Several minutes later, when everything is almost ready, Luke stumbles in, yawning and running his fingers through his bed hair. Even like this, first thing in the morning and barely awake, he is the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen. My heart skips a beat every time I see him walking towards me, just from knowing he’s mine.
He wraps his arms around me and lowers his head to kiss me. As we end the kiss, I see one hand sneak behind me to grab a piece of bacon. I playfully admonish him for it and he laughs as he gets plates out for us. I realize that I could do this for the rest of my life and be completely happy.
As soon as we finish breakfast, Luke’s phone starts ringing and then mine. We each answer and immediately look at each other. It seems our dinner was indeed fodder for the tabloids and our picture has been all over the news this morning. Our friends and family call one after the other to confirm the news is true and to congratulate us.Apparently there was at least one rumor that I am pregnant because Linda demanded to know if we were really having a baby.
“Do I look fat?” I asked, as I turn sideways and examine my stomach in the full length mirror.
“No, you don’t look fat. At all. Why would you even think that?” Luke asks.
“Because they said I’m pregnant! Do Ilookpregnant?” I poke my stomach out and pull my shirt tight against me. “That’s it. I’m exercising more.”
Luke laughs and tackles me to the couch. “Exercise all you want – you’re not fat. You’refine, woman!”
Now the world knows we’re engaged and they all think I’m fat and pregnant. Nice.
The rest of the week is pretty much the same. More pictures of Luke and me at the restaurant. All different, unflattering angles and more speculation of why he proposed. So many vicious rumors about us both and most of them are not even based on a sliver of truth.Bastards.
The promotional ads for the talk show have started. Thankfully they had already recorded the ads or I’m sure they would be littered with these recent pictures and rumors, too. For now anyway, the ads only show me at my birthday celebration and, of course, the psychiatric hospital pictures. I hope Jackson is shitting his pants right now.
I’m on my way to the broadcasting studio now so I know the ads will change soon. We film today, they quickly edit and then the show airs a week from today. They will redo the ads to include clips from the interview, and I’m sure, pictures of our dinner where Luke proposed.
I’m in the waiting room and the staff are buzzing around me. One offered me coffee or water. Another is updating my makeup and hair. Yet another adds a little more volume to my hair and makes sure I’m overall acceptable for the cameras. I did notice that no one came right out and asked, but they all looked at my stomach.Theyall think I’m fat and pregnant, too.
Before the studio audience is brought in, the hostof the talk show, Lindsey Blair, explains how everything will be handled. She will make the introductions and I will enter from the side of the stage on her cue. She has a list of pre-printed questions that I have about an hour to review.
She will then open up the floor to the audience to ask me questions directly. Only the best questions and answers will be used in the final edited version of the show. I remind her that I have final executive say on the editing of all questions and answers. She doesn’t like it but she concedes.
Her assistant just knocked on my door to alert me of the two minutes mark. I wipe my sweaty palms on a towel and walk the long corridor to the backstage area alone. I stop to listen to her introduction of me.
“Joining me today is Andi Morgan, daughter of the late Max and Katie Morgan. Andi officially inherited the lucrative MaxMorgan Music on her recent 25thbirthday and reportedly sold it for billions. Andi still maintains her position at theTough Enoughgym and also volunteers at a local youth center.
Andibecame instantly famous after the release ofthesepictures of her in a psychiatric hospital at the young age of 15 and the amazing behind the scenes story of why she was hospitalized. Andi is here to tell us the shocking story in her own words. Please join me in welcoming Andi Morgan toThe Lindsay Blair Show.”
The crowd applauds and I walk across the stage with a smile plastered to my face. I give a small wave to the crowd as I pass by, shake Lindsay’s hand and take my seat beside her. Her smile is warm and friendly, but the deep-rooted ambition is evident in her eyes. She wants the story, the scoop, the exclusive – she wants the recognition of being a tough interviewer. I’m about to give her the story of her life.
“Andi, welcome to the show. We had so many people who wanted to be part of the audience today that we couldn’t take them all. That has never happened before. Needless to say, there are a lot of people who are interested in your story. So, for the sake of time, let’s get started.
Tell us, Andi. Did you attempt to murder your foster father?”
That question was not on the list she gave me not an hour before. The gleam in her eyes says she knows she’s thrown me a curve ball and she’s sure I will strike out.
Guess again, girlie.
“Yes. I certainly did,” I reply matter-of-factly. Then I smile knowingly at her as her jaw drops open and she stammers for the next question.
“Care to elaborate?”
I was expecting something much more hard hitting from thisBarbara Walters wanna-be, but this question actually puts me in a much better position to tell the entire story first and then let others ask me specific questions.
So I start from the very beginning of what I consider my story, my parent’s death, and walk them through every step of my life until today. I held nothing back. I told them all about my mom’s cousin giving up to the state and being bounced to the numerous foster homes.
I explained how and why I ended up in the psychiatric hospital, why I applied for legal emancipation and how Mack took Shane andme under his wing. I even told them the reason for all my tattoos, the color in my hair and the youth center.
I ended my story with telling him about Luke proposing to me inourrestaurant. By the end of my life-story recount, Lindsay had tears inhereyes and several people in the audience were audibly crying and sniffling.
Lindsay grabbed and squeezed my hand in a show of support and solidarity. When I realized she was still unable to speak, I continued filling in the silence.
“I’d like to share with you why Shane Fowler has recently become a target of a vicious campaign to ruin his career. Shane has been like a brother to me and has only ever protected me. What he has been accused of is absolutely completely false and has been orchestrated specifically to make me keep my secrets.
