Famous by Association

by Leddy Harper

  “Oh, anyway…you must come with me to try these little crab sticks things. They’re to die for.” And with that, Dave dragged Tiffany away.

  This had not gone at all how I’d planned.

  7

  Tasha

  By the end of the party—barbecue, whatever it was called—I was exhausted.

  This was technically my first real experience acting as Tiffany, and I had to say, I wanted off this ride. If I had to act like this every day in front of a camera, there was a good chance I’d be locked up in an institution by the end. Honestly, why would anyone want to be mean to such nice people on purpose? Then again, this was Tiffany we were talking about—she didn’t know the meaning of the word nice because she never gave anyone the time of day.

  There were still people milling about in the yard, but I was ready to go back to the house and hide out, where I could scrub off the seventy-seven layers of paint on my face and relax in a T-shirt in front of the TV with my best friend.

  But before I did that, I had to retrieve Tiffany’s shoes from the pool house.

  I hadn’t seen Jacoby around in a while, so I knocked on his door just in case he’d had the same thought I did and went home. It was more of a hopeful thought, because my only other option to find him was to ask around, and considering how rude I was to just about everyone here, the last thing I wanted to do was approach anyone. I never wanted to face these people again.

  I half-expected him to open the door, but I didn’t expect him to open the door in low-hanging sweats and no shirt.

  Not expected, but definitely appreciated.

  “Hey.” Only I could make a three-letter word sound like something you’d hear from a cat in heat. “I, uh…I just came by to get my shoes.”

  He nodded and then turned around, though he left the door open. I wasn’t sure if it was an invitation to come in or not, so I just waited on the front step. I could tell that throughout the party today, he’d become more and more distant, to the point he ended up disappearing altogether. I hated that, because I knew the reason, yet there wasn’t much I could do to change it.

  “Thank you.” I took the heels when he held them out, but I wasn’t sure what else to say, so I backed away.

  “Did I do something to you?” he asked, halting my exit. “Two days ago, we were playing video games and drinking beer, and everything was fine. Or, at least, I thought things were fine. Which is why your actions today have thrown me for a loop.”

  I knew this would come up, and I didn’t have a clue as to how I would explain it. There was no reasonable explanation for the way I treated him today. All I could do was apologize and hope that settled things.

  “Listen, Jacoby, I’m really sorry. I’ve just been really anxious lately, knowing that I’m going to have cameras following me around in a couple of weeks. I guess I’ve been too occupied making sure I have my game face on, is all.” I didn’t realize what all I had said until after the words came tumbling out of my mouth. This was why I should’ve just stuck with “I’m sorry” and been done with it.

  “Game face? What does that mean?”

  “You know…how the media sees me. How everyone sees me.”

  His brows furrowed, like he was examining me for something. “Are all the reports about you wrong? The ones that talk about how poorly you’ve treated waitstaff at restaurants, how dismissive you are to people on the streets? Are you saying that’s all an act?”

  What in Sam hades was I supposed to say to that?

  “I wouldn’t call it an act, per se. It’s more of a…difference in character. The public gets a completely different side of me than you’ve seen this past week.” If I didn’t shut up, I’d get my foot stuck so far down my throat, and there wouldn’t be a legal way out of it. “I don’t know how else to explain it. All I can say is, I’m having a difficult time maintaining two completely different personas.”

  He bobbed his head slowly in a hesitant nod. “Okay, I guess that somewhat makes sense. I’m not famous, so I can’t exactly argue with your reasoning. But I would like to say that I very much enjoy the nice, fun, carefree version of you who seems genuinely interested in what people around you have to say. So the next time that persona comes to the surface, I’d love it if she stopped by for a beer and a little one-on-one PlayStation action.”

  “I think that persona would enjoy that very much.”

  Acting like Tiff wasn’t the worst part. Becoming Tiff was what would eventually break me.

  While our goodbyes were somber, my walk home was worse. I felt awful, and not just in a “I feel bad about what I did” kind of way. No, I literally felt like someone had repeatedly punched me in the gut. Jacoby was a nice guy; he didn’t deserve the three-ringed circus that I’d gotten myself caught up in. If Tiff wanted to mistreat him, that was on her. I didn’t see why I had to do the same. It wasn’t like I had to worry about Jacoby blowing my cover—there were plenty of people who could vouch for Tiffany’s deplorable attitude.

  Either way, I felt defeated.

  “Has pretending to be Queen Bee gotten you this down in only two weeks? How in the world are you going to keep this up for two more months?” Dave paused the game he was in the middle of playing when I plopped down on the couch like a sack of potatoes.

  “I don’t think I’ll have too much of an issue being Tiff toward people I don’t know, or those who are just like her. But having to be cold and rude to someone I actually like is torture.”

  “Hold the phone…are you saying you like this guy? Like, like like?”

  I rolled my eyes and then stared at the ceiling for a very long moment, trying to figure out how to explain this to Dave without making the situation worse—which was his forte. “I think he’s a nice person who doesn’t deserve this attitude, fake or not.”

  “That might be all well and true, Tosh, but what are your options? It’s not like you can tell him the truth—you’re legally gagged. And if you’re nice to him now, what’s going to happen when the real Tiffany Lewis comes back? I can assure you that things will be even worse for him if that happens.”

  “I know, I know.” I buried my head in a pillow and let out a frustrated scream. When I was done, I was saddened to realize that it didn’t make me feel any better. “You didn’t see his face, Dave. You didn’t see how bothered he was by being treated like crap all day. I hate that.”

  “You like him, don’t you?” He held up one finger—rather close to my face—to keep me from speaking so he could add, “And don’t even think about lying to me. I can read you like a book.”

  “No, I don’t.” If that was a lie, then I was also lying to myself. “I’ve only hung out with the guy a couple of times. Do I think he’s the sexiest man I’ve ever seen? Absolutely. Do I think he’s nice and easy to be around? Of course. But that’s about all I know of him. I feel like I know more about his sister.”

  “This is why I told you to just sleep with him.”

  “I can’t do that. I may not know much about him, but we’re definitely beyond the level of strangers, so that won’t work.”

  He dropped his head forward and slowly shook it back and forth while tsking. “Girl, you’re in so much trouble.”

  “What? Why?” That at least got me to sit up straighter, rather than look like I was trying to get the couch to swallow me whole. “What did I do?”

  “Okay, so maybe you don’t like him…yet. But it is coming. And I don’t see how this could possibly end well for either of you. I love you, so if I thought there was a chance in hell, I’d be all for it. I honestly don’t see anything good coming from it. Not only will you get your heart broken, but you’ll basically be feeding him to the wolves.”

  “What if he signs an NDA?”

  “Yeah, that could work. Let’s call Ty and see what he thinks about that.” Each word was dipped in total sarcasm since we both knew Ty would never go for it. The fewer people, the better and all that jazz.

  I’d known from the very beginning that I was setti
ng Jacoby up for failure as far as Tiffany was concerned. As soon as I’d invited him to stay and hang out while I iced my ankle, I came to the conclusion that I was playing with fire. But what did I do? I cooked those Pizza Rolls and then took them over to his place. Not just that, but then I hung out and watched a movie with him. If I’d been fully submerged into the role I was being paid to play, that would have never happened.

  Except it did.

  And now I don’t know how to finagle my way out of it.

  Dave sighed, which immediately caught my attention. He knew me better than anyone, and as he moved to sit in front of me on the ottoman, he was about to give me a well-deserved reality check.

  “I’ve never known you to have a mean bone in your body. So the fact that you more or less befriended him—even though you weren’t supposed to—doesn’t surprise me. I’ve also never known you to be genuinely interested in many people. So the fact that you’re this twisted up about his feelings isn’t lost on me. I can only assume you’re interested in him as more than an acquaintance.”

  “Like I said before, Dave…I barely know him.”

  “But you want to know more.”

  I hadn’t really thought too much about that, but once I let his question sink in, I realized that, yes, I was interested in finding out more about him. Especially after today, when I learned about his sister and how much she did for the community.

  “Okay, so how about this?” He clapped and rubbed his palms together, excited about whatever idea he was about to unfold. “He’s under the assumption that you have a fiancé. You can’t really get out of that one, so use that as the buffer to get to know him on a friendly level. Then, right before the jig is up, explain to him the situation and hope like hell he isn’t pissed off at you for lying to him. Although, I’m sure that once he realizes you’re only saving him from the real Tiffany, he’ll forgive you. And then you might be able to explore something beyond a friendship if it’s what you both want.”

  “That’s actually a really good idea.”

  “What can I say…I’m an ideas man.” And then, as if we hadn’t just had a serious conversation, he went back to his video game. “You want a beer?”

  “Sure, I could use one right about now.”

  “Good. While you’re getting yours, grab me one, too.”

  Dave only had one more day in town before he had to go home. And Ty had already informed me that once he left, I would be spending every minute of every day training to be Tiffany. I only had a little over a week before the cameras showed up, so I needed to be ready.

  “How long is this going to take?” I asked Dave right before his scheduled phone conference with the youth center. Even when he was on vacation, he still had to work. Oh well, I couldn’t complain considering he wasn’t seven hours away.

  He sat at the breakfast bar with his laptop, a notebook, pen, tumbler that was more than likely filled with some sort of alcoholic beverage, and his cell phone. “If I had to guess, I’d say an hour or so. But after that, you get me all to yourself.”

  I rolled my eyes and plopped onto the couch, which wasn’t too far away from his temporary office. “Can’t you do that somewhere else, though? It’s interfering with my game time.”

  “This is the perfect spot, Tosh. I’m feet away from the fridge in case I get thirsty—or hungry—and there’s a toilet several feet in the opposite direction in case I drink too much and need to relieve myself. Anywhere else in the house, and I’d be inconveniencing the group.”

  I huffed and then pushed off the couch. “Fine, then I’m going next door to play.”

  He waved at me from over his shoulder, not bothering to turn away from his computer to even look at me. It was apparent that he’d completely turned his interest to his conference call.

  It’d been two days since the party in his back yard. Since then, I’d taken notice of when he was home, not in a stalkerish way, but more so I knew when to be outside just in case he happened to see me and say hi. That never happened, though. I didn’t get the impression that he was ignoring me, but I also didn’t get the feeling that he was willing to make any concerted effort to see me.

  Thankfully, I just so happened to notice his Jeep pull around about an hour ago, so I knew he was home. As annoying as it was that Dave prevented me from playing in the comfort of my own—Tiffany’s—living room, I did inwardly celebrate the opportunity to knock on Jacoby’s door.

  Which I did.

  He didn’t answer, so after several long Mississippi seconds, I knocked again. Still no answer. I glanced over my shoulder to peer down the side of the house to ensure his Jeep was still where he’d parked it next to the house. It was. So I knocked again. The third time had to be the charm.

  It wasn’t.

  Disappointed, I turned to leave, only to scream and jump at the sight of a very tall and sexy man right in front of me. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the shock of it had scared me so much that I awkwardly tripped over my own feet and nearly fell backward.

  Jacoby had a way of sweeping me off my feet—or knocking me off them, whichever way you looked at it.

  Luckily, though, he was able to catch me this time. He saved me from another sore ankle and whatever other injuries I might’ve endured from falling over. At least he found it funny; humor danced in his eyes as he held me to him. I was so mesmerized that I couldn’t move, so I just stood there, holding onto him as if my life depended on it.

  “What’s so funny?” I asked when his amusement became audible.

  “I asked you if you’re okay.”

  If he didn’t know his God-given gift of distracting women with his beauty, then it was not my place to explain it to him. I just laughed and pushed him away to stand on my own. “Yeah, I’m fine, thanks to you. Although, I wouldn’t have been in danger of getting hurt if you hadn’t snuck up behind me. You should really stop doing that, you know.”

  His smile was intoxicating. “I’m sorry. I was in the house visiting with my sister when I saw you walk over, so I thought I’d come see what you needed.”

  “Dave’s on a conference call.” I turned my attention next door, as if Jacoby needed guidance as to where this conference call was taking place. At least it gave me a moment to clear my head of all the inappropriate thoughts, his smile and eyes conjured up in my head. “So, I thought I’d see if you wanted to game for a bit.”

  “Sure.” He turned the handle and opened the door, although he held his arm out in a gentlemanly gesture for me to enter first.

  “You just keep your place unlocked like that? Aren’t you worried someone will rob you?”

  He shrugged, though one corner of his lips remained slightly curled in the hottest smirk known to man. “I can see my place from Jessa’s kitchen. If someone wanted to break in, they wouldn’t have enough time to take anything before I showed up.”

  “Good point.” Suddenly, I felt super uncomfortable. It was like I hadn’t thought through my entire plan. Now that I was here, I wasn’t sure what to do. It wasn’t like I could just hop on the couch and start playing without him.

  I casually moved toward the living room that reminded me so much of mine and Dave’s back home. And just like last time, the dragon tank in the corner caught my attention. It really was a beautiful display; he couldn’t deny his talent at making it. In fact, it was enough to make me interested in the books that had inspired it. Although, that would have to wait a while, considering I had boot camp in my very near future, and I doubted I’d have time to read anything.

  “What game would you like to play?” he asked as he turned on the console. He grabbed both controllers and then joined me on the couch. The best part about his sofa and what made it so much better than Tiffany’s was that there wasn’t much room, which meant we had no choice but to sit close together.

  “Whatever, it doesn’t matter. He said it’d be about an hour, so anything that we can play in that timeframe.” It was good that we were on a time limit; otherwise, I could’ve spent all day
at his place.

  As we played, I kept my eye on the clock, knowing how easily the time could get away from me if I wasn’t paying attention. After about forty minutes, it began to storm outside. Not just rain and wind, but bolts of lightning and heavy thunder that made his small pool house rumble.

  “Looks like you’re staying longer than an hour,” he said, almost teasingly, although part of me wanted to believe he was excited about that.

  Just then, another lightning bolt lit up the dark sky, immediately followed by a crack of thunder. It wouldn’t have been too bad if it hadn’t knocked out the power. “Yeah, and now it looks like we’re gonna be playing Monopoly instead of Minecraft.”

  “No, we’re not, because I don’t have Monopoly.”

  “What games do you have?”

  “PlayStation,” he said with a laugh, though it was obvious he wasn’t joking.

  “Then what are we going to do? Just sit here and twiddle our thumbs?”

  Without saying anything, Jacoby got up and went to another room. A minute or so later, he returned with a few candles and a lighter. They weren’t the type of candles one would use to make a room smell nice. They seemed to be more of the “essential” type, which was okay with me, because I wasn’t sure I’d be able to weather the storm if he set the mood with some exotic fragrance.

  “I also have these.” He pulled out a worn deck of cards from his pocket before taking a seat on the floor on one side of the coffee table.

  I slid off the couch to take the other side, sitting cross-legged in front of him, a flickering candle between us. This could go one of two ways, and at the moment, I wasn’t entirely sure if I cared which way it went.

  “I hope you don’t mind, but war is about the only game I remember how to play,” he said while shuffling the deck.

  “Fine by me.” The silence that filled the room as he dealt the cards between us became too overwhelming, and I needed to fill it with something. After contemplating what I should say for way too long, I decided to ask, “Why do you live in your sister’s pool house?”