“We wanted to discuss the direction we’re going with Decker. So far, everything we’ve implemented has worked out as planned,” Antonia says calmly.
My mother’s calm falters for a moment as the excitement fizzes out of her. “Have you seen the headlines this morning?”
I shake my head.
She nudges Antonia who pulls out her trusty tablet. “Pop Queen’s New King.” She scrolls again. “Decker Trace: King of Lena Lux’s Heart. The Player and the Pop Star: The Greatest Love Story of the Season.”
“That all sounds a bit dramatic,” I say.
“Say what you will, but it proves the strategy is already working,” my mother says through a tight grin.
Antonia clears her throat, her tawny finger prodding her tablet. “We do want to give you both a little more time together in the spotlight; however, we don’t want to drag this out too long. We want to finish on a high note.”
“I hardly think a breakup is ever perceived as a ‘high note,’” I say dryly.
Her eyes narrow behind her thick-framed glasses. “Let me rephrase that. We want to finish with abang. In this case, I think it’d be best if you two end it the same way you started it.”
“How we started?” I ask.
“Online. A breakup announcement at the pinnacle of your new relationship will completely flood all of the searches. I think we may be able to completely drown out any leftover rumblings about the whole music hall thing.” Antonia taps across her screen. “We have yet to notify Jason, but at this point, Decker’s gotten what he signed up for, so I think they’ll both let us carry the rest of this out as we see fit.”
“What he signed up for?” My brows crinkle. I feel so lost.
“His brand deal. Just between us, he was hoping for something with Vital Reign, and his call came in this week. They’ve reinstated his offer to be their first male spokesmodel.”
“Oh. Right.” I try not to sound completely clueless, but I’m not sure I’m fooling anyone.
She nods as my mother finally chimes in. “I think they were secretly hoping he’d bring you along for a photo shoot, but they’d never be able to pay enough to get you into their ads.” She cackles and Antonia titters back.
I nod along like I’m not a little insulted he never mentioned this to me. Why didn’t he tell me? Maybe I was misreading things, but I thought we were at least close enough to discuss our deal together. What else do fake boyfriends and girlfriends talk about when they aren’t accidentally sending semi-nudes and pretend-kissing each other?
A tablet lands in my lap and I pick it up, staring at the screen.Vista City Victory Gala: For the people who help our city win.“I didn’t think I was going this year. It’s the weekend I’m supposed to be in Florida. To see Dad.”
My mother clucks. “We can fly him here. It’s important that you and Decker are seen together in public in a big way before calling it quits. We want everyone to fall in love with the idea of the two of you. Your posts online have done well so far, but we’ve skimped on the appearances aspect.”
“I don’t want dad to fly here. I want to go home. It’s his birthday,” I argue.
“Lena, did you not hear anything I said?” My mother’s pert nose turns red. “We can fly him here if you insist on seeing him. Vista City is a much better birthday destination than that dilapidated town anyway. You and Decker will go to this event, you’ll be happy and in love, and then soon after, you’ll pull the plug on the whole thing.”
“It really is brilliant. I couldn’t have come up with it all on my own.” Antonia beams at my mom. “Not only will everyone be blindsided that a happy couple is splitting—obviously amicably; we’ll work out those details later—but it’ll swamp the sports forums too. Everyone will be freaking out about whether or not it’ll ruin the Kings’ Super Bowl chances. That is, if the Kings make it to the playoffs and beyond, as projected.”
Everything boils inside, coming to a head. I stand, too caught up in my mother changing my plans, forgetting about the tablet in my lap. Antonia snatches it right before it hits the ground. “I know you don’t want to see Dad, Mom, but I do. I’m not letting you take this from me.”
“We wouldn’t have to do it this way if you hadn’t screwed everything up, Lena.” My mother steps forward, pointing a sharp nail in my direction. “When you stop being so determined to ruin your reputation, then we can talk. But you’re doing this. I’ll notify your father tonight. We’ll have someone arrange his flights immediately.”
I chew my lip, clamping down on any unsavory words that have cropped up. Without another word, I turn and leave, sending Gustav a text to let him know I’m ready to go to the studio.
“I wasn’t finished,” my mother tries, but I keep moving.
Distance is the only thing that can shut her up for now. I don’t want to think about my ruined plans or losing Decker. I’mnot sure what my mom and her sidekick’s plans were, but I don’t care. It’s been too long since I’ve seen my dad, since I’ve been home.
I open Decker’s chat, and though I’d like to ask him why he didn’t tell me about Vital Reign, I know I’ve got secrets too. Ones he’ll find out soon enough, like the fact that we now have a finite date for when this facade will come to an end. Without thinking, I text him something rambly about being stuck at the studio for the rest of the night. Which means no karaoke. Do I want to be trapped at the studio? No. But at least I can lock myself in a soundproof box there. And right now, I don’t want to hear anything but the music I’ve dedicated my entire life to. The only steady, unchanging thing, it seems.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
DECKER
Karaoke isn’t asentertaining tonight. Lena’s never even come with me, yet somehow I feel her void. I want her here. This place probably isn’t her scene, and I try to picture her gliding around tables and people, the tang of hops and old frying oil destroying her own sweet scent.
