That little tidbit of information has only come out twice in the media in the last four weeks, and Tillie’s been quick to quash that rumor, of course.
We’ve traveled halfway around the US, and we still have the other half left. Depending on how we go, we might add another month and go overseas. The thing is, with Ria and me not being intimate and her spending virtually all her time with Danger during the days preparing interviews and then doing the interviews, it only leaves us time at night to be together. She’s so exhausted by the end of each day that she pretty much falls asleep. I feel like our relationship is struggling, and I can’t help but notice that Lunar seems to be distracted.
Maybe she’s feeling the strain on her relationship too?
Or maybe I’m just reading too much into it?
I dunno…
We pull up at the television studio where we’re supposed to be performing, and Danger and Ria will do their usual interview.We all file into the back of the studio, and the producer comes up to shake Tillie’s hand.
“Miss Marks, we are going to bump the live performance. We want to extend the interview with Danger and Zaria. We feel it will pull a higher rating. You understand?”
I huff out a long breath along with Matt and Ryan as Tillie swallows hard and nods. “Um… sure. I’ll let Zaria and Danger know.”
“We’ve been axed,” Ryan says, more of a statement than a question.
“Yes, but at least they’re still promoting you in that timeslot,” Tillie says.
“True, I suppose,” Matt says, sounding as down as I feel.
“Don’t worry, guys, there’s always next time,” Tillie says with a weak smile and walks off toward Danger and Ria’s dressing rooms.
A little later, we are in the wings, watching as Danger and Ria are on stage for the interview. It’s going well, and Danger and Ria are answering the questions thrown at them like pros—the chemistry between them is great, actually a little too damn great. They look so comfortable with each other, and it is bugging me. This crap is almost bordering on flirtation between them. Before my thoughts get too carried away, Lunar walks up to me and leans into my side.
“Is it just me, or does it seem like they’re not acting anymore?” she asks.
Raising my eyebrow, I watch Ria place her hand on Danger’s arm and laugh. It’s a small gesture, but it unsettles me nonetheless. “They’re just friends, Lunar, like us.”
“Yeah, but I don’t touch you likethat.”
She’s right, she doesn’t.
Shit!Maybe Lunar’s seeing something I don’t want to.
“You don’t think they’re—”
Quick to cut her off, I reply, “No! He wouldn’t do that to you, Lunar.”
She nods. “Yeah, yeah, you’re right. He wouldn’t, would he?”
We both look back out at the stage where something funny is obviously said, and they look each other in the eyes and chuckle like two people deeply connected.
I take a deep breath. “No. He loves you, Lunar,” I say while she chews on her bottom lip.
“And doesshelove you?”
I shake my head. “It’s too early for that. She cares about me,a lot, I’m sure. But love? No.”
“Hmm…” Lunar murmurs.
“So we extended this interview because we have some breaking news. We wanted to get your opinion, Zaria… first hand,” the interviewer says, gaining my attention along with Tillie and Oliver.
“Ah, sure,” Zaria says, looking a little concerned.
I fully tense up.
Maybe they’ve found out about us?
