Chapter 14
Bryce
"I’ll do it."
The weight lifts from my shoulders as Marissa gives me a hesitant nod, though her furrowed brow betrays her doubts.
I know it's not an ideal request, but I had to try. I couldn't just stand there and watch those reporters come after me with some made-up stories.
Sheila and I met at a mutual friend’s party. We talked for a bit, but I wasn't particularly interested in her. Then, later that night, she got drunk and started making a scene. I didn’t want to deal with it, so I called her a cab.
A week later, my agent convinced me to attend a charity event to help improve my image. Sheila was there. She clung to me the entire night, acting like we were together. The next day, I was in the tabloids as having a new girlfriend. Sheila even gave interviews about our "relationship" and hinted at some juicy details.
The internet went wild with the information, even though it was all false. I've had enough of the nonsense that Sheila has been feeding them. I could have easily debunked the gossip, but I know that she would have still fabricated something and roped me into it.
This marriage thing would be the best way to stop the madness.
"Thank you, Marissa. You have no idea how much this means to me."
She nods, her expression serious. "But we need to lay down some ground rules. No feelings allowed, no unnecessary touching ..."
She hesitates as she says it, and I raise an eyebrow, unable to resist teasing her. "What exactly do you mean by unnecessary touching?"
She flushes slightly, shooting me a glare. But instead of taking it as a warning, I find it really cute.
"You know what I mean. No flirting, no physical contact unless absolutely necessary."
I chuckle, purposely pushing her buttons. "So, what kind of touching is necessary, then? I mean, a pat on the back is fine, right? Or maybe a high-five?"
Marissa rolls her eyes, her cheeks flushing pink as she swats my arm playfully. "Don’t act like you don't know what I'm referring to. No funny business."
"Why don't you show me what you mean? I mean, at the moment, I'm as lost as a needle in a haystack."
She rolls her eyes, but there's a hint of amusement in her voice. "Very funny, Bryce. But I'm serious. We need to keep this strictly professional."
I nod, trying to suppress the smile that threatens to spread across my face. "Of course. Strictly professional. Got it."
I nod, trying to ignore the flutter in my stomach as our eyes meet. I take a slow breath, pushing those thoughts away. We're here to work. I tear my gaze from hers.
We have a plan to execute, a fake marriage to sell to the media, and the last thing we need is to let our emotions get in the way.
"So, what's the next step?" Marissa asks, her voice snapping me out of my reverie.
"First, we need to come up with a backstory. Something believable, but not too detailed. We don't want to get caught in a web of lies."
"And then what? How do we convince the media that we're actually married?"
"Simple. We just need to act like a married couple. Hold hands, exchange glances, maybe even steal a kiss or two."
She blanches at the suggestion. It's so comical that I can't deter the laugh that escapes my lips. She looks like I just suggested that we go into a park full of zombies.
"Are you serious? We can't just go around kissing each other!"
Reaching out, I gently squeeze her hand. "Relax. I was just kidding. But we do need to be convincing if we want this to work."
And by being convincing, I mean that we have to do what happily married couples do. Live together. I stall for a moment, wondering how to broach the subject of her moving in with me.
It's a big ask, I know, but if we're going to make this look real, we'll need to be staying under the same roof. I can't have the paparazzi keeping an eye on us, waiting for me to make a mistake.
"Well, I was thinking that you could move into my apartment," I suggest, trying to keep my tone casual even though I'm reeling on the inside. "You know, to make it look more believable."
Marissa chokes, and her eyes water as she attempts to calm down. I reach out to touch her, but she signals to me that she's okay. I feel bad for asking this of her, but it has to be done.
"Move in with you? I live right next door."
I bob my head in a nod, hoping that she'll see reason. "Yeah, I mean, it's not like we'll be spending all our time together, but it'll help sell the whole 'married couple' thing. What do you say?"
She pauses, chewing on her bottom lip and obviously thinking this whole thing through. She gnaws on her bottom lip. My stomach knots itself into a tangled mess of nerves.
Come on, Marissa. Say yes. Please.
I resist the urge to beg aloud. My nails dig into my palms as I clench my fists, bracing for her refusal. She inhales slowly. I hold my breath.
"I don't know. It's a big step, and I'm not sure if I'm ready for that."
I nod, feeling a pang of disappointment at her response. "I understand that it's a lot to ask, but I promise I'll make it worth your while. Come on, how boring can living with me be?"
"It’s not about that."
"Then what?"
She looks like she's about to say something but thinks better of it and sighs, her expression conflicted as she looks at me. "Okay, fine. I'll do it. But just until we can figure out a way to undo all of this."
"That works. I'm super grateful for all your help."
I don't deserve Marissa, but here she is, standing by my side and ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead. And for that, I'll always be thankful.
***
As I lounge on my couch, the soft glow of the television casting flickering shadows across the room, my phone buzzes with an incoming call. With a sigh, I reach over to grab it, glancing at the screen to see Ellen’s name flashing back at me.
Yeah, she’s definitely seen my announcement.
"Hey, Ellen," I say, trying to keep the weariness out of my voice. "What’s up?"
There’s a second of silence on the other end of the line, and then Ellen’s voice comes through, filled with excitement. "Bryce, I just wanted to say how impressed I am with what you did today. It’s really going to help improve your image, especially with all those rumors swirling around."
Ellen has always pushed me to be the best I can be in the industry, and the fact that she approves leaves me feeling fulfilled. "Yeah, well, I figured it was about time I did something about it. The rumor mill was getting out of control."
"I have to admit, I never thought I'd see the day when you actually cared about what people were saying about you."
There's a hint of surprise in her voice as she responds, and I don't blame her. I've always acted tough, like nothing could ever get to me. But I think it is time to actually address stuff.
"Well, you know me, always full of surprises."
But even as I joke with Ellen, a small part of me still feels annoyed at the thought of those rumors. It's not just the presumption about my personal life that bothers me, though. It was the way those men kept gawking at Marissa, the way their eyes kept darting to her breasts.
But I push those thoughts aside, focusing instead on the conversation at hand. Ellen is still talking, her voice buzzing with excitement as she goes on about the potential impact of my actions today.
As I listen to her words, my mind drifts back to Marissa. The way she looked tonight, the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed at my jokes ... it's getting harder and harder to ignore the way she makes me feel. I'm not sure what to do with my growing feelings for Marissa.
But I can't let myself get carried away. This arrangement is temporary, a means to an end. I have to keep my feelings in check, no matter how much my heart may yearn for something more.