“Not a name I’ve used in a very long time...and typically shy away from even when people recognizeme.”
“Damn, I used to love that show,” Hacksmore went on. “And what was that catchphrase you’dsay?”
“‘What’s eatin’ your Tootsie Pops?’” I said without even meaning to. It was just so embedded in my brain from watching that show, that it slipped out, and I knew it was a mistake to utter it the moment Dax turned a glare onme.
“Sorry,”I mouthed, raising my hands like he was holding me up atgunpoint.
“Yes, that’s the catchphrase from the show,” Dax practically spit out through histeeth.
“God, that was a cute series,” Hacksmore said. “I can’t believe you look so different now. Oh, you were an adorable littlefella.”
He said that in about as condescending a tone as possible, the sort that made me vividly aware of why Dax had spent so much time distancing himself from his child-starimage.
Dax buried his face in his hands. “Yeah, fortunately I don’t look enough like that kid version of myself to get recognized much outside of my circle of friends or those who happen to bein theknow.”
This conversation was definitely not making him feel any better, but from the way Hacksmore was talking, it didn’t sound like the deal was off, which I figured would at least offer Dax somerelief.
Hacksmore went on, “So you guys were out in some secluded area in the woods, taking a dip and…some other stuff by the looks of it, and someone snapped thesepictures?”
“That’s what happened,” Daxadmitted.
“Damn, this campaign is skyrocketing our brand straight to the top. He already has his own paps chasing him around, and we haven’t even launched a single part of our campaign. With this new angle, the publicity we’re getting from this secret is already blowing him up to another level. We’re going to have the biggest launch anyone’s ever seen. But, Dax, obviously you have to be part of the dealtoo.”
“Huh?”
“Come on. Look at those pictures. The chemistry. The sparks. There’s fire in there. You know how people work. Lil’ Donnie Gibson meets Hottie Firefighter. Come on. This is what they want more of. This sells. This is hot. We gotta work this, and you know it. Don’t play hard toget.”
“Jerrick,” I said, realizing that Dax wasn’t doing much to help himself by that point. “We need to talk it all over with Elliott. Do you mind if we get back to you aboutit?”
“Of course, of course. Ferah just told me that Jenna Marbles and Connor Franta are talking about it on YouTube. And they’re having a discussion about it on CNN. Did you hear that? CNN!” He laughed. “God, this is juicy. You guys let me know how much to throw Dax into the mix, and we’ll keep this ball rolling and take over the whole goddamn worldtogether.”
“Alright, thank you for discussing this with me,Jerrick.”
Dax hit the End Call button and leaned back on the couch, staring up at the ceiling. “Good fuckingGod.”
“Good fucking God? You should be relieved. You made it sound like he was going to sack us, but he’secstatic!”
“I’m sorry. I’m just having a hard time thinking through all this. The pictures, being out in public, Hacksmore being excited about it…and did you say we wereathing?”
I moved over onto the couch, beside him. Mac’s gaze shifted betweenus.
“We area thing,” I toldhim.
“No, we’renot.”
“Wait. What do you thinka thingmeans?”
“Maybe you should tell me what you thinka thingis first?” Dax asked, eyeing mesuspiciously.
“Why are you saying it likethat?”
“You’re not thinking that we’re, like, all having feelings for each other or wanting to do anything more than what we’vedone?”
“What? No. But I figured we are at least friendly…with clear benefits, which would beathing.”
“Okay, if that isa thing, then we are that thing, but onlythatthing.”
“I’m glad we had this important discussion,” I mocked, really just trying to get him to lighten up onceagain.
