Page 41 of In His Skates

You’d better sit down and wait for his apology, Leigh. It ain’t coming anytime soon.

“Yes,” Keanu finally replies, looking at me. “He feels awful about what happened. He was young, and a dumb fuck.”

Wait. Was that a real apology, or did he only say it to appease Bobbi?

“Yes, I was an idiot. Although, I’m surprised Leigh forgave me so quickly. She should have made me grovel more.”

“I couldn’t agree with you more,” Bobbi says.

“Well… there’ll be time for that later,” Keanu says. “We should get going if we don’t want to be late.”

Yeah, I won’t hold my breath, buddy.

I was nervous coming here. Despite preparing Keanu to be interviewed by the witch of Hollywood, there’s a huge chance he’ll screw up. I just have to pray he has a shred of common sense and doesn’t say something compromising.

As soon as he steps foot in the studio, a production assistant escorts him to get his makeup retouched. I want to tag along, but I’m trying to avoid more gossip. If I have a boyfriend who clings to me, the media will say I’m in an unhealthy relationship. So I let Bobbi accompany Keanu—which is expected—while I’m free to roam around the TV studio.

No one pays any attention to me, and I quickly realize it’s quite freeing to be ignored. I’m in the lounge area, grabbing a cup of coffee, when two people enter the room and continue talking as if I’m not there. They’re in full gossip mode, and it doesn’t take long for their topic of conversation to switch to Nick and me.

“Oh my God. Today’s interview with Leigh Matthews promises to be fire,” the girl with short hair and a nose ring says.

“I know. I can’t wait. Do you think Leigh suspects Nick will be there?” her companion asks. He’s a tall dude with platinum blond hair and enough makeup on to last weeks without needing a retouch.

“She might if she saw Nick’s interview, but who cares?” The girl shrugs.

“Imagine if she takes him back during the interview. That would make our ratings soar!”

“They’ll soar no matter the outcome. But to be honest, the interview will get more clicks if Leigh rejects Nick.”

“True that.” The guy laughs.

Assholes.

I wish I could say something to them, but anything out of my mouth as Keanu will not help me in the least. I’m pissed, but I learned one important thing: No one knows Keanu Santori is here with Leigh Matthews. The PA who met us didn’t spare me a second glance. My guess is that he was too busy to pay attention to a celebrity’s entourage.

I take my coffee and am making a beeline for the nearby couch when the gossipy duo turns to me. “Oh, and who are you? You’re cute!” the guy says, not even trying to hide that he’s checking me out.

“No one important,” I say.

“Oh, honey, you have a visitor’s pass. I wouldn’t say you’re unimportant.”

The girl squints, then moves closer. “You look familiar. Where have I seen you before?”

Fuck. There goes my hope to lounge here unbothered.

My phone rings—I mean, Keanu’s phone rings—saving me from answering. “Sorry, I have to get this.”

I don’t know even check the caller ID before I hit Answer. “Hello?”

“Oh my God! I can’t believe I got you,” Mia replies, surprising the hell out of me. Whenever she calls me, it’s usually super late at night. Maybe she calls Keanu at a different time because of his schedule.

“Hey, Mia. What’s up?”

I cringe, even though my response was super normal. Pretending to be Keanu while talking to my best friend feels so very wrong.

“I have news!”

“Oh? Tell me.”