I laugh but it’s humorless.“You said, verbatim, ‘Show her how you feel and then take the next indicated step’ and that’s what I did!”My feet start involuntarily pacing the room.
“Nooo, I said tell her.You heard ‘show her’ because you probably wanted to kiss her, but that’s all on you.”
Shoot, I think she’s right.I run my free hand up my face.
“Okay, so how do I fix this?”She had advice before.She’s a girl...she’ll have advice now.
“Oh, yeah, I’m not sure you’re coming back from this.”
“What?From one kiss!That’s crazy!”
“It’s not about the kiss, you meathead!”
“What’s it about then?”We’re yelling at each other now, like it’s the most natural thing, until she breaks it with a low chuckle.
“It’s not about big gestures, as much as Hollywood wants to make it seem like that.She wants to feel seen.She wants to be loved, cherished, and safe.Like the two of you are in your own little world.”
“I want all those things too,” I argue.
Her answer is quiet.“Then make it happen, cowboy.”
Click.
I need to go find Tate.I toss my phone onto my bed and head out.I’m going to tell her, with words, how I feel about her.Wait, no...apologize and then confess.I check the theater, the study, the kitchen, and the studio—no Tate.For that matter, no anyone.My feet take strides back upstairs, then down the hall to where her and Gabriella’s room is.In the doorframe, I pause, trying to remember what Kim said, when I hear her voice.
“It’s not that easy, G.”
“Getting out of bed is, in fact, very easy.We do it every morning, but you have been sulking and I’m not sure why.The kiss was hot and I’m not the only one who thinks so.”
“Please don’t be cryptic right now.”
“I’m not!And I prefer mystifying.You’re all over the web.People are eating up, Tay-vai.”
“Who is Tay-vai?”
“How have you been on this earth for twenty-four years and not know about the celebrity couple name mash-up?”
I feel like a child with my face pressed to the door of my parents’ room trying to figure out what they got me for Christmas.I know this is wrong.An invasion of privacy.On top of the moral obligation to walk away, I also don’t want to get caught.Gabriella is scary and I’m not sure I can handle being in any more trouble with Tate.A large squeak from the mattress wails out like someone just jumped on the bed.
“Look, I know you don’t have socials, but you guys are everywhere.”
“No way.That is so weird.”
“Look, there you guys are in the studio...How did they get that?”
“Oh, yeah.”Tate lets out a heavy sigh.“Jan told us there are cameras throughout the property that we apparently signed releases for.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Ow.Gabriella, you can’t hit.”
“I would have done things so differently...”
There’s a pause.“Like what?”I hear Tate say.
“I dunno.Maybe found a guy to write a rom-com with.Seems to be working out for you.”
“I didn’t plan this.Unlike you and Levi and probably everyone in this house, I’m not the girl who just goes around kissing people for fun.”
