As Jace had mentioned, he’d seen enough specials and documentaries and tabloids to know, at least in part, what I was talking about. Still, it was one thing to read about it or watch it on some crafted cable network’s docudrama. It was another to watch them unravel right before your very eyes, as I had with my mother…as I had with so manyothers.
“Then why work in PR? It clearly affects you. You’re obviously bothered by what it does topeople.”
“I guess I always had it in my head that I could maybe help someone else through the wreckage. Hasn’t been my experience, but occasionally I’ve been able to help people navigate that chaotic world. Or in some cases, help people pick up the pieces when the spotlight’s movedon.”
“Sounds like someone else runs into burning buildings for aliving?”
I had to laugh. “No need to make it sound more heroic than it is. For the most part, it doesn’t get that bad. And most of the time, the public’s moved on by the time these stars are at their most self-destructive. But I’ve learned I have a knack for it. I know this world, how it works, what it’s all about. Being realistic and not some starry-eyed kid makes me good at myjob.”
He eyed me skeptically, as though he knew my reasons didn’t explain itall.
“It’s complicated, Jace. I have a very complicated relationship with what I do, but obviously there’s more keeping me there than making me leave. Besides, as many disasters as I’ve met in my day, I’ve met some okay guys too.” I winked at him, and he smiled, the first since things had turned so serious after I got the news, though chatting with Jace had helped calm me down. “You’re easy to talk to. A good listener. Another thing I don’t see a lot in my job. A lot of people just like to hear themselvestalk.”
“Well, they’re missing out on that sexy resonance of your voice,then.”
I appreciated everything Jace was doing, that he was listening. It was helping me find my bearings, sort my way through the madness of everything those photos and the headline had stirredup.
“Regardless, thank you for listening. I think I’m coherent enough to come up with a game plan now, figure out what the hell I’m going todo.”
“Are you considering what Hacksmore said? About signing on to do promo stuff withme?”
“Hell no. That much, I already know. But I need to get my thoughts sorted around all this and get things squared away with Elliott and Carter before I have any more discussions with Hacksmore. Then you and I will need to have a talk about this mess when I can think straightagain.”
“I’ll be ready when you’re ready totalk.”
I offered a little scratch against Mac’s neck, glad that, like Jace, he’d been there for me during my minibreakdown.
Jace and I didn’t talk much more before I headed out. I was too busy trying to sort through my thoughts on everything that had happened. When I finally made it to the door to leave, Jace told me, “Just remember what you said about me being a good listener. I’m here if you needanything.”
“Thanks, man. And sorry again for any awkwardness with your family orfriends.”
“Least of myworries.”
Like when he’d disregarded my concern about him being outed, I was shocked by how comfortable he was with himself. That seemed to be the least troubling thing on his mind, and there was something refreshing about that. It reminded me how few shits Jace gave about other people’s impressions of him, which I knew was one of the things that fascinated me most about him. Because I was from a world where that was the most important thing topeople.
With his hand on my shoulder, he said, “You got this, man. Now come here.” He pulled me in for a much-neededhug.
I wasn’t the kind of guy who ever needed anyone to be there for me, but in that moment, I was glad Jacewas.
When I returned to the hotel, I met up with Carter in my room, and we perused the media together, catching up on the delicious tea circulating about Jace and myself—the fresh Instagram star and the has-been childstar.
“‘Lil’ Donnie Gibson All Grown Up,’ ‘How He Looks Today…and You’ll Never Guess Who He’s Dating,’ ‘Lil’ Donnie Gibson Has a Big New Hunk,’” Carter read the headlines he’d already saved on his computer, and kept on as I was similarly inundated with the glowing coverage about our secret tryst in thewoods.
It was the best-case scenario, and it would have been easy to go along with Hacksmore’s plan to milk the coverage, but I knew this business—how quickly the tables could turn, how sharp the fall couldbe.
No, that wasn’t for me. But what aboutJace?
I liked him, and I wanted to continue having fun with him, but now that everyone knew, could I even have that much? Could I endure the public’s gaze, live under scrutiny for something that had been so enjoyable insecret?
I knew what it was like to be lured into the spotlight by the promise of having all one’s dreams come true…to be so close that you felt the intensity of the heat. But what drew me now into the spotlight wasn’t dreams of stardom and fame. It was a man I grew increasingly drawn to with every passingday.
But I knew the consequences of getting too close to thatspotlight.
One way or another, you gotburned.
24
Jace
