”

“Yeah, I’m here.” Sighing, I take a seat again — this time, with the phone facing away from the bathroom.

“Was that…” Tim stares at me through the screen. “That was Marissa, wasn’t it? Wait, are you actually…”

I don’t know how to answer him. It’s complicated and beautiful and terrifying.

“Yeah,” I finally admit, my voice a bare whisper. “We are.”

Tim’s eyebrows bounce up so high they almost disappear into his hairline. “No shit?” he exclaims. I can’t tell if he’s surprised or impressed. Probably both.

I roll my eyes at him, but there’s a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. The secret is out, but somehow it feels good not to hide anymore.

“And I really like her,” I say. “She’s not like the other women. This time… I dunno, it’s just different.”

“Different how?”

I struggle to put it into words. How is it different? It’s like asking why the sky is blue or why the grass is green. It just… is.

“She… she gets me, you know?” I rub my forehead, feeling a headache coming on from the intensity of my emotions. “She understands what it’s like to work in this industry. She’s not just hanging around for the fame or money. And we laugh together. A lot.”

“What are you saying?” he asks. “That she’s not a fling?”

“No.” My chest tightens at the thought. “She’s not.”

“Charlie…” His face turns serious. “That’s… Be careful.”

“Huh?” What does he mean, be careful?

“You know she’s your agent.” Tim looks at me like I’m an idiot. “Do you really want to shit where you eat?”

My face burns. “Of course I know that she’s my agent.”

“Exactly. The only agent who was willing to work with you. What if things go south between the two of you?”

“Well, they won’t,” I snap. A defensive edge creeps into my voice that I’m not particularly fond of.

Tim’s mouth forms a thin line, a clear signal that he thinks I’m being reckless. My heart pounds like crazy; he’s getting on my nerves.

“Dude, you’re not exactly known for your stable relationships.” His words sting, but they’re not untrue.

“I know how to handle myself,” I reply tersely. “And besides, it’s different with Marissa. You’ll see.”

My words hang heavy in the silence between us. I can see Tim swallow, his gaze darting off-screen for a moment before returning to me.

“Just… try not to blow this one up too,” he finally says, his tone softer than before. “You’ve got a good thing going here.”

“I know. And I don’t plan on messing it up.” I exhale, rubbing my forehead with my free hand. “What makes you care so much, anyway?”

“Because if you do mess up,” Tim says slowly, leaning closer to the camera as if to underscore his point, “you’ll be dragging Marissa down with you.”

His words hit me like a punch in the gut. The last thing I want is to hurt Marissa. She means too much to me already.

“I won’t let that happen,” I say, my voice low and determined.

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