Page 3 of The Stunt
It’s been ten years since I posted that video, and my life has been a dream ever since. I’ll admit that sometimes, it also feels like a nightmare, but I try my best to be grateful. With all the adoring fans and lavish parties with the world’s biggest celebrities, there are still some downsides. I don’t even know what it’s like to go on a grocery trip or drive a car without worrying about being bombarded by paparazzi. And while I lovethis life, andchosethis life, I do long for normalcy sometimes. What would it be like to go out on a date without cameras being shoved in my face? What would it be like to go on a date at all?
Don’t get me wrong. I’ve been out with guys before in a group setting. But it was almost always set up to garner attention for an album or tour I had coming up. As much as I’d love a boyfriend, it’s hard to get to know someone with the whole world watching. Judging. Telling one of us the other could do better. It’s just easier right now not to get involved. At least while my career is still going strong. Show business is a fickle creature. Someone new could come along tomorrow and take my place. I may as well enjoy it while I can.
As I polish off the first half of my sandwich, my phone rings from beside me on the floor. My publicist’s name flashes across the screen, and I answer, still chewing. “Hey, Twyla!” I greet her cheerfully.
“How’s my little pop princess today?” she practically sings. I was her very first client and although she’s barely ten years older than me, Twyla is like my second mom. My parents and I had several choices when it came to PR companies, but Overtime was the only option for me. At the time, their headquarters was a two-room office that was painted in various shades of pink. I’m sure Twyla cringes at her interior design choices from back then, but they just might’ve been the reason I felt so comfortable with her. Fourteen-year-old girls aren’t all that complex.
I breath a laugh. “Exhausted. But I’m really excited for this show.”
“It’s a pretty big deal,” she says, pride dripping from her tone. “It’s not every day you get asked to perform on national television with a hundred million people watching.
Well,fuck me. Could’ve done without that tidbit of information. No matter how many shows I do, I still get nervous.
She takes my silence as an opening. “So,” she begins, her voice saccharine sweet. She definitely wants something. “Remember how we talked about stirring up some publicity before the big game?”
“Yeahhhhhh,” I reply, skeptically.
“Well, I came up with the perfect plan.” Twyla is always plotting, so I’m not surprised that she’s concocted a scheme to create some publicity for this show. “Do you know who Maverick Moran is?”
I shake my head no, like she can actually see me before reaching into my lunch bag and pulling out an apple. “Nope,” I say, taking a bite.
“He’s one of my clients, as well. He plays defensive end for the Boston Blizzard. They’re in a great position to make it to the Super Bowl, so the two of you could really get some attention as a couple. I think we could?—”
“A couple?” I say, standing up. “What do you mean?” I really hope she isn’t saying what I think she is.
“Before you say no, hear me out,” she pleads.
I sit back down, blowing a loose strand of hair out of my face. “I’m listening.”
She exhales a relieved breath before launching into the details. “He’s a really great guy. He stays out of trouble and does all sorts of charity work. He’s never been arrested, and I haven’t found any scorned exes in his past.”
Is it just me, or is the bar really low here?
She continues. “I’ll set up some dates for you guys. The fans will go wild when they see you in public together. The wholesome football player and America’s sweetheart? It’s PR gold.”
I can’t believe she really wants me to do this. Twyla knows I’ve never had an actual boyfriend. My first kiss happened three years ago with one of my dancers. We decided to play SevenMinutes in Heaven when we were bored on the tour bus, and when I told him in confidence that I had never kissed anyone, he took care of me. The kiss was actually amazing, but beyond that, Darren and I have no chemistry. Which is fine because he’s one of my closest friends. That’s why he was also the one I went to a couple years ago when I wanted to lose my virginity. He was great with me. Very caring and attentive. But it definitely wasn’t what I expected. I know I shouldn’t expect mind shattering pleasure for the first time, but after the pain subsided, it was kind of just…meh. I suppose it will be better when I eventually meet a guy that I have chemistry with. But so far, that hasn’t happened.
I know it seems ridiculous that I’ve never had a boyfriend, but I’ve literally been busy for the last ten years. I started recording my first album at fourteen, and I’ve been non-stop touring ever since. I finally decided to take some time off, but the trade with my record label and manager was that I would do this halftime show first. Once it’s over, I’m going to take the rest of the year off to reset and maybe live a normal life. This summer, the label will be releasing aGreatest Hitsalbum in order to keep me relevant while I’m on my break.
Bringing myself back to the present, I address my publicist. Because I haveseveralquestions. “I’m confused. So, you just want me to date this random football player in hopes that he makes it to the Super Bowl?”
She blows out an annoyed breath.Sorry for asking.“You don’t have to really date. You can just fake it. It’s for publicity. I promise this is a good move for the both of you. Once the game is over, we can announce an amicable break-up and you’ll both move on with your lives.” She says it like it’s so simple. Like going out on awkward dates and pretending to like this guy is just no big deal. I’ve never even been on a real date. Not that this wouldbea real date. He’d be faking it the same way I would.
I take a few moments to consider everything before I make my decision. In ten years, Twyla has never steered me wrong. And it’s only for a couple months. It’s not like I’m going to fall in love with this guy and get my heart broken in such a short amount of time. What’s the worst that could happen?
“Okay, I’ll do it.”
THREE
BELLA
I lookout the window of my private jet, legs bouncing a million miles a minute. It’s a very short flight from New York to Boston, but every minute will count when it comes to Maverick and I getting to know one another. I’m so nervous. After my conversation and eventual surrender with Twyla yesterday, we set up a private meeting with him for tonight because he has a late practice tomorrow. I didn’t want our first meet up to be in public because I know it’s going to be awkward. At least, I knowIam going to be awkward. Little Miss Never Had a Boyfriend. That’s me. And this guy is hot. I couldn’t Google him fast enough last night and I’ll admit that he’s one of the most gorgeous guys I’ve ever seen. He’s got light brown hair that’s perfectly messy, even after he takes his helmet off. His deep brown eyes have me sucked right into every photo. He’s definitely not shy about his body, either. Every picture of him during practice has him in a tight compression shirt, abs peeking out from the bottom, and short shorts. The man’s thighs are bigger than my waist.
So, not only am I going to have to deal with the general awkwardness of talking to a guy, but said guy is sexy as hell.
The plane lands and I walk down the stairs, heading right toward my waiting car. I shiver from the chill in the air as I make my way across the asphalt. I hop in the back seat and scroll through TikTok as the driver brings me to the place I will officially meet my new fake boyfriend. Well, he isn’t my fake boyfriend yet, but I know Twyla is hoping we’ll see this thing all the way through to Super Bowl. For some strange reason, I’m all for it. It might feel good to do normal things that a girl my age would do. He might not actually really like me, but I can pretend that a guy like Maverick Moran would give me his time and attention.
I look out the window and notice it has begun raining. The cold Boston temperatures aren’t much different than the ones in New York City, but it is especially chilly tonight, making the rain freeze slightly before it pelts the windshield with a smallthunk.
