Page 178 of Movers and Shakers

She was right. I needed to focus on my job, but I couldn’t help wonder what Dad had done. If I didn’t know and couldn’t replicate it, I would be blindsided when he returned to his old ways.

It was still on my mind when we pulled into the arena. Since today was the full dress rehearsal, I had to force myself to put it behind me. This was when we would finally see everything come together.

My skin buzzed with excitement. Malia said that despite all the drama surrounding me, my tickets had sold out instantaneously, which made me even more excited to get this started.

The second I arrived, my team got me in my first outfit, and I walked out onstage exactly how I would if the tour was going on. I danced and moved, pretending a crowd was in the empty seats.

I could feel Mickey’s eyes on me as usual, but I once again told myself it was nothing. It didn’t help that my costumes were more revealing than what I usually practiced in. I was probably feeling exposed from that alone.

Despite my weird feelings, he was good at what he did. He played the whole thing almost as good as Barry would.

Almost.

Two hours later, the show felt real, and Justice had clapped for the performance.

I was panting but feeling ready to share this with everyone. I couldn’t wait to see Barry and tell him about the rehearsal or hang out with Mom and show her the life I’d made here.

“Lila! Hang on!” Mickey called as I was heading to get undressed. I turned to see him jogging over to me.

“Good job today,” I said, giving him a polite smile. “I need to head out, though.”

His hand landed on my arm. “Let me take you out after this. You must be starving.”

Ohno. “Um, no thanks.”

He didn’t seem deterred from me turning him down.

“So you want to do a slow burn? I can get with that.”

I frowned. “What does that mean?”

“You do a whole romance thing withsomeone,and I’m the newest guy. I knew what I was signing up for and it’s gonna be great”—his eyes slid up and down me—“as long as we start soon.”

“I’m . . . I’m not single. I’m seeing someone.”

“Yeah, right. I know how show business works. I know what we have to do to keep the public interested.”

“We’re not going to be together.”

“My agent told me we would.”

“Your agent lied.”

“Then I guess I need to be persuasive. I won’t take no for an answer.”

My eyes slid to Justice who was talking with one of the stagehands. I desperately waved her over.

“Hey, what’s going on?” she asked.

“Um, can you tell Mickey that we aren’t doing a romance thing onstage?”

“What do you mean?” Justice asked.

“Come on.” Mickey rolled his eyes. “Lila Wilde needs a boy toy to flirt with to make her fans happy. That’s me.”

“No,” she said immediately. “We’re not doing that. The little thing with Blaze went way too far. We’re here to celebrate her talent and let Lila do what she’s comfortable with.”

“But I’m supposed to be the new Blaze.”

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