“We have Willa Stanton and Justin Justice from Triple Threat in the house!” Adelaide sang out.
The audience cheered.
Willa crossed her gorgeous legs and adjusted her dress before waving and smiling along with Justin.
“Now, no one take a potty break or get up for a snack because Willa and Justin apparently have some exclusive information for us, and you don’t want to miss it.” Adelaide went to sit behind her desk and leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands. “I want to hear it all. What do you two adorable kids have to say for yourselves? I for one am hoping it involves a ring and getting down on one knee.”
I didn’t realize I was growling until Victoria shushed me. “So impatient. Just keep watching.”
On screen, Willadidlook like she was about to throw up, not like someone trying to look happily engaged. I knew her well enough to see the anxiety others couldn’t.
“Thank you, Adelaide. But there are no wedding plans in our future.”
The audience gave a groan of disappointment.
Willa waited for them to quiet down. “When I created the concept of Triple Threat, and Justin here came on as a judge, there was an idea bandied around about having the two of us date, you know, to drum up ratings.”
Adalaide gasped, along with the audience. In Hollywood, it was done all the time. But no one ever came out and said it. I gripped the arm of the couch. What was she doing?
Justin put his hands out towards the audience in a placating motion. “Now hold on, ya’ll. Hear her out.”
Willa continued. “I insisted on bringing along Doug Keller, my costar from Strength Warriors. I trusted him as a friend, and we already had a natural chemistry. So, then it became a love triangle we’d play with on camera.” She reached out and gripped Justin’s hand, and he smiled at her.
I didn’t know what was truth anymore. Weeks ago, I’d put my head down and played my part, no longer knowing or caring what the strategy was. Maybe I’d never been in on any of it. Maybe Willa had lied to me from the very beginning. If it was possible, my heart hurt more than it had yesterday, hearing her fake confession of love. It had felt like a violation of the real friendship I thought we’d had.
“Justin here, was such a good sport. I didn’t go easy on him. There were times we made it look like I hated him. Like that’s even possible.”
Adelaide laughed. She was eating up every word.
I’d been a fool.
“But the truth is, Justin and I are friends. Good friends. But Doug and I…” Willa’s voice broke a little, and I leaned forward to better see the expression on her face.
“I’m in love with Doug, and this stupid love triangle has hurt both his reputation and our relationship. If you’re watching Doug, what I said yesterday is how I truly feel. I love you. I’m ready to leave Triple Threat if that what it takes to show you.”
The surprise from the audience was so loud, Adelaide waited a moment before responding. “You’re saying you love Doug Keller?”
“Yes.”
Victoria paused the TV. “I won’t insult your intelligence with the rest. Justin takes his turn talking about himself for another five minutes, like he was somehow your matchmaker. Then Adelaide shows clips from Triple Threat. So, what’s going on, Doug? Is Willa really in love with you?”
I stared at the paused TV, trying to make sense of it. “I don’t know what to think. I wasn’t in on any of … that. What did she mean, she’d leave the show? Did Alan make her do that?” Hope and doubt waged war in my heart. I didn’t know which side deserved to win.
“Hold on.” Victoria tilted her head, listening. “I think we’ll find out the truth in about five seconds.”
I heard it, too, the determined stomping of someone coming up to the door. It swung open, and Alan barged in.
He jabbed at the TV with his finger. “Did you and Willa set that up? Your little military coup to push Justin out of the way is not how things work around here. You’re done, Doug. You’re being replaced. Willa’s being replaced. Maybe Justin. What was he thinking, going along with that? I craft the storylines around here, not you.”
Victoria ignored him. She bent down and gripped my shoulders. “Doug, my darling, I think you have your answer. I wish you two the best.” She stood back to her full height and gave a little laugh. “Oh, Alan. I don’t think you have a romantic bone in your body. But, speaking of contracts, if I’m the only one carrying over to next season, I’d like to renegotiate for more air time and more money.”
Willa
We were driving back to the auditorium, and Justin sat across from me, humming in that self-satisfied little way of his. I hoped I hadn’t ruined everything in order to make him happy. There was no other way. I had to make it look like Justin had been in on it all along, restoring his reputation as a ladies’ man. And I’d had to make my announcement in the splashiest way possible so Alan would forgive me when he realized I’d guaranteed him the high ratings he’d longed for.
But none of it mattered if I lost Doug. Announcing you love someone on live TV is the most cliché gesture ever. There was no getting around that. But telling him in private didn’t work, and it certainly didn’t change the way Alan used us like puppets. The only way to change that was to tell the whole world.
Doug hadn’t called. Maybe he hadn’t seen it yet, though I’d let Victoria know this was an interview she wouldn’t want to miss. I’d been counting on her to spread the word, but I hadn’t heard from her either. My phone was face up on my lap. Blank. I was about to get fired from the show. I’d just admitted publicly that I’d willingly perpetuated a fraud. Maybe my career was over. I had to be out of my mind, but then, I’d heard love made you do insane things.
