Page 118 of As They Are
She rolled her eyes. “We need the interviewtoday.”
“I can ask someone else from the town,” I offered.
“No, the audience doesn’t know any of them. You can have Jude do it since his nails apparentlydisappeared.”
“They did!” he said. “I don’t know how to explain it.”
I couldn’t have cared less about Jude’s nails since I was more focused on the way she continuously wanted me to interview with him, even when we could have done it with someone else.
But I wouldn’t fight it. Not when it would give Henry the time he needed.
“Should we stand as close as she did with Henry?” Jude asked.
Was hekidding?“No. Henry’s my boyfriend. You’re not.”
“But it was a good shot.”
“Stand close!” Madison called as she walked to the camera.
I stood near him, but not close.
“You’re so tense on camera,” Jude said. “What’s with that?”
“I’m a taken woman now,” I replied. “We’re not gonna have the same dynamic as season one. I don’t know why you keep forgetting that.”
“I’m just doing my job.”
“And that now involves charming the audience. Not me.”
“Get ready!” Madison called. “And Jude, get closer!”
“Seriously?” I snapped.
“Your boyfriend could have been here if he didn’t need the day off.”
I let Jude get one inch closer to me, but I wasn’t thrilled about it.
Madison called out a question, asking us how we’ve noticed the increase in tourism. I answered it honestly. I was happy to see the businesses grow and get more customers. They deserved it.
Jude was quiet, but I doubted he knew anything that was going on. When he wasn’t obligated to be here, he was either in Nashville or flying to one of his other houses all around the country.
But at the end of the interview, just when I thought we were wrapping up, he put an arm around me and said, “We’re just so happy to be able to help this small town.”
I was so shocked that I went still, but I saw red.
“Cut!” Madison called.
“What the hell was that?” I snapped, shoving his arm off of me. “Why are youstill?—”
“It was a moment of bonding,” he replied. “We still need those.”
“We’re broken up.”
“The people still like seeing us be friends.”
“Not with your arm around me! Jesus, how clueless can you be?”
“How dramatic canyoube?”
