Page 54 of Movers and Shakers

But I knew I didn’t want to. This feeling of defiance was new to me.

If Barry were here, he’d tell me to do whatever I wanted. He’d tell me to change, to say fuck Blaze, and follow my heart, which was in Nashville.

I imagined it for one second: the feeling of leaving and finding something better. But after that second, I pushed it away and walked to the car where Blaze was. As I got in, his eyes were on his phone.

“Look,” he said. “Our fans are waiting.”

Our.Because Lila was nothing without her muse.

He had a live stream on his phone, showing everyone waiting to see what we wore. On the outside, we looked like a cohesive couple.

But I didn’t know if I could even call him my boyfriend. I hadn’t touched him since I caught him with someone else, and I didn’t know if I ever could again.

This didn’t feel like a real relationship. What sort of partnership could we have when I didn’t even want to be nearhim?

Do it for the fans. They want this.

“This dress is so tight,” I said, trying to make conversation as we headed for the venue.

He didn’t even look up. “You probably didn’t work out enough in Nashville and now you’re paying the price.”

“I think this is just how the dress is designed,” I muttered.

The cameras saw us as we pulled up. Flashes blinded me through the tint as everyone yelled our names.

Blaze grabbed my hand and hauled me out of the limo. I had to remind myself not to pull away. We slowly walked the red carpet, people desperately trying to get our attention.

“Doesn’t she lookgreat?”Blaze asked, laughing. “My girl knows how to dress up.”

My stomach twisted. He didn’t even say that in private.

He didn’t evenlookat me.

For the man who’d complained about me not spending enough time with him, he sure didn’t seem to care now. I wondered if he’d found someone else to spend his nights with, to cure his “blue balls,” as he called it.

I wondered if people could see how uncomfortable I was growing. I wondered if they would pick up on how much I didn’t want to be next to him.

And though I shouldn’t, I hoped that they did.

“Lila!” a voice called, and I turned to see Sasha waving at me. I smiled at her. I wanted to go say hello, especially since she’d helped me with the song that was in the movie.

Blaze’s grip tightened on my hip as if he were trapping me.

“Come here, girl!” Sasha said. “I want some photos with you.”

The cameras turned, ready for me to move. It was a smart move because now Ihadto go.

“Coming!” I replied.

“Lila,” Blaze snapped.

“She’s my producer,” I hissed before walking away.

If the cameras had caught that, there would be a field day about it. I could only hope they’d been distracted.

“How are you?” she asked. “You’re glowing!”

“It’s the dress,” I said. “And I’m okay. Happy to see this movie’s premiere.”

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