I spot her icy cool-blonde hair instantly. With each glossy smile and hair flip that feels like a natural twitch, a loud, roaring fire builds in my stomach.
Sloane must’ve gone back to finish up their press coverage, because they are still taking photos in front of the backdrop. Still doing press interviews. From afar, I see her handler placing another piece of popcorn in her mouth like she doesn’t possess hands. A pit forms in my stomach.
This time, it’s not nerves.
I can feel Skye’s energy coming at me all at once. I don’t even need her nudge this time to tell me what I know in my gut to do.
“Go over there and verbally obliterate their asses,” Skye whispers. My feet are already charging in their direction.
No army of people or security guards could stop me from what I will consider me “blacking out” in a rage when I spot a microphone lying on a media cart—just waiting for me.
“So what was the casting process like?” the interviewer asks.
“Daunting. They really had me work for it, but I was so glad I got to play such a complex character.”
Something inside of me snaps.
I walk up slowly behind the interviewer, catching Sloane’s eye and gracing her with a slow and stretching smile. Leaning in close to the interviewer’s ear, I murmur, “You’re going to want to record this.”
I shove the microphone inches from Sloane’s mouth, watching the color drain from her face. The interviewer looks to be in her mid-twenties as well, just standing there unmoving, in pure shock. Probably her first big break on the carpet. As much as I hate to do this to her, it has to be done.
Graham is standing beside Sloane, looking lovingly into her eyes. I’m sickened by the sight. Were they in it together—playing a game like Holden and I were? Or was she just a selfish social climber bound to fuck the next shiny thing that dangled in front of her?
It takes them a few moments before they both tilt their heads to the side, piecing together their interview has derailed. It’s my turn to ask questions…
Starting with, “The two of you have been together so long. Did you both start dating on the set ofAll or Nothing?” I push the microphone even closer to her mouth.
Graham reaches for her arm, wrapping his fingers around her to give a gentle squeeze.
“You’re Charlotte Tate, right?” he asks.
His voice is warm and inviting. Another boy with curated charm. I blink hard, refusing to answer, my eyes locked on only Sloane.
“Was it before, during, or after your relationship with Holden?”
A nervous laugh creeps out of Sloane, darting her eyes between the other interviewer and Graham. She doesn’t say a word, letting Graham drive the conversation.
“Sloane and I couldn’t deny our feelings for each other shortly after the show wrapped. We are so happy we got to meet each other on set. We owe that show a lot…” He grins, satisfied withhis own answer. I match his grin as I point the microphone toward him now.
“How is your relationship with Holden now? Do you owe anything to him?”
“What about it?” Graham chimes in again.
I push my head back into my neck with a slight smirk and ask, “Rumors say that your dating timeline isn’t the most accurate…” I let my words trail off.
In the corner of my eye, I see her handler passing another piece of popcorn. As she is chewing, she pitches in with, “Rumors are just that. Rumors.”
“Speaking of rumors. You and Theo look super friendly.”
“What are you getting at?” Graham barks back.
“Nothing, just trying to understand the timeline. I can understand how things can blur on a set.”
“Have you ever been on one?” Sloane chuckles, and this only makes the smile on my face spread wider.
“What inspired you to play such a noncommittal, relationship-phobic person in this film? The character clearly carries a lot of emotional baggage.”
Sloane’s jaw ticks as she takes the microphone from my hand and stares down the barrel of the camera.
