HDU Page 7

  “Marry me, Liam!” one shouted, sparking the rest to echo their professions of love. Amanda and Ian both watched, fascinated by Liam’s total comfort with the situation. It was what they both had seen in posts on HDU, but the real life energy was entirely different. The excitement was like a domino effect. More and more heads turned with each person who looked their way. Liam rewarded his fans with a smile and single wave as he walked through, satiating them with a half-hearted, “I love you too.” The high-pitched shrieking that the girls broke out into actually hurt Amanda’s ears, but she reminded herself not to cover them with her hands. It would probably come off as rude and a little bit snotty.

  They quieted soon anyway, seeming to hold a collective breath when Liam stopped in his tracks upon reaching the vestibule. He turned around, holding out his hand. It took a second for Amanda to realize that he was waiting for her. With about a half dozen strangers’ phones and cameras trained on her face, she entered the vestibule and took Liam’s hand. He intertwined his fingers in hers and held on to them loosely, flashing her a bit of a laugh before they continued walking together. Amanda reminded herself not to be tickled by the gesture. He was only pleased to be appearing so gentlemanly in front of cameras.

  “Who’s that girl?” she heard several fans hiss. She of course wasn’t surprised by the lack of an answer, though it struck her that sooner than later, she would be identified to the public – perhaps even by Ian. He was far more zealous and in control of their plan.

  “It’s happening already,” he whispered in her ear giddily.

  By the time they boarded the plane, Amanda had lost count of the number of people who had paused to cock their heads at her, asking their friends and family if they knew who was holding hands with the movie star. It had been far more entertaining to her than it had been to Liam, who went through the motions of airport protocol without a single glance at anyone else, least of all his onlookers.

  “Might want to put your sunglasses on,” Liam said when they took their seats on the plane. He allowed her the window seat beside him in the front row of first class, Ian a few rows behind them. Before Amanda could ask why she might need sunglasses, Liam nodded subtly towards their left. Amanda peered over, spotting a young woman in the aisle, using her phone to take a picture of the view out their window. Amanda glanced out as well, noticing the purple sunset.

  “I don’t need them. The sun is setting,” she said with a smile as she too admired the scene. Liam gave her an incredulous look before reaching over her and shutting the shade.

  “She’s not taking a picture of the sunset, she’s recording a video of you,” he said before turning his attention to his iPad. Amanda laughed, though she realized how right he was when she turned to see the girl still holding her phone up despite the window shade being drawn. She was utterly shameless about it, even cracking a smile when Amanda stared into the lens. Amanda blushed and faced forward, not knowing what to do or how to act. It was different when pictures had been taken at the airport entrance because she was on the move. Now she was stationary and would be for the next two-and-a-half hours, just a few yards away from her photographer.

  Liam glanced up from his iPad to smirk at Amanda’s discomfort and borderline panic. He relished her reaction for a little bit longer before motioning to the steward. With just a few hushed words, he was able to get him to approach the girl in the aisle and politely ask her not to film other passengers. The girl obliged, and Amanda relaxed somewhat, though she knew there now existed footage of her acting like a jittery fool. It was behavior Merit had come to know her for in the past couple of days, but now a stranger had recorded it for the rest of the world’s entertainment. She could only wonder how long it might take for the video to appear online. As she did, Liam leaned over in his seat to whisper in her ear. To others, it may have looked like a lover’s sweet nothings, but for Amanda, his words sent a chill down her spine.

  “If you think that was bad, just wait till we get to New York.”

  ~

  Around the time of the plane’s landing, the aisle girl’s phone reemerged and began recording once again. Amanda would have cared were she not so overwhelmed by the scene outside her window. It was New York. It was nighttime, but the bright lights of the metropolis rose above the dark of the sky. The only city Amanda had ever traveled to outside of the ones in Missouri was Chicago. Even then, she had been completely floored. Now, gazing at the aerial skyline of Manhattan, she wanted nothing more than to cry. But there was that damned camera pointed at her face.

  Oh, well. It’s happening, Amanda thought, too joyous to try and control herself. Just hours ago she had been in the pit of nothingness that was Merit, and suddenly, here she was in a place that she had only seen in her dreams and in movies. A fat tear rolled down her right cheek, and she was grateful that it was at least on the side hidden from view of the aisle. But as the plane descended onto the tarmac, Amanda found that her face had become streaked with more tears. She wondered if she should let them drip, if perhaps they weren’t noticeable on a camera phone. But when one dropped from the bottom of her chin to her chest, she began wiping all the wetness away with her hands. She had forgotten that Liam was even next to her until she felt him sitting forward, facing her as she cried.

  “Shut up,” she said, prepared for his snark. But she glimpsed up to see that he wasn’t actually looking at her. His head had turned briefly, probably to check on the pesky aisle girl. Amanda wasn’t sure though, because the view of her was obstructed by his broad chest. Oh, that’s what he’s doing, she realized. He was giving her the chance to blubber in private, blocked from sight of anyone else. Before she could rescind her snappy words or offer him thanks, he turned back to her again.

  “God, you’re embarrassing,” he said.

  Despite it being nearly 10PM upon landing, Amanda opted to wear the Ray Bans that Ian had gifted her. She needed to hide the emotion in her eyes, which ranged from gratitude for being in New York and annoyance at Liam for being generally rude. By now, there had to be some image of her with him on the Internet, whether it was from the cameras of the fangirls or the phone of her pseudo-stalker on the plane. There had been other pictures snapped along the way too, so word of Liam Brody’s odd new companion had to have reached the East Coast by now.

  The confirmation came quickly upon stepping out of the plane and into John F. Kennedy International Airport. There had already been a crowd at the gate, but it was dwarfed by the one waiting at the terminal. Amanda quickly spotted a few paparazzi – it wasn’t hard to because they got right in her face, the flashes of their cameras blinding her through her sunglasses.

  “Who’s the new lady, Liam?” one called out his question over the shouts of the fans. When Liam didn’t answer, he turned to Amanda. “What’s your name, pretty girl?” Amanda wanted to scowl, but she didn’t. They had to be ridiculing her for not being a model. They were accustomed to snapping shots of true beauties alongside Liam, not plain girls wearing less remarkable clothing than the fans who were mobbing them.

  Her silence forced the photographers to turn their attention to Ian, whom Amanda realized, was ready for it. He had put on a pair of aviators and had his act of nonchalance down to a science. His hood was pulled up over his head again, his hands stuffed in his jean pockets, looking almost bored.

  “Who are you?” the same photographer asked.

  “Who are you?” Ian countered.

  “I’ll tell you my name if you tell me yours,” the photographer said.

  “My name is Ian Marsh,” Ian answered. “And I don’t care what yours is,” he said before pushing out the front doors of the airport, following Liam and Amanda into a car.

  Once they were in the privacy of the black GMC Yukon, Liam immediately turned to his phone, uninterested in either Amanda or Ian. He made a call, his conversation drowning out Ian’s child-like squeal of excitement. Amanda was thankful for that – Liam would have no doubt said something mean had he heard.

  “
Look!” Ian said, practically shoving his iPhone into her hands. Amanda looked down on it, barely having to focus her eyes before knowing what the photo depicted. She had been in the very setting not too long ago.

  “Oh man,” she murmured, letting out a breath of disbelief. She had known it would happen, but somehow it still came as a surprise. On the front page of Celeb-O-Matic’s website was her image, her uncovered face managing a hesitant smile for the cameras that belonged to people she didn’t know. The photograph was taken inside Missouri Regional Airport, when she was on her way to the security check. To her great relief, she looked fine. Certainly unlike most people whose photos graced Celeb-O-Matic, but at least nothing strange stuck out about her. She was just… there. Liam’s perfectly plain Jane.

  With that thought, she suddenly went from happy to kind of sad. It was starting – her foray into fame for being a girl considered borderline ugly for Hollywood standards. Why did I think this would be easy?

  Her mood continued even as the car rode into the fabulous SoHo, where Liam lived. Seeming to read her mind, Ian put on a face of embarrassment and showed her a picture that the paparazzi had snapped of him, open-mouthed and responding to that one photographer. He looked silly, but honestly, still kind of glamorous in his hoodie and shades. It didn’t make Amanda feel much better, but she offered him a laugh anyway.

  “We’re here,” Liam said when the car stopped. Amanda looked up and out the window at the brick Mercer Street building. It was where she and Liam had agreed on working out further details of their concocted romance. Planted against the side of the building was a sole photographer, camera ready and waiting for them to step out of the car. After sighing at the sight, Liam turned to face Ian. “The car will take you to your apartment. I don’t think there needs to be any more photos of you with us. It’s confusing.”

  “Oh. Okay,” Ian agreed, too easily for Amanda’s taste.

  “But he – ” she began to protest.

  “Don’t worry,” Ian shrugged it off. “We don’t want it to look like some weird threesome or something.” Both Amanda and Liam cringed.

  “Okay,” she agreed, convinced but still uneasy. Ian had been her source of confidence since the start of the lie, albeit a paltry one. But what little courage she had for the whole situation had been found in him somehow, and she had anticipated having it while deliberating and negotiating in the privacy of Liam’s home.

  “You’ll be fine,” Ian mouthed once Liam got out of the car. “Make sure you negotiate a fancy dinner out of him!” he whispered, trying to get her to laugh before nudging her out the car. He gave one last thumbs up before Liam shut the door on him and the single camera started flashing.

  ~

  The exterior of the apartment did no justice to the magnificence that lay within. Amanda felt truly small in the loft that boasted twenty-foot ceilings and vast walls of exposed brick. To her left was a windowed mezzanine above the open industrial kitchen of glass top furnishings. To her right was a grand sitting room, in it a massive leather sectional before a fifty-something-inch TV. It was definitely the ultimate bachelor’s pad. “This place is amazing,” Amanda breathed.

  “Thanks.” Liam tossed his coat over a chair. He held out his hand for Amanda’s coat only to toss it onto the chair as well. “You want a drink?” he asked, heading for the kitchen. Amanda forgot to answer as she stood and watched him look in his fridge, reminding herself that she was in the actor Liam Brody’s home, watching him do at-home things. It was too weird for her to handle, but she forced herself to.

  “Sure, whatever you’re having,” she finally answered, timidly wandering over to the couch and taking a seat. When he was finished in the kitchen, Liam met her in the sitting room, already half done with his own Stella. He handed her one before taking a seat on the coffee table instead of the couch. From his jean pocket, he retrieved a folded paper, handing it over.

  “That’s for you to sign,” he said. “Do you have a pen in your purse? Or whatever that thing is.” He nodded at Amanda’s slouchy red hobo bag.

  “I do, but what is it?”

  “Your contract from me,” he answered as she unfolded the sheet. “I have one for your friend too. So you don’t write a tell-all book about how this was all fake when it’s over. Or post the story to HDU, or whatever your website is called.”

  “You know what it’s called. Don’t act like you didn’t read it,” Amanda mumbled as she read the contract. It was relatively straightforward. She was simply not to publish or divulge personal information about him during or after their false romance unless she wished to face legal action. She was prohibited from pursuing any other relationships during the time as well, to preserve the verity of their own. Like we really have to worry about that, Amanda thought as she signed.

  “So what are you going to do while you’re my girlfriend?” Liam asked. “Are you going to get a job somewhere? What do you even do anyway?”

  Amanda looked up at him, taking a calming breath through her nose. Everything out of his mouth managed to sound so rude, but there was no sense in throwing a tantrum each time. It would just make everything more difficult. “Moderating HDU is my job,” she said plainly, trying to hide the mild shame in her voice.

  “How much do they pay you?”

  “That’s private.”

  “So nothing much, then,” Liam concluded with a laugh. He took the last swig of his beer and set the bottle on the ground, leaning forward on his elbows, his body practically casting a shadow over hers. “Is that what you want to do for the rest of your life?” he asked, the slight crinkle in his nose conveying his feelings on that possibility. Amanda wasn’t sure if she should be offended by his judgment or simply amazed that he even cared.

  “And if it was?” she asked.

  “It’s not,” Liam answered for her. “I have a feeling you’re a little better than that. Unless I judged you incorrectly somewhere between Missouri and New York, which I guess is possible considering that was,” he glanced at his watch. “Four hours ago.”

  Was there a compliment in there somewhere? Amanda was quiet as she thought about Liam’s words. She tried to remember if she and Ian had laid out any plan about what her official occupation would be upon arriving to New York as a celebrity girlfriend, what she would be doing on a daily basis, what they would be building a foundation for post-Liam. Her mind was coming up empty. Famous for being famous was becoming a lot more complicated than she had anticipated.

  “Talk. Say something,” Liam said, impatient. “We’re stepping out as a couple tomorrow. Going on a date. We need to look like we have some kind of rapport.”

  Merit was in Amanda’s head. She was finally realizing just how terrified she was. Without Ian by her side, she questioned how ready she was for any aspect of their plan. She knew that she was exhausting Liam’s patience with her silence, but she couldn’t think of anything to say that he wouldn’t ridicule. Finally, he spoke again.

  “So, Megan was crazy hot.”

  Amanda’s head snapped up to glare.

  “There she is,” Liam grinned. “I knew that would get your attention. Wow, look at those big, scary eyes,” he said as if he were talking to a child.

  “Do you enjoy being generally annoying?” Amanda asked, heating up.

  “Around you, yeah. I don’t know why,” Liam answered truthfully. “But also, I think I deserve to know more about Megan. She would’ve been an easy one for me.”

  Amanda shrunk back against the couch with revulsion. “Well, she’s dating my ex-boyfriend, so you’d have to fight for her.”

  Liam laughed. “No, I wouldn’t,” he said matter-of-factly. No, he really wouldn’t, and Amanda wasn’t sure why she even suggested that he would. Brandt was a good five inches shorter than Liam and at least fifty pounds lighter. “Sucks that she’s dating your ex though,” Liam offered half-heartedly. Amanda snorted.

  “Yeah, because you care so much about fidelity,” she said, quickly regretting it. She wasn’t sure whe
re she was getting the gall to say such things to a stranger. It was much ruder than saying it anonymously online as she used to. Or was it the same?

  “This might be hard for you to believe, but I haven’t cheated on anyone since Angie,” he said, unfazed by her remarks. Amanda raised her eyebrows, surprised to hear him acknowledge his dating history at all considering he refused to ever speak about it to the media. She paused. Angie, she repeated. That was what he called Angelica Moss. Again, she was hit with how surreal it was to witness a celebrity’s day-to-day behavior – searching the fridge for food, calling an ex by a nickname that the world didn’t know her by. “Everyone I’ve dated since was properly dumped before anyone else came along. Abruptly maybe, but last I checked, that still counts.”

  “You broke up with April too, right?” Amanda asked, suddenly remembering that she too was somebody’s replacement.

  Liam nodded. “I would never make you the other woman. You’re supposed to be my pure Midwestern angel,” he smirked. “We just have to convince the world that I would actually go for someone like you.”

  Amanda stifled her desire to smack him for the remark. “We’ll just be convincing on our date tomorrow,” she said, composing herself. “Which reminds me… I’ve always wanted to go to a place called Lilac.” Her voice was steady despite knowing that she was testing the waters of Liam’s limitations. From posts on HDU, she knew the restaurant-lounge to be an impossible-to-get-into celebrity hotspot and one of New York’s most expensive restaurants. Liam simply gave her an incredulous look. “Unless of course you can’t get in,” Amanda shrugged.

  His first reaction was to scoff, but then he laughed. “I see what you’re doing here,” he said.