Three texts from Sage sit below the notifications, sent at 2 AM her time. Classic Sage.
SAGE: Okay I need a full debrief immediately
SAGE: The hand photo is doing NUMBERS and you’re giving me nothing
SAGE: Also you posted that caption at like 11pm your time and then went radio silent. either you’re dead or you’re having the best night of your life. WHICH IS IT?
I type back, still half-asleep.
ME: Not dead. Very hungover. The champagne here is dangerous.
SAGE: POPPY ROSE. It is 4am and I have been WAITING. What happened after the photo???
ME: Honestly? Things got a little blurry after dinner.
ME: I remember the gardens. There were lanterns. Julian was being annoyingly perfect.
ME: And then I woke up in my bed in pajamas with zero memory of how I got here.
SAGE: Oh my gosh did you black out on your fake boyfriend
ME: I did not BLACK OUT!! I just... aggressively forgot some details.
SAGE: Poppy. Babe. Those are the same thing.
ME: The point is, Julian must have gotten me back to the room. Like a gentleman.
SAGE: Or like a serial killer
ME: He’s not a serial killer
SAGE: That’s exactly what someone dating a serial killer would say
SAGE: Anyway how was he this morning? Awkward? Weird? Did you do something embarrassing you don’t remember?
I glance at Julian on the balcony. He’s still reading, perfectly composed, giving nothing away.
ME: He’s acting completely normal. So either nothing happened or I humiliated myself and he’s too polite to mention it.
SAGE: I’m choosing to believe you confessed your undying love and he’s saving it for leverage later
ME: I hate you
SAGE: You love me. Now go get content. That hand photo won’t carry the whole trip.
I slip out onto the balcony. Julian glances up, and something shifts in his expression. Something I can’t read.
“Morning,” I say. “Ready to be internet famous?”
“I thought we agreed on minimal exposure.”
“We agreed on strategic exposure. There’s a difference.” I hold up my phone. “My followers are losing their minds over the mystery man. We need to give them something before they start reverse image searching your watch.”
“Let them search. They won’t find anything.”
“That’s not how this works. The algorithm rewards engagement. Engagement requires content. Content requires you looking good in tropical lighting while I narrate our romantic breakfast.”
His mouth quirks. “Looking good?”
