There’s nothing to worry about. You’re fine. It’s not even live so they can edit out anything stupid you say.
As I turned back around, I saw the woman behind the cameras give us our cue and I turned my attention to Kiki.
“Trent, Gage, welcome toVegas Tonight! It’s wonderful to have you two here.” Kiki smiled and my palms began to sweat. “What can you tell us aboutHaunted Vegas?”
“Well, as the title suggests, we head to different areas in and around Vegas that have a history of being haunted.”
I smirked at Trent’s use of air quotes around the wordhaunted. It was no secret he was a skeptic, but at least he was a skeptic with an open mind.
“Gage, I see you smirking there. Does that mean you believe in the supernatural?” She let out a chuckle as she leaned over the arm of her chair to get closer to us, as though she couldn’t wait to hear what I had to say.
“Umm,” I nervously wiped my hands on my pants and looked around. Big mistake, as I was blinded by the lights again. I turned my focus back to Kiki and caught Trent’s worried look out of the corner of my eye. “I mean, I think everyone can be classified as a believer next to this guy.” I tilted my head toward Trent and forced out a laugh.
“Seriously, I don’t know what I believe. Hopefully the places we take a look at during the course of the show will help me figure some of that out. If not?” I shrugged. “Well, at least we’re having a good time and getting some history lessons in.”
“What does that make us then?” Trent asked with a laugh. “The skeptic and the maybe-believer? Sheesh, what a pair we’re going to make!”
Kiki laughed and nodded.
“Do you think you make a good pair? Gage, this is your first real television job, as you come in with a modeling background. Do you feel that gives you a disadvantage? Never having been on this side of the industry before?”
I shuffled in my seat, wishing for a more comfortable chair—and question.
“Wow, cut me to the quick, Kiki. Some things never change!” That time, the laugh was more genuine, as Kiki and I shared a private joke. I’d known her for the last couple years, as she would periodically show up at photoshoots I was doing if it was for a local event or charity. And while I wouldn’t say we werefriends, we were pretty friendly and she was always quick with the banter.
“I mean, I assume reality television is different than your scripted dramas or sitcoms. It allows me to be more myself than to play a character.”
“Wait,” Trent cut in, “you mean youaren’tplaying a character?” he asked with an exaggerated grimace.
“Asshole,” I muttered with a hearty laugh as I punched him in the arm. “See what I have to deal with?” I asked, turning my attention back to Kiki.
“Trent, what has it been like, working with Gage, who has never worked in television before? I assume it must be a lot different than what you’re used to?”
I stiffened and without even looking at him, I could feel Trent’s eyes boring into me.
The air around us crackled with palpable tension, but I wasn’t sure if anyone else could feel it besides me.
“No, all joking aside,” Trent began after a moment, “working with Gage is great.” I could tell from the way he cleared his throat and the tightness in his voice, it wasn’t just me who could feel the tension. “Of course, it’s different than what Allan and I had created and built, but that’s a good thing.”
I couldn’t look at him, and I hated that I left him to talk about his dead husband alone. It wasn’t fair, for either of us. Not to Trent who lost his husband after almost a decade together. And I hated the fact I was jealous of a dead man.
A dead man I could never even dream of replacing.
Not that I wanted to be Allan’s replacement.
When I got the job, I knew I would have some big shoes to fill. But I hadn’t counted oneveryonecomparing our new show to the work Trent and Allan had done, as Trent had only worked with him since they met on their first show together.
No one seemed to care about the show except for how Trent was getting on with a new co-host. It was disheartening.
Especially with the way Trent tugged on my heartstrings.
But I’d been quick to cut off that train of thought.
That was really all I needed, to be considered Allan’s replacement in all facets of Trent’s life. No thank you, life was complicated enough. I didn’t need to add living even further in the shadows of Trent Williamson’s dead husband.
A hand slapping my arm pulled me out of my dwelling and I turned to see Trent giving me a reassuring look. I felt like even more of an asshole. He shouldn’t have to be soothing my insecurities, instead I should be helping him with the stupid interview and not leaving him to talk about the hard stuff on his own.
Why am I like this?
