The next morning Meghan dressed in jeans and boots, layering a T-shirt and a hoodie since the weather was supposed to be a cool but sunny sixty-eight degrees. She jogged downstairs to find Kendall and Max snuggling by the coffeepot. She was about to make a gagging noise but was saved from it when they pulled apart.
“Morning, Meg,” Max said in his low, rumbly morning voice. “Coffee?”
“Please.”
“I’ll grab it.” Kendall tacked on a saucy wink. “Go shower. I’ll be up in a second.” No one missed her intentions, including Max, who offered a slightly wonky smile before jogging upstairs.
Her sister poured flavored creamer into a mug, topped it with hot coffee and handed it to her. “About your plan with Isaac—”
“My mind is made up,” Meghan cut in. “I’m going to be in town, anyway. Why not have some fun while I’m here?”
“Not all of life is about having fun. I worry about you. That you’re not taking this as seriously as you should.”
“But some of life should be fun.” Meghan bit her tongue before she revealed just how much her sister’s words hurt. They were too close to Lane’s past accusations about Meghan being irresponsible.
She had made mistakes in the past, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t do anything right. She had built her podcast out of nothing but a microphone and a laptop. Granted, she’d accepted Kendall’s help to introduce her to Isaac and Max, but what happened from here on out would be Meghan’s doing. Fake-dating Isaac would give her the experience of a lifetime and a front-row seat to the behind-the-scenes happenings of her favorite show. What more was there to consider? She was sold.
“Enjoying a dinner or two with Isaac or popping onto set a few times to meet the cast isn’t exactly hard labor,” Meghan continued. “Do you know how much my listeners would love some behind-the-scenes exclusives? This is good for my career, too, Ken.”
“Do you know how awkward it’s going to be when the two of you break up and you have to explain that to your loyal listeners?”
Hmm. Admittedly, that part of the plan gave her pause. She was less comfortable lying to her listeners.
“You haven’t contended with paparazzi before. I wouldn’t wish them on anyone. Not even Max’s ex-wife.” She was talking about Bunny, who had ended up one of Kendall’s clients. She’d landed the woman a walk-on role on Brooks Knows Best, which Meghan was sure was more a testament to her badass sister’s talents as an agent than Bunny’s acting skills.
“I’m not a child anymore,” Meghan reminded Kendall. “I know you’re trying to protect me, but what’s there to protect? Hanging out with Isaac isn’t a chore. He’s my favorite actor on my favorite show of all time. You like him. You trust him. Why wouldn’t I say yes to him?”
“That’s just it. What are you saying yes to?” Her sister raised one eyebrow meaningfully.
“Are you...worried Isaac will take advantage of me? Did Max say something?”
Kendall pressed her lips together.
Meghan knew it! Over dinner, Isaac and Meghan had excitedly chatted about how to announce their relationship on her podcast. He’d had great ideas. Moreover, she’d been excited by this new development. Dating him, even for pretend, sounded like a not-to-miss, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “It’s not like he’s lying to me.”
“No, but you two are lying to everyone else.”
“You mean like you and Isaac did a few months ago while you were walking around Los Angeles, hand in hand?”
Kendall’s mouth dropped open into a speechless O before she snapped her teeth together and said between them, “That was different. That was for his career, and mine.”
“And this is for my career, and Isaac’s.”
Kendall’s lips pursed in what looked like consideration.
“Sponsors will flock to my podcast after I air the interview we recorded last night. If I follow that up with a series of interviews with cast and crew, or behind-the-scenes tidbits after I visit the set... Kendall. Can you imagine? This is the break I need. I won’t have to worry about paying the bills after this. What Isaac is offering is a gift.”
“You’re right.” Her sister sipped from her coffee mug, nodding as she swallowed. “You’re right. It’s a good move for you, professionally.”
“Plus, I miss sex,” Meghan blurted. “Not that I’m planning on having sex with Isaac.”
Kendall surprised Meghan by laughing. “I can’t argue with you for thinking about it. He is Max’s twin, and Max is hot.”
“Max is hot. Isaac is hotter in my opinion, but I’m assuming we will agree to disagree. What I meant was that I miss being liked. Hand-holding, even under false pretenses, would be lovely. I had fun with him at Rocky’s. Talking, eating together. Laughing and sharing stories. I’m willing to be half of a couple. Even temporarily. Soon enough I’ll be heading back home to North Carolina alone. I will treasure the memory of the time I stood in as the girlfriend of my celebrity crush.”
Her sister put her mug down and pulled Meghan into a hug. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply you were being rash.”
“You didn’t imply. You sort of said it outright.”