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I cursed under my breath.
"You have a press event in ninety minutes," Kyle said, checking his watch. "And it takes over an hour to drive to Santa Monica at this time of day. You puked on a police officer's shoes last night, and as Elena explained it, you're on the verge of getting fired from your movie. You might not ever work in this town again if that happens. I'm the only option you've got, Lo."
"No," I said firmly.
"No one knows who I am. Only my friends and my dad, and none of them will say a thing. My friends won't 'cause they're loyal, and my dad won't because he's wrapped up in his latest project in Boston. He's completely clueless. No one will know. There're no pictures of us together—we lived together back before everybody had an iPhone. We only ever lived in Orange County. That's practically the other side of the world to most of the people around here." He looked at me pleadingly. "I need this. Please. Nobody has any idea who I am or who I am to you. And they won't find out."
"How can you say that?" I asked.
"I'll tell them my name's different. Kyle Jordan." He reached out to shake my hand and smiled, revealing his dimples. I gave him my limp hand, and he pumped it enthusiastically. "Pleased to meet you."
I finished my drink, clutching the glass in my spare hand. The hand that wasn't making a deal with the devil himself.
"Kyle Jordan." I sucked on an ice cube and resigned myself to the fact that I was making the stupidest decision of my life. "It's nice to meet you."
The doorbell rang, and I cursed again. "That's my new PR agent. Stay here."
I hustled to the door and checked the window. A stunning blonde was on my doorstep.
"It's Gigi," she called through the door. "Your agent sent me. I'm your new PR team."
I begrudgingly opened the door, and she sailed through, all legs and clicking high heels, her sleek ponytail swinging, and deposited herself squarely in my living room.
"Lowell! It's such a pleasure! That video doesn't do you justice." She air-kissed my cheeks and beamed at me, but I could tell she was inspecting me head to toe.
"Um... thanks," I mumbled. "I told Shirley I was all set..."
"But you know Shirley, right? It's not like she's gonna leave you alone after that stunt you pulled last night. Now, I understand you've agreed to attend an event tonight—smart move. No sense in hiding. I would caution you strongly, however, to not drink a thing and to try to avoid direct questions. We want you to be seen looking gorgeous, sober, and contrite, but we don't want you to say too much. Not yet. You're going to do an exclusive later. It'll be a very controlled message, very tight."
"Did someone say tight?" Kyle asked and strode into the room with that grin splitting his face.
I clenched my fists. First of all, he was being crude. Second of all, I'd told him to wait in the other room. My hired boyfriend and I already needed a serious heart-to-heart.
"Well, hello," Gigi said. "I'm Gigi, Lowell's new PR agent. And you are?"
"Lowell's boyfriend. Kyle Jordan." Kyle threw his arm around me, the grin never leaving his face—even though I was standing like a rock, immoveable, cold, and jagged.
A smidgen of jealousy bloomed in Gigi's eyes, and I wanted to tell the lanky PR socialite that she was more than welcome to my so-called boyfriend. Instead, I smiled, pretending that I was thrilled to have him beside me.
"Shirley didn't tell me you had a boyfriend," Gigi said, her thought process ticking almost audibly.
"Shirley doesn't know."
"I'm Lowell's secret weapon." Kyle changed his posture so, I swear to God, he was sticking out his dick at her.
"Well, bang bang. I like it." Gigi smiled at him appreciatively, either completely undeterred by his dick or approving of it. "I assume you're attending the event tonight too?"
He pressed himself firmly against me. "Absolutely."
"Well, I must admit—I'm impressed. The debut of a new boyfriend—especially one like Kyle—will do wonders for you after last night."
"I know, right? That's exactly what I told her."
I would have elbowed him in the ribs, but he was holding me too tight. Grr.
"Let me just bring Shirley in on this." Before I could protest, Gigi was already on her phone, FaceTiming my agent. "Shirley, it's me. I'm with Lowell and her fabulous boyfriend, Kyle."
"Since when does she have a boyfriend?" Shirley screeched.
