Page 31 of Making the Save

“Turn the camera off,” Wyatt said to the man behind the camera who hadn’t listened the first time he said it. “Or I will turn it off.”

The camera light went dark.

“This isn’t an interview. You’re just looking to set her up,” Wyatt told Tricia. “Syd doesn’t need that in her life.”

Tricia stood, brushing imaginary lint off her narrow skirt. “So you’re her champion now?”

“Yep,” he said.

I had a champion? That was new. This was the part where I was supposed to stand up for myself. To say I could fight my own battles because I was a proud and independent woman.

But I sucked at confrontation. It’s why I kept doing what everyone told me to.

Including this interview.

“I don’t buy your story, even a little bit,” Tricia said, as she flung her hair behind her shoulder. “I think you got drunk and did something stupid and we’ll be talking about your divorce in a few weeks.”

“Lady, I don’t give a shit what you think,” Wyatt said.

“No, we’re totally married,” I exclaimed a little too loudly. “Very happy. Really really happy.”

Wyatt squeezed my hand.

“Oh, Sydney. Let me tell you something,” Tricia said. Behind her the small crew she’d brought with her packed up their shit. “You were made to be unhappy. It’s why your sad songs sell so well.”

Ouch.

“It’s why people follow Celebrity Truth. So they can see you get your heart pummeled. Over, and over, and over and over-”

“Okay,” I snapped. “That’s one too manyovers. You can leave now.”

“Tyler?” Tricia said, turning around to find my manager leaning against the fireplace. “Is this really the story you want me to lead with tonight?”

He looked at me and shrugged as if in despair. Like I was a lost cause he couldn’t help anymore.

Maybe I was.

“Lead with whatever you want, lady,” Wyatt said. “We know the truth.”

“Prove it,” she snapped, tossing a gauntlet at our feet.

“Beatrice,” I said. “Don’t we have a copy of the marriage-”

Wyatt kissed me.

He had warm lips, firm, but also a little soft. His beard brushed against my skin and it tickled. This was awkward and performative. I didn’t want to kiss in front of these people. What was this going to prove? I was stiff in his arms and wished I could pull away when his hand stroked my back. A soft touch.

It’s okay. That touch said. It’s just us. Don’t worry about them.

His body curled over mine, blocking out everything. Tricia and her crew and the sun and the ocean. It was him and me and he was mychampion.

I kissed him back. For show, of course. Just playing along. I curled my arms up around his neck and he pulled me closer until I was standing on his feet on my tip toes. Like that was a thing we did – because we kissed so much.

He smiled against my lips and I smiled against his and his beard. Which was so soft and so scratchy at the same time, andI had this sudden heat flash thinking of that beard against my neck, my breasts.

I gasped and his tongue swept into my mouth. The kiss started to smoke and burn and I wanted everyone to leave. Then I wanted to spend the rest of the day in these arms.

You’re supposed to be here.