The moderator turns to Bailey and River with anit’s up to youshrug, which was not what he was directed to do. He’s supposed to ignore all relationship questions.
Bailey looks for me offstage, and I give her a slow nod. She knows what to do here. We practiced for this. Even if I was hoping we’d never have to actually use it.
“Um, th-thank you for that question,” she says, clearly rattled. “I think I can speak for both River and myself when I say that we are excited to work together again and bring you Kaelric and Elora.”
I give her a thumbs-up because that was perfect.
However, the fans don’t agree; some of them start booing.
Well, we did not practice for that.
“Hey now,” Ben the moderator says. “No booing.”
River holds up a hand, and the crowd quiets. “I think what Bailey is saying here is”—he leans toward the mic, a mischievous smile on his face—“never say never.”
My eyes widen as the fandom goes wild over that comment. I look to Luke, and he shakes his head, looking as blindsided as I feel.
Bailey’s eyes are locked on River, her jaw slack as she watches him smile at the crowd, pleased with himself.
He turns toward her, leans in, and whispers something in her ear. She shakes her head at him, looking appalled by whatever he just said, and then, getting up from her chair, hurries down the side stairs, brushing past me and Luke without a word.
“Bailey,” I call out before going after her.
By the time I catch up to her in the greenroom, I can hear Ben trying to calm the crowd again.
I shoot off a text to Luke.
Me:Make something up to stall
I’ve got to get Bailey back on that stage or the internet will go wild with all kinds of posts and breakdowns. They might either way, but “Bailey Lockhart storms off FableCon panel” will not be the headline on my watch. Hopefully.
I tuck my phone into the pocket of my jacket before shutting the door.
Bailey is pacing in the middle of the room, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“No,” she says on a sob.
“What did he say to you?”
“He wanted me to play it up for the crowd,” she says.
I let out a relieved breath. I assumed it was much worse.
“Was it stupid to walk off like that?” she asks. “I just can’t believe he’d want me to play it up after all he’s put me through.”
“I understand why you’re upset,” I tell her. “You’ve taken the high road, and he hasn’t. But I think you need to get back out there.”
She pinches her brow. “I can’t go back out there.”
I walk over to her, placing a hand gently on her arm. “If you don’t, walking out of the panel halfway through questions will be all anyone remembers about this.”
She closes her eyes as if considering that for the first time.
“The only way to change that is to go back out there, sit down, and give the crowd something else to focus on.”
She’s nodding now. “Right. Right. Sorry,” she says. “I was caught up in the moment.”
