Chapter 27
Levi
“Reckless, irresponsible.” With every insult she tucks one of her fingers into her palm.
“Just plain dumb,” she spews, eyes narrowed, mouth tight.
The microwave clock behind her tells me it’s a quarter to nine.
I press both of my hands into my face, pushing upward until my brow rests in my palms and I’m staring at the floor. I don’t feel bad and I’m not sorry.
Everything has turned around for me in the last twenty-four hours.
I told Tate that I liked her, and she said it back.
We watched my favorite movie, explored a new place, and even took on my fear of heights.
Tate being a virgin is definitely a surprise, but I meant it when I said it was cool.
The possessive part of me likes the idea that there is a reality where Tate is and has always been mine.
In the very, very distant future, of course.
I pick my head up to see Jan pacing the small walkway between the appliances and the island.
I look over at Tate. She has her knees up to her chest, arms wrapped around her bare legs.
Butter-yellow straps cling to her shoulder, and all of a sudden, I have a new favorite color.
A couple days ago I was sure it was cherry red, but nah, the yellow is making me feel anything but mellow. She mouths something and I squint.
What? I mouth back.
She smiles before repeating the shapes with her mouth again, this time slower. NACHOS.
I smile, remembering she hasn’t eaten all day.
I get up and walk over to the stove where the cookie sheet of chips lays.
Jan’s eyes track me with every step. I grab a plate and dish a heap onto it before striding back to the bar where Tate’s sitting.
When Jan sees what I’m doing, her lip curls.
She’s going to say something. I prepare to take it, but then I hear the door open and shut.
I look at Tate, who is wide-eyed and has a mouth full of nachos.
What other television exec is here? My stomach bottoms out when a certain platinum blonde appears from under the arched hall.
“Kim? What are you doing here?”
“Good to see you too, Levi. Mom, you didn’t tell them yet?”
Mom? Mom. I look from Jan to Kim then back to Jan.
My chest starts to constrict, and the air gets thin.
Somehow Tate senses it. She’s off the chair, holding me in a side hug with the wrapped arm running big circles over the length of my back.
I focus on where her body is touching mine and feel myself start to calm.
“Kimberly, if you would have come on time then we could already be done.”
“Kimberly?” Her name rolls off my tongue a little more venomous than I wanted it to. “So, you just, what...came here to trick me? Pretended to be my friend while feeding your mom information?”
“Oh, stop being a baby, Levi. This is Hollywood, no one has friends. Kim is a hired actor who also happens to be my daughter.”
“Oh, so you used me?” I clap back.
“I used you?” Kim interjects, pushing her face in front of mine. “Rethink that, cowboy.”
Ugh, no. The nickname makes me sick now.
“Jan.” The vibration of Tate talking hits my skin. “Why the need for Kim? No offense, Kim, but aren’t the viewers interested in the show for our ability to sing? America’s best against America’s best?
Jan motions for Kim to take the barstool parallel to us and my dream of making it to the jacuzzi tonight gets smaller and smaller.
It’s probably for the best because I have a lot of feelings rolling through my body like tidal waves that I can’t name or know how to deal with.
Tate releases me to take her seat as Jan and Kim get settled.
“So,” Jan begins, “we’re not here to harass you.”
“You’re not?” slips out and is rewarded by three narrow glares.
“No, Levi, we’re not,” Jan continues. “We’re actually here because you two are the stars of the show and we need to come up with a plan to keep it that way.” They’re smiling like they just told me I won the Powerball lottery worth four billion dollars.
I look at Tate and she looks as confused as I feel. “What does that mean exactly?”
It’s Kim’s turn to talk. “It means the whole country is invested not only in your ability to sing but also your romantic relationship.”
“Yes, and the stunt you guys pulled with the costumes at the pier... I knew when I told that reporter to follow you I was going to strike gold, and I was right!” Jan finished.
“What? Are you saying you planted the reporters who chased us?”
“You’re welcome! I got word that you guys are going to be in three different publications this month, not to mention the amount of media presence... You guys are all over the internet. Everyone loves Tay-vai.”
Tate shivers at the sound of our names merged. I fall back in my chair, looking at the ceiling for help.
“So, Kim, you, um...you kissed Levi for ratings?”
I turn to look at Tate, but she doesn’t look back. I hadn’t even thought about the kiss really, but now I’m interested in the answer.
“I’m an actor, you guys. It was improv, and honestly, not terrible. But yes, it was for the show.”
I stand, my chair scraping against the floor with more force than necessary. “Well, if that’s all, I’m going to get in the jacuzzi and finish enjoying my night. I’m letting you know in case you want to send a camera or maybe someone to objectify me. Come on, Tate.” She stands to follow me.
“There’s already a camera out there,” Jan retorts. “Guys, we’re here to join forces. No more secrets.”
“Why start now? You seem to enjoy playing puppeteer with our lives.”
“Levi, that’s enough!” Her voice rises to the octave of an angry mother.
“You want the record deal, right? You want to make it in the music industry? Welcome. This is it, buddy. You’re going to have to occasionally do things you don’t want to do so that you can make money doing what you do want to do. ”
I bite into my bottom lip. She’s right. What am I doing?
“For the next couple weeks leading up to the Christmas break, you two are going to date publicly. So going out on the town, talking about each other in interviews, holding hands, doing what lovers do. Then, when we come back, someone is going to spot Levi sneaking out with Kim. The whole country is going to hate you while Team Tate hashtags circulate. One performance before the finale, you guys are going to make up and join whoever wins with a big smooch. The end. Do you both understand the assignment?”
This is so messed up. Everything about this is messed up.
“What if we don’t move on to the finale and one of us gets voted off?” Tate’s voice is off. Softer, sadder.
“You will,” they both say in perfect unison. I’m about to question that, but then they’re both pushing from the bar and coming to a stand.
“I’ll see you both in five days,” Jan says before she and Kim take off towards the front door.
Once I hear the door shut, I follow behind them to lock it.
I watch them through the glass as they embrace before getting in their own cars and driving away.
How did I not see the resemblance? I walk back slower than normal.
When I make it back to the kitchen, Tate hasn’t moved from in front of her chair, but somehow, everything’s changed.
The air feels thick with conversations to be had, decisions to make.
I rub the back of my neck, making my way back to the barstool beside her, shoulders slumping inward.
“Can you even believe that?” Her voice is thick with disdain.
I shake my head, staring at the floor. “No.”
“The way they came in here, told us what to do. HA! As if!”
I laugh. “Yeah. Wait...what?” I look at her confused.
“We’re not going to play their game. They don’t own us.” Her shoulders are rolled back into a warrior stance. “We’re going to do this our own way. But how...”
l watch as she paces the same path Jan did not twenty minutes ago. The same sinister smile creeps up her face.
“Tate.” My voice is just above a whisper.
“We won’t break up. You won’t cheat. America loves love...”
“Tate!”
She stops, eyes fluttering in response to my outburst.
“Tate, I can’t.” The words come out slow and choked.
“Can’t...what?” She moves closer, grasping my hands in hers. I look everywhere but her eyes.
“I can’t do anything but what they say. I need this. It’s all I’ve got.”
Her eyes immediately pool with tears, and she shakes her head. “No, you’ve got me, and together...”
“No, Tate. I can’t. “
She pulls her hand back, nodding, “Sure, okay.”
“Tate...”
She laughs a wet laugh. “I’m fine. Just tired. I’m going to head to bed, I think. See you in the morning?”
“Yeah, I probably should too,” I say, standing and walking over to her.
I wrap my arms around her like a human cloak.
She nearly disappears between my limbs. The strands of her hair running wild from her messy bun just under my chin.
After a minute, she presses up on her toes and her lips meet mine in a soft kiss.
It’s unexpected but welcomed. I bend into it, pressing back with equal force until she slowly lowers back down.
“Good night,” I say.
She smiles. “Good night.”
And then she’s gone. I sit in the kitchen for another hour, trying to think logically about Jan and Kim’s plan, but Tate’s mouth has disoriented me to a point of no return.
I push the pad of my finger into the corner of my eye.
“You’ve got me” she’d said, and I wonder if she meant it.
The insecure part of me is still screaming, Yeah, but for how long?
That’s what I like about business. Most of the time, what you put in, you get out.
People though...people are unpredictable.
Flying around based on feelings, and feelings change.
Bottom line is, this is my dream and I’m not so lovesick that I don’t see the incredible opportunity I have sitting right in front of me.
They want me to be the boyfriend? Fantastic.
They want me to play the jerk? Consider it done.
If it results in me making it to the top two, I’ll do it.
In the long run, if Tate sticks around—and judging by that kiss, I think she will—she will see how this unfortunate situation sets us up for the future.
Opens doors. Yeah, in the morning, things will be clearer.