The Fiction of Forever (A Stand By Me Novel Book 2)

by Brinda Berry

  “It’s like a train wreck.”

  “What is?”

  “This media coverage. I keep telling myself not to watch, but then I can’t look away.”

  “That’s what you wanted.” I walk to my vanity and sit in the chair. Picking up a hairbrush, I drag it through the mess.

  He sits on the edge of my bed. It’s the first time he’s come into my room in ages. “You want to call a decorator in to redo this room?”

  I chuckle under my breath and pull my hair back in a headband. “I’m not living with you forever. I thought I’d be moving into Mason’s after the wedding. I’ll find an apartment. Do I need to move soon?”

  He rises and strolls across to a wall filled with photos. He’s removed his suit jacket and loosened his tie. Still, he hasn’t taken the tie completely off. That would be far too relaxed. “You could stay,” he says. “I don’t mind. It’s a big house.”

  “I appreciate the thought.” I grab a tube of makeup remover and a cotton pad. In the mirror, I notice he’s studying all my photos. “Is that what you wanted to talk about?”

  He’s silent until he takes a photo off the wall and turns around while gazing down at it. “Did I go to this?” He holds up my Teen USA photo.

  I scrunch my forehead. “I don’t remember. But I’d guess not.”

  “I’m sorry I missed it.”

  I shrug and never take my eyes from him. “It wasn’t important.”

  He meets my gaze. “It was. Do you mind if I take this and make a copy? I’d hate to think I don’t have one.”

  “You can have it. I have a box full of photos.”

  Dad studies it for another moment. Then he lifts his gaze to meet mine in the mirror. “Elena called me today.”

  I raise one eyebrow. He never mentions Mom. But I don’t either, so we’re even on that score. “Why?”

  “To tell me how embarrassed she was over the show and the news.”

  I stay silent. I forget how much I despise her until times like this.

  He fidgets, shoving one hand in the pocket of his jacket. “It’s water under the bridge, what happened between you and your mother when you were younger, but I’m ashamed that I wasn’t more vocal in defending you.”

  “It’s in the past,” I say, swallowing hard. “Really, it was a long time ago—”

  “I told her today that she’d better not state her asinine opinion about you to me, the press, her friends, or her husband. I promised I’d make up some scandalous story about her. She’d never be able to show her face in public again.”

  “Daddy.” The corner of my mouth twitches. “You wouldn’t.”

  “Tit for tat. She did it about you.” He pauses. “I wanted to apologize for not being more sensitive about the photos.”

  “You treated me like you would anyone.”

  “You’re not anyone. You’re my daughter and I wanted to do something the minute Tony told me he did it.”

  “Dad—”

  “Hear me out. I don’t apologize often.”

  Never have truer words been said.

  “When we run the camping trip episode, I predict ratings will be like never before.”

  So much for apologies.

  “And I’d give up those ratings to have stopped the social media. But it’s too late and I’ve always been taught to make lemonade out of lemons.”

  “Hm,” I say, channeling the response that Gunner seems to give me every time we talk.

  “Tony honestly thought the cameras would capture what happened between Gunner and Addison. He never dreamed it would be the two of you in that tent. We’re still trying to figure out how the footage was leaked.”

  I look down at my vanity table, unable to meet Dad’s eyes. The man who never tucked me into bed a day in my life shouldn’t pass judgment on whether or not I was alone in a tent all night with a guy.

  “Kiley?” he prompts.

  “Yeah, Dad?” I search through my makeup caddy for foundation and eye concealer. A truckload of it.

  Maybe I should skip the concealer and look for a ski mask. It’s going to take more than a swab of goo to hide this much unhappy.

  He lays a hand on my shoulder and squeezes. “I want you to know I’m proud of you. You always hold your head up high and never let anything beat you. You’re the best daughter a man could have.”

  My throat tightens and my bottom lip wobbles.

  He nods and stares at the framed photo in his hand. “OK then. I’m going downstairs.”

  Filming begins in a half hour. “Thanks,” I say in a husky voice.

  He slaps me on the back once. “Melanie’s downstairs and they need you ready for makeup. Let’s show them how Vanderbilts do television.”

  “I’ve got this,” I say in my boldest tone.

  After he leaves the room, I close my eyes and count to ten. When I open my eyes, I’m better.

  Melanie Vance is perfect for Gunner. She’s attractive and bright and real. I vetted her like she’s running for Congress.

  I’d never pass my own vetting if I were in the running for Gunner. My colorful past always comes back to haunt me and I pray the tabloids don’t dig it up. I shouldn’t be in the spotlight.

  Melanie’s background is spotless.

  Gunner and the American audience can fall in love with Melanie. If I were gay, I’d want to date, love, and marry her.

  With my arm on the vanity table, I drop my forehead down to rest on it. I imagine Gunner kissing and holding Melanie.

  Being the person he can count on.

  He’ll be happier with someone like Melanie—stable and sensible.

  I hope I can lie well enough on-screen to hide my feelings. I’m falling hard for Gunner and no one can know.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Fling

  Current Day

  Gunner

  I glance around my cabin that’s been transformed. Rolling Hills Studio sent over a staging coordinator a few days ago. I now own fluffy pillows arranged across the back of the sofa and a watercolor of a forest above it. I look like I live in some lodge, ready to take visitors out on a hunting expedition.

  Dane sits on the sofa and swipes across his cell phone screen, doing an irritating headshake of sympathy every so often.

  “Social media is the devil’s playground,” he says. “You guys are now making national news. Dateline will probably do a feature on you all about immorality in the current dating scene.”

  “How can they print all these lies and get away with it?” I close my laptop on the news story titled, “Matchmaker Makes Her Move.”

  “They assume photos tell the truth. It’s tough to argue when you see it with your own eyes.”

  “There’s nothing to see, man. She slept in my tent. Period.”

  “What about the audio?”

  “Somebody spliced that in all the wrong places. It wasn’t like that.” Guilt over the way I treated Kiley haunts me so thickly I cannot catch my breath for a moment.

  “Listen.” Dane holds up his phone and plays it with his volume on high.

  I cringe and listen to the track, even though it’s my one-hundredth time to hear it.

  Kiley: “I like the way this conversation is going.”

  Gunner: “I’m tempting you.”

  Kiley: “We should have a fling.”

  Gunner: “I wouldn’t call it a fling.” Pause. “We went to school together,” Pause. “I thought you felt the same way about me.”

  Kiley: “You’re making it worse.”

  Gunner: “I’m being honest with you because I respect you.”

  Dane lowers his phone. “Kiley knew she would be in the spotlight. She should’ve warned you.”

  “No. Don’t blame her.”

  “But taping you guys when you didn’t know? That’s wrong.”

  My hands tighten, gripping the edges of my closed laptop. “Tony’s attorney says the audio was leaked somehow. They didn’t tamper with it, but the person who got it did the work. The conversation
doesn’t even make sense. Kiley never said she wanted to have a fling. I don’t know how they twisted it.”

  “There are experts who do it. Mess with photos, alter audio.” Dane checks his phone. “I guess I’d better head out since your new lady love is picking you up in a few.”

  “Lady love,” I mutter. “At least she’s not trying to rip my clothes off like that last one.”

  “Kiley?”

  “No, you ass. Addison.”

  “Oh yeah, her. I’m kidding with you. Lighten up. This will pass and you can get on with your life.”

  “I thought it would be easy. Kiley…” I can’t finish my thought.

  Dane stands and tucks his hands in his pockets. “The reporters are like wolves. Wave something juicier in front of them and they’ll forget all about the camping trip. Give them better news to report.”

  “Like walking out naked for my date tonight?”

  “Yeah. That’ll work.” Dane walks to the door, giving me a glance over his shoulder. “Throw the press a bone. Give ’em new things to report. Flirt with your dates and get the focus off Kiley.”

  “You’re a wealth of bad advice. Like I want to give them anything else to talk about.”

  I frown as he closes the door. Give the social media hive something more? Shit. He’s a genius.

  * * *

  The Forever production crew arrives and I ignore them as they take over my house. A woman forces me to sit at my table so she can do my makeup. Two people set up lighting in the living room so they can get a good shot of me showing Melanie through my cabin, a task that’ll take all of five minutes.

  Kiley’s dad, Ed, stands in one corner of the room with folded arms. He’s pissed with me, no doubt, but his face doesn’t reveal it. Usually, he’s friendly with me, but today he’s yet to say hello or go to hell.

  It’s as if I’ve become invisible to him as a person.

  Kiley enters and every muscle in my body bunches into knots. She’s wearing a long, fitted skirt that molds to her body and a silk shirt buttoned to her neck. I think she’s trying to look professional and untouchable, but it has the exact opposite effect on me.

  My gaze runs down the length of her body from her hair slicked back into a high ponytail all the way to her spiked heels.

  But she’s not even looking at me tonight. She stands with Tony and talks low so I can’t hear their conversation. She’s really not looking at him either and I’m sure he’s on her shit list.

  The sound of a vehicle pulling into the driveway distracts me from watching Kiley’s every move.

  Tony stops talking to Kiley and looks at me. “We need you to answer the door,” he says. “We’ll show close-ups of your face and Melanie’s. You’ll ask her in for a drink and then we’ll cut film. We’ll not film the car ride, but cut to the restaurant.”

  I nod. I hate this guy more than he can imagine. He’s a con artist and I shouldn’t be surprised at the way he’s betrayed Kiley’s trust.

  He continues, “Kiley interviewed Melanie before the date and she’ll interview you afterward.”

  “Got it.” I walk to the door and put my hand on the handle. “Answer it now?”

  “Yes, but we may have to do a couple of takes for us to get something natural.”

  I roll my eyes. When I open the door, Melanie smiles brightly, a genuine excitement on her face. “Hi, come on in.”

  “Hi.” She walks inside and glances around. “You have a nice place here.”

  “Thanks. Have a seat. Would you like a drink before we leave?”

  She sits on the sofa and leans back comfortably. “Sure. Anything is fine. How was your day?”

  An honest answer won’t work in this situation, and I don’t plan on doing multiple takes until Tony gets the response he wants. “Things were hectic, but I’m ready to relax with you. Iced tea OK?”

  “Perfect.” Melanie wears jeans and a sweater. She’s casual and non-intimidating. She fingers the edge of her sweater and I wonder if she’s nervous.

  Handing her the iced tea, I sit beside her—not on the opposite side of the sofa since I’m sure this will send the rumor mill into overdrive.

  “Tell me about landscaping,” she says and sips from her glass.

  “It’s hard work. I don’t like to be behind a desk all the time, so I’m always out with my crew on a job site.”

  “I could guess that. You seem to be more comfortable outdoors.”

  “Yeah. I like everything about creating spaces people can enjoy. People nowadays spend so much time on their phones and in front of a television. I want to change that, one outdoor job at a time.”

  She grins. “Changing the world. That’s a big goal.”

  “Come on. I’ll show you.” I glance up at Tony and Kiley. I’m not supposed to look at them. Ever.

  But it’s ridiculous for me to act as though we don’t have a roomful of people watching this scene play out.

  Going off script earns me some annoyed looks from the cameraman. He prepared lighting inside the cabin for an entire hour, and Tony’s not happy. But Tony doesn’t stop it. I think he’s curious about what I’m doing and he can always cut it from the footage.

  Melanie follows me out the back doors onto the deck. Fall colors fill the backyard with orange and red maple trees everywhere you look. A squirrel flees from the closest tree and Melanie grins at me. I smile back because the fresh air feeds my sense of well-being.

  Kiley stands to the side of the deck behind the second cameraman who follows us. She turns away after we make eye contact.

  Her avoidance makes it difficult to think. Melanie points out a deer grazing in the valley. She tells me about bow and gun hunting with her dad. I pretend to be interested.

  Of all the women Kiley could’ve chosen, Melanie makes sense. We like the same things, have similar values, speak in easy conversations.

  Everything should make her the perfect match for me.

  When I look at Melanie, I see a pretty woman I could do things with on weekends. I appreciate her smile and her humor.

  She’s sensible, from the clothes she wears to her lack of jewelry or makeup.

  And now I catch a glimpse of Kiley in her ridiculous tight skirt and high heels that are probably going to get stuck in my lawn and I’m jealous of the way she leans to hear what a camera guy says to her. It’s not how she looks. It’s because I want to know what she says and how she thinks.

  I want to be part of her world.

  She grins and one dimple appears, then her lips smash together like she’s afraid to show the smile.

  Her gaze flicks up to meet mine and I’m there inside her world.

  Our chemistry promises the perfect storm, even when we’re a hundred yards apart.

  Everything about Kiley is so wrong but so right.

  Melanie touches my arm. “Ready to go?”

  I agree it’s time and she loops her arm around my elbow. “I’ll drive,” she says.

  I’m glad the cameras won’t be following us inside Melanie’s vehicle. I feel suffocated by all the filming and the show. She drives us toward downtown Nashville.

  “I thought you might call me,” she says and looks away from the road at me.

  I’m not only hurting Kiley, now I’m stringing along this very nice woman who thinks she stands a chance.

  “Melanie, I think I need to be straight with you. I—”

  “Don’t see me as a future wife,” she finishes. “I know.”

  “You tell it like it is.”

  “I do. I’m crazy for what I’m about to do.”

  “What is that?”

  “I don’t want you either.”

  “Why are you on this dating show then?”

  The corner of her mouth quirks in a rueful grin. “I do want to meet a guy like you. I’m ready to get married, have kids, and settle down. But my future husband will look at me the same way you look at Kiley.”

  I close my eyes. “I’m friends with Kiley.”

  “If you’ll
forgive me for saying so, that’s utter bullshit.”

  “If you feel this way, why are we on this date?”

  “Because I’m the nicest girl you’ll meet and I’m not going to play you. The director paid me a visit and I think someone less nice than I am will take him up on his offer.”

  “What did he say?”

  “He hinted that if I slept with you, that if I seduced you, I’d probably have a guy like you offering me a ring. He offered it as friendly advice if I want to make it farther in the show.”

  I clench and unclench my fists. Tony’s crossing the line in too many ways. I don’t know if show business has any ethics at all, but I’m positive it wouldn’t be good for social media sites to catch on to that bit of behind-the-scenes.

  “You said no, of course.” I shift in my seat. I’m too big for this small car and now the interior feels like a cage.

  “I said I’d think about it.”

  I raise my brows. “I don’t understand.”

  “I gave you my number for several reasons. You’re a nice guy. And I’ve been so disillusioned by all the bad ones over the years, it was like a godsend when I got this chance to know you better. Now that I’m here, I realize I like you. A lot. So, I’m doing the right thing.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “I’m helping you. You don’t want anyone but Kiley.”

  I shrug. “I’m attracted to Kiley and we’re good friends.”

  “Wake up. If you could see the look on your face when she enters a room, you’d know. I’ve been dating like it’s a competitive sport and I’ve never, ever found anyone who looks at me like that.”

  We pull into a public parking lot with the production team ready to meet us at Poppy’s Pizza. Melanie places her hand on the door handle and pauses.

  I can’t get out of the car. If people can be frozen out of fear, I’m shrouded in ice. Her knowing look indicates she’s aware of the way I’m uncomfortable with the internal war in my head.

  “Gunner?”

  “Yeah.”

  “We have to get out and follow through with the date. It’ll be pretend. We’ll make pizza consumption look so exciting, the social media will go wild with things to speculate about.”