Page 104 of Rumor Has It

The din of the crowd and entertainment broadcasts conducting dueling interviews is tremendous. The videographer has a tight shot on Isaiah and the reporter. I move to the side as Isaiah leans in to hear the reporter’s questions.

Someone passing behind us touches my back. I look over my shoulder. Steve plasters himself against a nearby wall, acting inconspicuous.

“Cassidy?” The reporter says, regaining my attention. She wants me in the shot.

“Yes?” I smile brightly, to hide the tremor in my voice.

Good lord, my cheeks are going to ache tomorrow.

“Rumor has it you are an excellent chef. What are your plans when the tour wraps?”

“Cook for Isaiah without having to worry that the bus is about to take a sharp corner?” I say in a self-deprecating manner.

My reply makes the reporter titter.

“She’s being modest,” Isaiah announces. “I’m a lucky man. I get to sample the recipes Cassidy tests out. She has a cookbook in the works. Down home southern cooking. Old family recipes. It all tastes amazing. You’re going love it.” He looks directly into the camera.

I do? It does? They will?

“Good luck. We’ll be looking forward to that.”

“Thank you,” I reply out of sheer politeness.

There’s hardly a chance for me to get over my bewilderment when we’re ushered to another reporter.

Chapter Forty-one

CASSIDY

Inside the auditorium, the event manager hands us off to an usher, who shows us our seats. Second row, A and B.

Chris and Rhiannon have just taken their seats three rows behind. They’re at an angle from us, not quite in the middle. It’s still a prime vantage point to see everything on stage. Whenever Gatlin and Bellamy get here, they’ll sit next to them.

I wish we could all sit together, but Vespa forewarned me the event organizers tell the nominees, performers, and their dates where they’re sitting. Had they positioned Isaiah toward the middle, it would disturb the rest of the audience when he scoots backstage.

Vespa also mentioned the acts are somewhat of a popularity contest. County music fans vote on the awards, but the network producers booked the evening’s entertainment based on ratings for their streaming content during the previous year before announcing the category nominees.

Since Isaiah’s tragedy was headline news, of course the algorithm decided he was enticing to their audience. Intellectually, I understand data science. I also know public appearances are important to keep up the momentum of the tour and for Isaiah’s career. However, I’m choking on the dreadful feeling the television producers will pan to us and catch me with an unguarded expression that winds up feeding the rumors mill to sell cheap magazines at the supermarket checkout next week.

Isaiah greets the flawless female country singer seated beside him. He and Piper Alivia kiss on both cheeks and Isaiah shakes the hand of her not-quite-as-famous husband, Adriel, with a jovial “Been too long.”

We take our seats as he introduces me to the couple. It’s informal and friendly. Like Piper and I have traded our makeup artist for a simple swipe of Great Lash, the men their tuxedos for clean blue jeans, and we’re about to order Oreo shakes at Applebees.

In reality, Piper’s singing career took off when she won the grand-prize on a TV talent search. Not for even close to the first time, she’s up for artist of the year.

We’re seated in the same row because Piper and Isaiah are sharing a top video collaboration award nomination for a duet that entered the charts last spring as well. It seems like eons ago. At that point, Isaiah and I hadn’t even met. I vaguely remember the hearsay over a feud between Adriel and Isaiah and speculation about Isaiah and Piper being romantically linked.

Something that, given what I know about Isaiah’s behavior in public with women and Adriel’s affability toward Isaiah, is absolute hogwash.

Waiting for the MC and the show to start, Isaiah points out a few people in the audience. Bellamy finger waves to me when she and Gatlin arrive in the auditorium. She doesn’t have a hair out of place, so I’m going to keep pretending I haven’t heard about their extra-curricular activities.

Piper leans across Isaiah and places her palm on my thigh to get my attention. “Do you love the kitchen on the bus? If you don’t, it’s because he didn’t listen to me.” She rolls her eyes at my boyfriend. “If you need any tips on traveling with toddlers, I got you, girl. Give her my number, Roomer.” She elbows Isaiah and gestures for me to call her.

I clop my jaw into place. “Thank you!”

It’s not weird to me Piper Adriel wants to share parenting advice. When a mom has a solution, she broadcasts it. I do the same now whenever I speak to my cousins who are mothers. What struck me was Piper knew Isaiah spared no expense getting my workspace right. He asked her opinion when outfitting the bus for me and for the baby.

I tip my forehead toward Isaiah. “She’s nice.”

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