Anna calls me the day after the gala and tells me her boss has asked us to do an exclusive interview for the station. Of course I’m fine with it. An interview showing us newly engaged and in love benefits us both.

The interview is conducted by one of Anna’s colleagues named Mackenzie. She’s young, like Anna, and exactly what you’d expect an up and coming female TV personality would look like. She’s also pretty — very pretty — with perfectly styled hair, makeup, and clothes. But there’s something a little fake about her that I can’t help but compare to Anna as we sit down for the interview. Anna’s been made up for the occasion, too, of course. She’s got on a stunning deep purple dress that I’ve never seen on her before. It brings out the creaminess in her skin and her dark eyes. But whereas Mackenzie looks a little like a plastic doll, Anna looks fresh and real. Natural, even under the makeup.

After the cameras and sound equipment are set up, and the technicians have the lighting just the way they want it, we start filming. The final product, the producer has told us, will only be about eight minutes long, though they’ll want a lot more tape than that to make sure they have enough to work with. Mackenzie sits down across from us, a few small note cards in her hand. I look over at Anna and give her a wink. She shoots me back a look that shows me just how nervous she is.

Without thinking, I reach for her hand and squeeze it.

Then, for some reason, I don’t let go.

“Tonight we have an exclusive interview with the newest member of the Springville Rockets football team, and the woman who’s stolen his heart,” Mackenzie begins. And just like that, we’re off. Showing the whole world (or at least the whole city) how in love we are, and what a changed man I am.

Anna and I had another practice session last night, to make sure we had enough details down about our relationship to make it believable. We invented a story about how I proposed to her (I took her boating on Lake Bryant and popped the question at sunset). We agreed that we haven’t set a date for the wedding yet, but that we want to wait until after I’ve had time to really integrate with the team and give my best for the fans. We even talked about how many kids we want (Anna wants two, I want enough for our own football team).

Some of those questions get asked, and we sail through them with flying colors. It’s a convincing performance, even to me. Several times during the interview, I glance over at Anna and find myself almost wishing this was real. She’s still holding my hand, and at this point I don’t know whether it’s for show anymore or not. At one point, I crack a joke that makes both Mackenzie and Anna laugh, and Anna squeezes my hand and looks over at me with eyes that sparkle so much it fucking starts my heart pounding to know I’ve put the sparkle there.

“I’d like to get into a question that’s rather personal,” Mackenzie finally says, her voice turning TV-interview serious. “It’s the elephant in the room. Viewers and fans will be wondering about Mason’s problems with alcohol, which caused him to lose his previous contract with the Rockets.” She pauses to give us both a look designed to be both sympathetic and probing. “Are those problems firmly in your past, Mason? And Anna, what’s it like to know that your fiancé has this side to him?”

I was prepared for this question, of course. At least, I thought I was. But having someone say to my face, on camera, that I have problems with alcohol, makes my jaw tense and my hands tighten into fists. I know I have to get through this question. I know how I have to answer it. But everything inside me wants to protest, to set the record straight. Even though I know that’s exactly the wrong move.

There’s a small movement inside my right hand, and I realize I’m probably crushing poor Anna’s fingers. Instantly, I ease up, and glance apologetically over at her. The look she gives me back is utterly calming. Reassuring. It’s almost like she’s communicating with me telepathically. We’ll get through this.

I feel my body relaxing as Anna opens her mouth to speak.

“I can’t speak for Mason, of course,” she says demurely. “All I can do is speak as the woman who’s in love with him.”

In spite of myself, my heart starts to hammer at hearing her say she’s in love with me, even though it’s an act.

“I met Mason shortly after he got out of rehab,” she continues. “I’ve seen him at his worst, and I’ve seen him at his best. And I’ll say this. I’ve never known anyone stronger. I wouldn’t be with him if I didn’t believe in him, and trust him completely.” She smiles over at me tenderly.

And two overwhelming thoughts flood my head at the exact same time.

One, how much I want to take Anna Wilder to bed right now.

And two, how much I would love to be the man she really felt that way about.

“Mason?”

“Yes?” I snap out of my daze to see Mackenzie looking expectantly at me.

“Oh. Sorry.” I flash her my most disarming grin. “Anna’s my rock,” I say, just as we practiced. “The most important way to build a successful future is to have a strong foundation to build it on. This,” I continue, holding up our joined hands, “Is my foundation. The future I’m building with Anna, and with the Rockets, is my priority now.”

Mackenzie nods, clearly satisfied with my answer. And she should be. It’s exactly the sort of shit her audience will eat up. I know that instinctively. And for all she and they know, I’m telling the one-hundred percent truth.

And none of them know how shaken up I suddenly am by this whole thing. Not even Anna.

After the interview is over, I put my arm conspicuously around my fiancée’s waist as we leave the station together. I feel the eyes of her colleagues on us, and we smile and nod at the ones who come up and congratulate us. When we leave through the station’s large glass doors, there’s an elevator waiting for us. I’m relieved to see there’s no one else in it. Anna seems to feel the same way.

“Oof, thank God that’s over,” she sighs as the doors close behind us. “It went well, though, I think. Don’t you?”

“Yeah, I do,” I agree. “Damn, you were good. Very convincing.”

“You think so?” she giggles. Anna is obviously very pleased with herself. “When I was younger, I wanted to be an actress. I did some theater in high school and college. Maybe it paid off.”

“I guess so.” I whistle low and shake my head. “You almost fooled me.”

Anna looks up at me with a devilish grin, and then down to my arm, which is still encircling her. “We don’t have to pretend anymore,” she points out. “There’s no one here.”

“Yeah, but the doors are gonna open up soon,” I say, thinking fast. “We’re gonna be on display again in about five seconds. Better just to stay in character.”

The line works. Anna doesn’t move away, and pretty soon the doors open on to the first floor. We step outside and walk through the large foyer of the building, once again aware of the eyes that are on us. I can’t help but stand a little taller. I’m proud to have Anna by my side.

“We make quite a couple, I think,” I murmur as we head toward the large revolving doors that will take us back outside. “Between this interview, and being seen around town, I think this is going to work like a charm. For both of us.”

We’re at the revolving doors now, and I let Anna go so she can push through them first. She turns her head to look back at me just before she goes in.

“It’s gonna break America’s heart when we break up,” she winks.

As I watch her go through, a response forms in my head that I know I can’t say.

So maybe we don’t break up.