Rory smiled for the cameras, but as soon as he got away from them for a second, he clenched his teeth. Though the paparazzi were hot on their trail and following them, there was a brief moment where they weren’t in front of him and he let down his guard. All while his date remained unaware of the anger stewing inside him.

He couldn’t believe Gina still pushed for him to go on this damn date after what had happened last night. Hadn’t she felt it? Hadn’t she known that they were perfect for each other?

“Cotton candy will rot your teeth,” Wendy said as she reached for the cone of pastel colored sugar that Rory was carrying.

“That being said, I don’t much care for my teeth right now.” She shoved a handful into her mouth and glanced over her shoulder to offer the flashing cameras behind them a playful smile.

Rory continued to walk along the pier, content to just do the bare minimum required of him. He was only here because he was too pissed off to be anywhere else right now and this was what Gina wanted.

Though, to be fair, there wasn’t anything particularly wrong with Wendy. On the contrary, she seemed like the most normal girl he had been set up with yet. She was petite and pretty—had the whole “girl next door” type of thing working in her favor. She was famous in her own right, and didn’t fawn all over him, which was nice.

He dug into the bag of fluffy candy goodness, but after a tiny bite, he passed the rest of the bag to Wendy.

“I’m not in the mood for anything sweet right now.”

“Really?” She arched a brow and pivoted to face him. “So does that mean I can eat the rest?”

He smiled at her, a genuine smile. There wasn’t a chemistry type connection between the two of them—at least not on his end—but he had to admit, she was nice. A cakewalk compared to the senator’s daughter and Star Jackson. “Sure, if you don’t mind rotting your teeth. Do you want to ride the Ferris wheel while you eat it?”

“Seriously?” she asked. “Why would you want to go and do something terrifying like that?”

He glanced over his shoulder, then whispered, “To get away from these damn cameras for a minute.” Putting on a happy face was draining as hell when all he wanted to do was go for a run to work off some of this frustration and pent up anger.

“I see.” She nodded. “I know that we’re supposed to ham it up and all but after awhile, they get to me. Do they annoy you, too?”

“A little bit,” he admitted, realizing that perhaps they had something in common after all.

“Why the hell not? Let’s hit the Ferris wheel.” She reached for his hand before turning back around and leading them both toward the ride docked at the edge of the pier.

Lights flickered behind them.

Rory shifted forward until he was the one leading Wendy down the wooden planks of the pier. He needed to be seen as in charge, needed to be seen as a strong, womanizing rock star. So that was the part he played. He tugged her toward the short line in front of the Ferris wheel.

The line began to move as passengers were loaded onto the ride two at a time. There were only two couples ahead of them when the girl in front of them turned around and screamed, “Wendy!”

She was a damn pro, offering the girl a beaming smile as she began to talk to her.

“That’s me,” she said and reached for the pen being offered to her. “And what’s your name?”

“I’m Hannah,” the girl said, and then pointed over to her friend who stared back with wide, awestruck eyes, “and this is Annie.”

“Well, it’s nice to meet you two girls.” She pursed her lips and leaned over slightly. “Want me to sign something?”

“We don’t have any pictures or anything like that,” the second girl said and swiveled around so that the back of her white tee was facing Rory and Wendy. She craned her head over her shoulder and grinned from ear to ear. “Can you sign my shirt?”

“Of course, sweetie.” Wendy stepped forward and scribbled a short message on the girl’s shirt, followed by her signature. “There you go. Make sure you wash the shirt inside out to preserve the writing.”

“Thank you so much,” the girl squealed and then her eyes twisted to meet Rory. “Will you sign my shirt too, Rory?”

He stepped toward her and took the pen from Wendy. “Is there anything specific you’d like me to write?”

The two girls passed each other a knowing look, both giggling. Then her eyes were back on Rory. “Can you write Rory loves Hannah and Annie?”

“Yeah,” Rory said with a shrug. “Sure.”

He stepped forward and dropped down to a crouch. He scribbled the requested message onto the shirt with the silver metallic Sharpie and signed beneath.

Wendy took the girls’ phone as the four of them—the two girls and the two stars—huddled side by side in front of the Ferris wheel. The front-facing camera flashed and a memory was made.

Before long, though, the girls scrambled onto the carriage and he and Wendy did the same. Then, after a few slow turns, high above the pier, Rory and Wendy sat at the top of the Ferris wheel as riders were being loaded onto the ride down below. And though the ride wasn’t nearly as tall as the buildings that surrounded them on either side of the river, it was still as if they were on top of the world.

Up at the top, it was almost like he could let his guard down and be Rory instead of the Rory the world needed him to be. He looked over the edge of the bucket and glanced down at the calm river beneath them. Lost in his thoughts, he realized that this was his future and it was a soul crushing realization that the thing he had spent his entire life wanting—fame—was the very same thing that felt like it was going to shackle him, like it was holding him under water or something and he couldn’t breathe.

“It’s a nice view, eh?” Wendy said.

He forced a smile. “I’m sorry, I guess I zoned out or something.” He chuckled under his breath. “I’m just really tired.” Of all this shit, he neglected to add.

“Yeah, the fame game can be exhausting.” She threw her head back against the metal seat and groaned. “People always expect you to be something you’re not. And the longer you live in that persona, the more the public expects it of you on a constant basis.”

“That’s so true,” Rory said with a nod, and then it hit him all at once. “Can I ask you something without you getting offended?”

“Sure. You can ask me anything.” She brushed her long blonde hair behind her ear and bowed her head slightly.

Was she flirting? Was she pretending? Was she here for the same reason Rory was?

He cleared his throat and shook his head contemplatively before spitting his question out. “Why are you here?”

“What do you mean?” Her emerald eyes—obviously colored contacts—seemed to peer straight through him. Her pale cheeks flushed red, like she had just been caught in a lie or something. “I’m here with you…”

“Right, but why are you here?” Rory adjusted himself in the seat so that he could face her fully. “Whatever it is, I’m not going to be mad at you or anything like that.”

“Fine.” She sank deep into her seat with her arms folded over each other. “I’m here, I’m guessing for the same reason you are.”

“Which is?” He furrowed his brow, knowing just what she was about to say. But he needed to hear it from her lips.

“My manager and publicist kind of pushed me into this. They said it’d be good for my career and… and…” She began to stammer. “I’m so sorry, Rory.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry about.” He reached across the short space between them and slung an arm around her shoulder. “It’s the same thing for me and I know it might sound stupid, but I think it’s better this way, you know?”

“What do you mean?” she asked, and then gripped her palms tightly around the bar, letting out a squeal as the ride began to rotate.

“I mean, if I’m being honest, it’s just that I’m not into this spotlight thing, but it’s something I kind of have to do.” He shrugged, looking out into the near distance as they circled close to the ground. He sported the fakest Hollywood smile he could as cameras began to flash in their faces. Once they were on their way back up to the top, he continued, “You’re a lovely girl—”

“But you’re gay.” She sighed and shook her head. “Or taken.”

“Neither, actually,” he said. “But there is another woman I’m into. I’m not sure if it could ever work, but I feel like I need to take the chance behind closed doors.”

She threw her arm behind his back and leaned in closer to him. At first he thought it was for an upcoming photo op but then she whispered, “I’m so glad you said that. See, I’ve been in a relationship with my manager for three years.”

That stole Rory’s attention. “Really?”

“Really, truly, really.” She pulled back and shrugged. “He’s not famous enough though, so he himself started setting me up with hot dates to get me more exposure.”

“Your own boyfriend?” He shook his head in disbelief. “That’s harsh, man. I don’t think I could do it.”

She laughed, exposing a perfect set of pearly white teeth. “It’s not like I’m actually cheating on him or anything.”

Rory couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pity for her. “Do you think it’s ever worth it?”

“The fame game?” She arched her brows and then shrugged. “I’m not in this for the fame. I’m in it for the music, and unfortunately my passion depends on being able to sell, and selling requires me to play the fame game, so yeah, I think it’s worth it. You just have to figure out if it requires giving up too much, you know? And when it starts to feel that way to me, I’ll pull the plug on the rest and just do my music. For now, though, I can deal. I’m young and strong.”

“Yeah, that’s the part I’m struggling with. I never wanted to be the center of attention.”

“Well, today, we kind of have no choice, it seems.” She gestured below them as they moved.

“You’re right about that.”

Rory pulled her in close for a hug from the side as they cycled closer to the ground. His eyes followed the band of paparazzi assembled on the ground and he waited for just the right moment to pivot and kiss Wendy right on the cheek.

Cameras snapped until they rounded back near the top and came to a halt, the bucket swinging in place as the gears shifted below. The two of them stared each other down with a silent understanding. Just two people thrown into the game against their wishes trying to make the best of a brokered date.

And though neither of them were interested in a romantic relationship—they both had someone waiting for them in some capacity—there was a mutual respect between the two that Rory found comforting.

So for now? He was willing to play the game for the camera, but as soon as this faux date was over, he was going to take control of the situation like he should have done back when it all began.

Ready or not, Gina. Here I come.