I hate that Jared is in on this, because even though we’re just pretending, it feels way too personal to have a third party involved. Although, who knows how many others are going to see stills of this, so I guess it’s not private regardless.
“Alright, I think we got what we were aiming for. I’m going to hang up now. But don’t just pull away from each other all sudden like, please. Act natural.”
The line goes dead.
Slowly, I draw back a bit, but I don’t take my hands off of Harmony just yet, and she doesn’t take hers off of me either.
I swallow hard, then clear my throat.
Now she pulls back and finally we separate ourselves completely.
I take off my hat and drag my fingers through my hair. “This is harder than I thought.”
“Yeah …” she says.
Some part of me thought Harmony might see reason if I just took a second to try and talk to her, but it seems like shewantsto see me the way she does. The same way everyone else wants to see me
“We should call it a day,” I say. “We did what we came to do. A lot of people saw us. We don’t need to sit through the shows too. There will be plenty of opportunities to make another public appearance in the upcoming weeks.” Although I think about playing this game in the future, again and again, and a dull ache forms around my temples.
Harmony nods.
I call our driver to meet us out front.
We get in the limo and ride in silence back to Glambam headquarters, where our own vehicles await us.
I drive home listening to Bon Iver and thinking about what Harmony said:“No doubt you’ve compromised your values many times.”
Lying is against my values, but I’ve been doing it for three-plus years now.
I am—or have some desire to be—a cowboy. Lie.
I am passionate about country music. Lie.
I am dating Harmony Sonora. Lie.
And the latest one: I don’t have feelings for Harmony at all.
Lie.
RACHEL:Griffin James Hurley.
GRIFFIN:… Yes?
RACHEL:What’s this I’m reading online about my own brother DATING the very girl who’s been trashing him in her songs for months??
GRIFFIN:To be fair, I’ve also been trashing her in mine.
RACHEL:Because she STARTED it.
GRIFFIN:I chose to engage.
RACHEL:Is this real?! I saw clips of you guys singing a duet, and now there’s photos of you together at the Glo Radio thing.
GRIFFIN:If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck …
RACHEL:You have to be kidding. HER?!?!
GRIFFIN:You sure are doubling up on a lot of your punctuation.
