by Bryce Oakley
"Hey!" Zoey said.
"Yeah, that's true," Domino said flatly.
"Celesbian-kissing Zoey," Billie continued.
"I'm sorry to tell you guys like this right before a thing," Zoey said.
"Remember when we all came out to you within like two months of one another?" Billie said, rolling her eyes.
"Fondly," Zoey said, laughing.
Billie laughed, too. "I came out to you crying over pitchers of beer. Domino came out to you by trying to kiss you—"
"—Really cemented our bond," Domino interjected.
Zoey laughed, rolling her eyes.
"Meg, how did you do it?" Billie asked, turning to Meg in the far backseat of the van.
"I think I just told her," Meg said. "Like any other normal, well-adjusted 19-year-old."
Zoey smirked. "No, you asked—"
Meg shook her head quickly. "Nope."
Zoey nodded. "Fine."
Billie and Domino looked back and forth between the two of them. Domino looked as if she was going to press the issue, but Billie shook her head subtly.
"Okay, do you want us to say anything if it gets brought up today?" Billie asked.
Zoey shook her head. "No, Micah and Sam gave me the talking points."
Micah opened the door, popping her head in. "You guys ready?"
Thirty minutes later, they were mic'd up and ready to go.
Zoey blinked into the bright ring lights on them as she shifted in her seat. Maggie, the producer, sat at the end of the table holding a tablet, asking the questions that popped up on the screen.
"What took y'all four years to put out this new album?" She read with a laugh.
Zoey grinned as the band laughed at the question. They had been getting that one non-stop for the past few years.
"We wanted to only put out the best music. That meant growing as humans, as artists, doing our own thing for awhile — Meg toured and recorded in Europe with another band, Billie wrote with other artists, Zoey became a fashion icon, and I drank a lot of whiskey," Domino said as the band laughed again.
"Billie, what's it like dating one of the most famous women in the world?" Maggie asked.
"Hectic," Billie said, grinning.
"What's your favorite song on the album?" Maggie asked.
"Kaleidoscope," Domino said.
"Just Making Sure," Meg said.
"Kaleidoscope," Billie said.
Zoey didn't answer. Nerves twisted in her stomach. Her palms were clammy. She rested them as casually as possible on her knees.
"Zoey, will you be modelling again anytime soon?" Maggie asked.
Zoey nodded. Ah, finally, a softball. "My contract says yes," she joked. "And of course. I love it. But maybe we can save it for after the tour."
"Well, about a million people are asking for tour dates. Any idea when those will be?" Maggie asked.
"We'll be releasing dates soon! Fall and early winter, then again in the spring," Billie said with a diplomatic smile.
"Meg, will you marry me?" Maggie asked.
"Is this a personal question or are you reading off the screen?" Meg deadpanned.
Maggie blushed, giggling. "The screen, of course."
"Then yes, nameless person. Consider us engaged," Meg said with a silly thumbs up.
Okay, it wasn't going terribly so far. They answered about ten more minutes of questions. Zoey stayed pretty quiet, keeping to herself.
"Zoey," Maggie started, watching the screen for a moment.
Zoey braced herself, squaring her shoulders and putting on a pleasant expression.
"Rumors about you and Pia Marino. True or false?" Maggie said. "Sorry, just paraphrasing. Lots of questions about it."
Collaboration.
Mentorship.
Just good friends.
The buzzwords ran through her head.
Domino glanced over at her with a small nod, as if to say, You got this.
"Pia's awesome. We've become good friends while collaborating on a project," Zoey began, but the lie felt ridiculous.
"So, that's a false?" Maggie said.
Zoey paused.
"What does it matter?" Meg said, frustrated.
Zoey blinked, unsure how to reel Meg back in.
"No, this is bullshit. We're a band of proud, queer women — with so many definitions of that word — and we do not scrutinize our sexualities for the public eye," Meg said, her expression darkening.
Oh God, this was going so off-script.
"We do not care who Zoey dates or does not date," Domino said.
Billie chimed in, "And neither should you. Do y'all want to ask us more questions about our music? Isn't that why we're here?"
The fact that Meg and Dom had made such a big deal out of it made her feel uncomfortable.
She was grateful for the support, and proud to have two bodyguards on either side of her, but it was her story to tell.
It was her story to tell.
Not her PR team's.
Not Pia's PR team's.
And hell, speaking of PR, in that moment, she knew exactly what to do to get the attention back on the music.
It was her music’s time to shine.
"Listen, I wrote all about it in a song on the album called 'Midnight.' All you have to do is listen if you really want to know," Zoey said, winking with a sly smile.
The rest of the band laughed, but Billie glanced at her quickly with a startled expression.
Behind the camera, Micah was slapping a palm to her forehead, her jaw slack.
Somewhere in a fancy office downtown, Pia's PR team was probably preparing to have her bound and gagged.
And what would Pia's reaction be?
Zoey didn't hear a single question or answer past that.
She felt as though she was floating.
She had directed the narrative, because it was her story to tell.
And for better or worse, she had told it.
Chapter Forty-Six
Pia
Pia sat in her office, her phone in her hand, watching the live Q&A with The Shrikes. She had rushed through a writer's meeting to be able to watch it live, because she knew, she just knew that someone would ask about her and Zoey.
She watched, feeling tender for Zoey as Meg, Domino, and Billie publicly shamed people who were obsessed with people's personal lives. Zoey had good people around her, that much was true. And she knew that somewhere off-set were Sabrina and Vero in her court, too.
Now, as to what Micah was thinking during all of that...
"Listen, I wrote all about it in a song on the album called 'Midnight.' All you have to do is listen if you really want to know," Zoey said, winking at the camera as a mischievous smile curved the edge of her mouth.
Fuck.
Pia nearly fell out of her chair. Her feet slipped off the desk and she fell forward, her phone flying out of her hands.
"What the fuck," she said, more to herself than directed at anybody.
Not that she could be cursing anyone, since she had locked herself away in her office so that she'd have some privacy. For this very reason.
Had Zoey just used their relationship to get her song publicity?
Had Pia just used the word relationship for what she and Zoey had?
Had Zoey planned that little stunt?
Was this Zoey's plan all along?
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
She was so confused.
Her desk phone rang almost immediately.
Not a good sign.
Damage control was already spinning their wheels.
She picked up the receiver. "This is Pia," she said, swallowing hard. She stretched the cord as far as it went so that she could pick her phone up from the ground near her couch.
"Ms. Marino," Eva began. "I'm not sure if you—"
"Yep, I saw it," Pia said. "And I'm not interested in figuring out a strategy to make her redact her statement or put out a countering statement."
"Pia, I'm going to level with
you," Eva said, her tone dipping lower in seriousness.
"Why do I have the distinct feeling I'm not going to like what you say?" Pia said, scrubbing her face with her hand.
"Because you're not. But you pay me to do this job properly, and so I'm going to give you my professional opinion," Eva said.
Pia nodded. "Alright, do your worst."
"We have to keep this quiet until after the Sheila conversation. Or, if you'd rather, we can cancel the Sheila conversation," Eva said. "But you cannot both be an advocate for your deceased wife's illness and a person parading around town with a much younger woman."
"Wow, don't spare my feelings, Eva," Pia said, holding her cell phone in her hand.
A text from Zoey came through.
Zoey: If you already saw, I'm sorry that I didn't discuss that with you first. It wasn't planned.
Sure looked planned.
Pia didn't respond, fearing her words wouldn't be coming from a place of patience and understanding at the moment.
"It's not a good look," Eva said, her tone softer.
"No, you're right," Pia said, sinking back in her chair. "Let's... I don't know. Don't do anything yet. Let me think before we do anything. Or maybe we'll do nothing and just lie low. God, I don't fucking know."
"I have some ideas, but we can wait for a few hours if you need," Eva said.
"A few hours?" Pia asked, her voice nearly squeaking with surprise. She cleared her throat.
"I'll call you later this afternoon for a new strategy," Eva said.
After Eva hung up, Pia stared down at her phone.
The text from Zoey looked innocent enough.
Had she been played?
Had Zoey's lack of commitment been specifically for this very reason?
She groaned. Why was she even thinking that? It had been her lack of commitment, too.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
A knock sounded on the door. Pia glanced towards it, uncertain if she needed to see a human face at the moment. No, she couldn't derail her career just because she was lovesick. Or sick of love. Or in agony over love lost, whatever poetic term she could call the sick and anxious feeling in her gut.
"Come on in," she called out.
Kelly poked her head in the door. "Do you have a minute?"
"Now's not a good time," Pia said, rubbing at her aching temples.
Kelly shut the door behind her. "I, uh, know that you're going through something right now," she began.
Pia raised an eyebrow, watching as Kelly crossed the room and sunk down in a chair across the desk from her.
"May I offer some advice?" Kelly asked, politely smiling.
Pia nodded, still skeptical. "Sure," she said.
"You've dated no one publicly in ten years, correct?" Kelly asked.
Pia nodded.
"And most people don't even know you're a widow," Kelly continued.
Pia paused, but nodded.
"Why did this go so public so fast, then?" Kelly asked, tilting her head.
"What do you mean?" Pia asked.
"I think that you need to be asking yourself the hard questions. Someone close to you or Zoey leaked this. If not Zoey herself," Kelly said.
"Zoey herself?" Pia asked, surprised that someone else was thinking that, too. A mixture of guilt and relief flooded through her.
"I'm not saying it was Zoey. I'm saying that someone leaked that information and has photos of you. And how would they have gotten those photos? They had to be conveniently at the right place at the right time," Kelly said.
Pia nodded.
"So, make a list of everyone who knows," Kelly said. "Everyone. And then start narrowing it down."
Pia's mouth went dry at the thought. "This is overwhelming," she said.
Kelly stood. "I know it seems that way now, but it's for the best. We'll get through it. A little scandal might even boost viewership," she said. "Alright, I have other fires to put out, but let me know if you need anything."
And just like that, Kelly dropped a grenade into a room and ran out.
Pia stared down at her phone, then hit the call button next to Zoey's name.
"Hey," Zoey said, her voice sounding... nervous?
Her nervousness set Pia on edge.
"Hey, I'm going to give you an address, and I want you to meet me there at 11pm tonight," Pia said.
"Cryptic, but okay," Zoey agreed.
Pia texted her the address, and then she leaned back in her chair, trying to mentally and emotionally piece together a plan.
* * *
Pia paced the front room of the house. It was a home she owned in Dana Point — the home she had made with Elle before her death.
She rarely went there anymore, but she kept it. Selling it seemed wrong, like she was throwing away all of the memories they had made there.
But in truth, it still felt like a tomb.
The home was nearly empty. She had a regular cleaning crew and minimal furniture, but overall, it was a relic.
A haunted, symbolic place for her meeting with Zoey.
But, for better or worse, it seemed like the only place where she and Zoey wouldn't be caught by paparazzi.
She sipped from a glass of wine that she had brought for the occasion. A Pinot Noir that she loved. It had a smooth, silky texture that she hoped would make what she was about to talk to Zoey about go down a little easier.
She was going to end things with Zoey.
They had only ever wanted something casual. Fun. Carefree.
And now?
Everything was a mess, and throwing it all away on a woman who could be using her wasn't a choice she was going to make lightly.
Zoey arrived at exactly 11pm. She stood on the doorstep smiling, wide and happy.
And why shouldn't she be?
She was getting so much attention for her song and for their "relationship" that Pia was having a difficult time believing she hadn't orchestrated the entire event. She even had the nerve to be wearing a very cute sundress with a cut out at her waist, her dark skin looking positively gorgeous against the light fabric.
"Thanks for coming," Pia said.
"Funny, you usually say that to me at the end of the night," Zoey said, smirking.
Pia grinned despite herself, letting Zoey in. Zoey awkwardly shuffled past Pia as if she didn't know whether they should hug or kiss or... shake hands politely.
"I figured neutral ground would keep the paps away," Pia said, glancing out the door before shutting it.
"Good thinking. What is this place?" Zoey asked,
"My old home," Pia said.
Zoey's eyes widened as recognition dawned on her face. "Oh, did you live here with Elle?"
Something painful twisted inside Pia at the way Zoey said her wife's name.
Pia cleared her throat and nodded. "Do you want a glass?" She asked, gesturing behind her to the bottle of wine on the countertop and the single glass beside it.
"Um, sure," Zoey said, sitting down on the couch.
Pia walked to the kitchen island and poured the wine.
"I'm truly sorry about today being kind of a... surprise. I wasn't totally expecting that to happen, either. Is that what you wanted to talk about? You seem upset," Zoey said, stumbling over the rush of her words.
Pia nodded, handing her the glass and sitting in a chair opposite her. "Yes, Zoey, that's why I'm upset," she said.
"Well, talk to me about it so that we can figure it out together," Zoey said.
“I’m interviewing Elle’s mother in a week on the show and I can’t be making headlines about having a fling with a much younger woman. Do you understand what that looks like?” Pia said, her eerily calm voice surprising even herself.
Zoey’s eyes widened. “I didn’t know,” she said. Recognition dawned on her face. “The guest you’re terrified to interview… you mentioned it back at the party when we first met and made me guess, but I never found out.”
Something tugged at Pia’s heartstrings hearing Zoey’s memo
ry of something she had said seven months ago. She willed herself to be stronger.
“You didn’t know. I’ve been trying to keep that part of my life separate from you, but that’s not right. This interview is really important to me,” Pia said. “I have to maintain a certain appearance in order for the segment to land, and it has to land.”
Zoey nodded solemnly. “I wish you had told me,” she said.
"Tell me the truth. Why did you say it?" Pia leaned forward, her stare trying to pierce through to Zoey's soul.
"Well," Zoey said, fidgeting with the hem of her dress. "I... I panicked."
"You didn't look like you were panicking," Pia said calmly.
"I had to act like that," Zoey said. "And I framed it so that people are talking about the song again instead of us."
"No, they're talking about the song in order to talk about us," Pia said, raking a hand through her hair. "Do you think that my PR team is stupid?"
Zoey shook her head. "No," she said warily.
"Do you think that I pay people who don't know what they're talking about?" Pia said.
Zoey lowered her gaze to stare at something on the dark hardwood floor. "No," she said.
"Well, then you should fucking listen to them when they tell you the strategy to take," Pia said.
"Easy for you to say," Zoey said, her brow snapping together. "You came out so long ago that it's one of the least interesting things about you."
Pia raised her eyebrows in surprise. "What does that even mean?"
"It means that all of this is new for me. I don't want to spend my entire promotional tour talking about my sexuality or who I'm dating or... or you. I've worked my ass off to make this record even come to fruition, and I want people talking about the music," Zoey said, her voice growing more ragged the angrier she got.
"Did you orchestrate this entire thing?" Pia said through gritted teeth, gesturing between the two of them.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Zoey said.
"No. Tell me the truth," Pia said.
Zoey's eyes widened with surprise. "You kissed me. And then you pursued me, remember? The wine cellar, eating pho, Nashville... You chased me."
Pia shook her head, feeling more confused than ever. "I just have a hard time believing you're not benefitting from this," she said, her voice sounding cold and miles away.