9. Cara
CARA
Liam, STAY IN THE HOUSE. Do not go to the club. Don’t even go out for groceries. If you need anything, you can text me and I’ll make the arrangements, but stay inside and keep your curtains closed. I don’t want the press getting so much as a stray photo of you before the wedding day.
Three dots appeared on Cara’s phone, indicating that Liam was typing something back to her—but then they disappeared. He must have decided he wasn’t going to say anything after all. Good. She didn’t want to deal with arguments from him right now.
Although, to be honest, working to corral Liam was its own kind of thrilling.
She was enjoying the challenge of this new task more than she’d imagined she would.
When she had first gone into PR, she had understood that the job would mostly involve writing releases.
But there had been a part of her that had always fantasized about things like this.
Stunts. Crazy ploys that would dominate the media and force the story to be whatever she decided it ought to be.
There was just no way anyone was going to be writing about Garrett Sandusky when this was all over.
And if they were writing about Liam’s bad behavior, it would have to be from a stance of how reformed he was.
How he had turned over a new leaf and married Stephanie Hastings, his longtime girlfriend…
Oh, right. I’d better make sure she’s on the same page about that.
Cara had met with Stephanie Hastings just last night, offering her the role of wife in their little charade.
Stephanie hadn’t seemed too shocked, and when Cara had pressed, she’d admitted that she had guessed they might be doing something like this.
“I mean, I’ve never been in this situation before,” she’d explained.
“And I don’t know anyone else who has either.
But it’s the kind of thing people speculate about, and everyone knows Liam Sims has been in kind of a mess lately. ”
“Do you think people will know what’s happened when we announce the wedding?” Cara asked.
Stephanie had just laughed. “Nobody would believe it,” she said. “People will definitely speculate, but it will be a conspiracy theory, not something they think is really true. It’s just too weird.”
Now Cara picked up her phone and dialed Stephanie’s number, which she had saved after their meeting yesterday. Stephanie answered on the second ring. “Ms. Bailey?”
“You can call me Cara.”
Stephanie was quiet for a moment. “I don’t know,” she said. “I mean, it’s not like we’re friends. That’s not what you’re trying to say, right?”
“Not if you don’t want it to be,” Cara assured her.
“This is a professional relationship, just like your relationship with Liam. You can call me whatever you want, but I just want you to feel at ease. That’s why I’m saying things don’t need to be formal between the two of us. You can just call me Cara.”
“All right,” Stephanie said slowly. “I guess that’s okay.”
“We need to talk about the days leading up to the wedding,” Cara said.
“I thought I didn’t have to do anything,” Stephanie objected. “Just show up in a white dress. That’s what it said in the contract. It specifically said there wouldn't be any more to it than that.”
Cara sighed. It was a good thing she’d made this call, she supposed.
“That’s not quite what it said,” she reminded Stephanie.
“You don’t have to involve yourself with any of the wedding planning, but there’s a little more expected of you.
Specifically, we want to tailor your public image.
You’ve been working as an actress, right? ”
“That’s right,” Stephanie said slowly. “But nothing you’d have heard of. It’s all been voice work, and low-profile stuff so far.”
“But you’re hoping to break through in something bigger?” Cara asked. “That’s what I read in your resume.”
“I suppose. Yes.”
“I need to make sure you understand that you have to take a break from auditioning. Starting now, and until six months after your marriage with Liam is officially terminated, you’re exclusive to us. That shouldn’t pose any financial hardships, given your compensation.”
Another pause. “Right,” Stephanie said.
“We’re going to want to see your dress before the day of the wedding,” Cara said.
“I’m sure whatever you pick out will be just fine, but we do want to be sure it’s tasteful.
This is just something I have to do as Liam’s PR rep.
It’s not a commentary on your taste at all.
I hope you understand. The moment the door is opened and you appear is going to be the world’s first introduction to you.
We want to make sure it’s the image we want everyone to see. ”
“I didn’t really think about it like that,” Stephanie murmured.
“I know it’s a lot to deal with,” Cara said.
“But let me handle as much of it as I can. If there’s anything you’d like to be a part of the big day, though, do let me know.
I know this isn’t a real wedding, but it’s a celebration all the same, and the more you and Liam are able to feel like you’re doing the real thing, the more successful I think you’re going to be at it. Are you getting excited yet?”
“I think it should be a good party,” Stephanie said. “And there are going to be a lot of photographers, right?”
“Definitely,” Cara said. “I have to tell you, Stephanie, as a specialist in public relations, this is the kind of thing that could really boost your career. I know it’s not an acting gig…”
“It’s an acting gig,” Stephanie countered. “You want me to act like I’m in love with this guy I hardly know.”
“I guess that’s true,” Cara allowed. “But you’ll never be able to say that was an act. Even so, though, it’s going to get your name out there, and when you do go to your next audition, the whole room will already know who you are.”
“Right,” Stephanie said.
“Now you’re going to be giving interviews following the wedding,” Cara said.
“I’m going to send over a press packet with our official story, which is going to be that you and Liam have been involved in a romantic relationship for years, but that you were sort of on-again, off-again.
That’ll leave room for any interactions he’s had with other women, so they won’t be able to pop up and declare that he cheated on you with them.
If they try, you two can just say your relationship was off during that time. ”
“Okay,” Stephanie said.
“And you eventually decided to go ahead and get married because he came to you and told you that he’d realized he wasn’t taking life seriously enough,” Cara went on.
“He was just ready for a more mature commitment. That’s what changed.
You should look over the release I’m going to send you, but does that all make sense? ”
“I think so,” Stephanie said. “If I have any questions…”
“Then you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out,” Cara said. “I know I work for Liam, but I want you to think of me as your representative too, for as long as we’re involved in this. I care just as much about your well-being as I do his, and I want this to run as smoothly as possible.”
“I appreciate that.” For the first time, there was warmth in Stephanie’s voice. She even managed a light chuckle. “I’m sure you can understand how weird all this is.”
“I really can,” Cara agreed. “It’s a bizarre idea, but I promise, I think it’s going to be to both of your benefit if we pull it off.”
Once off the phone, Cara checked her texts again. Liam hadn’t responded to her, and now she felt a twinge of anxiety. What if the reason he had decided not to argue with her instructions was that he had chosen quiet noncompliance? I’d better get him on the phone too, she mused, dialing his number.
Unlike Stephanie, Liam took a long time to answer the phone. When he did pick up, his voice was gruff. “Hello?”
“Liam? Were you sleeping?”
“I was watching TV.” The words were slurred.
“You were drinking,” she surmised.
He sighed. “I had one beer. Is it so bad?”
“No, not as long as you’re staying in your house like I told you to,” Cara said.
“Well, I’m in my house,” Liam said sourly. A moment later, the phone buzzed against the side of Cara’s face.
She pulled it away and looked at it. He had texted her a picture—his unshaven face. The backdrop was a throw pillow. It was apparent that he was lying on his couch.
She put the phone back to her ear. “All right,” she said. “I’m with you.”
“Are you sure? Because if you need more proof I can take a picture of myself in the mirror.”
“That’s not going to be necessary.” She could only imagine what he’d be wearing after a day like this one—if he was wearing anything at all. That wasn’t something she needed to see.
And yet, a spark of curiosity lit up within her.
He was a professional athlete, after all.
He might be snarky and foul-tempered, but she knew how seriously he took his football career.
What would he look like with his clothes off?
Big shoulders, she was willing to bet. She was such a sucker for big shoulders, not to mention good pecs and a narrow waist and…
No, she definitely didn’t need to see him with his shirt off. That was a dangerous proposition.
“I just called to make sure you were holding up your end of things,” she told him.
“And how long am I going to have to stay in the house?” he asked. “I have to get to the gym if I’m going to get my place on the Stingers back. Even a few days off can have consequences.”
“I’m sure you have free weights in your house,” she said, and now she was imagining him lifting, imagining sweat on his muscles.
She took a deep breath and released it slowly.
She couldn’t allow herself to get carried away fantasizing over this man.
How he had gotten such a grip on her imagination in the first place she wasn’t sure.
Maybe it was just that she was planning his wedding.
Cara could admit that she had let herself get wrapped up in the wedding planning.
What woman didn’t dream of putting on an extravagant wedding, especially one where she didn’t have to pay for anything?
She had been given a massive budget for these proceedings, and very few constraints, so the whole thing was being done according to her own tastes.
White roses, a string quartet, even the church where she had imagined she might get married someday…
if she ever met the right guy, that was.
Sometimes it was hard to imagine that would ever happen.
She would be standing at the back of the room when Liam got married, and if she wasn’t careful, it was going to feel like her dream wedding had jumped right out of her imagination and into being. But it wouldn’t be hers, and she couldn’t allow herself to forget that.
“Just hang in there,” she told Liam. “It’ll only be a few more days. Then everything will be ready to go, and you and Stephanie will be able to say your vows. We’ll reach out to the team, and with a little bit of luck you’ll be back on the field in no time.”
“I hope you’re right,” Liam murmured.
Cara said nothing. She hoped so too.