“We are screwed.” Kevin slams his coffee on his desk and starts pacing his office.

Tate and I glance at each other. We knew it would be bad when Kevin called us in here at the break of dawn.

“What were you thinking?”

Tate runs a hand over his hair. “I wasn’t. It was a long time ago. Before Charlotte.”

I blush. He could mean before our fake relationship, or he could mean once we became a real couple. I know what I’m choosing to believe.

Kevin waves his hand, clearly assuming Tate means the former. “Well, the past month was for nothing because we’re right back where we started.”

“Come on, Kev. It can’t be that bad.”

“Your junk is all over the tabloids! Your video has hit a million downloads—” Kevin stops and narrows his eyes. “Wipe that smirk off your face, Tate. This is a perfect example of when bad press does not equal good press.”

“Fine! But what do you want me to do? What does the public expect from me?”

“How about keeping the camera out of the bedroom?”

Tate sits back and scowls. “A little too late for that now. Besides, why is everyone so surprised? I told you this was going to happen.”

I snap my head up. “Excuse me?”

Tate shifts in his seat. “Oh, I mean I…”

Kevin grinds to a halt. “Tate figured it was only a matter of time before a sex tape got leaked.”

I stare at my boyfriend. “You’re telling me that you do this a lot?”

“What? Have sex?” Tate asks nervously.

“No! Film it!”

“Oh—” He clears his throat. “Once or twice.”

I rub my temples. “How many more are out there?”

“Um…” Tate drops his eyes to his lap. “I don’t know.”

“Jesus Christ,” I mutter under my breath. For some reason I’d forgotten exactly who my boyfriend used to be—or still is?

I don’t even know anymore.

Kevin resumes pacing. “It doesn’t matter if there are more. What matters is the one that’s out there. The woman is scheduled to give a follow-up interview. I’m going to reach out and see if I can convince her otherwise.”

“I’m sure she’s only doing it for the money,” Tate says. “Maybe it’ll be more authentic if it comes from me?”

“You’re in a hurry to see this woman again,” I scoff.

“What? No!”

“Sure…”

“Charlotte—”

“I’m reaching out,” Kevin interrupts. “Tate, you’ve already done more than enough. And Charlotte? Stop picking fights.”

I toss my head. “I’m not picking fights! I haven’t done anything wrong here.”

Kevin cocks an eyebrow. “Is that so? Care to explain the other reason I called you both in here?”

I fall silent.

Kevin crosses his arms over his chest. “Yup. You’re both front page news this morning.”

As if Tate’s sex tape scandal wasn’t enough, the video of Tate’s fight with Jay had gone viral.

“Congratulations, Tate. Not only are you a bad boy again, but you can add ‘jealous hothead’ to your colorful rap sheet.” Kevin pinches the bridge of his nose with his fingers. “What were you even doing in that club?”

Tate shrugs. “We wanted to go out…blow off some steam.”

“I made it clear that you’re staying away from clubs.”

“Things had been going so well…” Tate ducks his head. “We were keeping a low profile.”

“I’d say beating up your girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend is the exact opposite of that.” Kevin rests his fists on his desk. “A lawyer hasn’t contacted my office yet, so I’m hoping that means Jay isn’t suing.”

I frown. “Jay wouldn’t sue.”

Kevin turns his wrathful eyes on me. “Defending the victim, are we?”

“No! I just…know him.”

“Exactly,” Kevin snaps. “In fact, this could all be seen as your fault, Charlotte.”

“That’s out of line,” Tate sputters next to me.

“Is it? You beat him up because he was Charlotte’s ex. Now you look like a overbearing boyfriend.”

“He was making Charlotte uncomfortable.”

“So what? Are you going to beat up every guy that looks at her?”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Tate says dangerously.

“Hey, stop it,” I interrupt. “I’m sitting right here and can speak for myself.”

Kevin and Tate continue to glare at each other but fall silent.

“Now, Kevin,” I start, “I thought it was every woman’s wildest dream to have two men fight over her.”

Kevin narrows his eyes at me. “Your point?”

“Tate comes off looking strong and manly, and I fulfill a fantasy. Think about it…”

Kevin does think about and then shakes his head. “Still, we’re not pandering to teenage fans. Our pitch is to potential employers. Nope, I think Charlotte has to go.”

Tate jumps to his feet. “Hold on, Kev—”

“I’m sorry, Tate, but I don’t see any other way. Charlotte’s toxic to your image. I think we should replace her with someone new. Someone less complicated.”

Complicated? So I have one boyfriend who won’t take no for an answer. I think that makes me Mother Teresa in the city of rehabs and substance abusers.

“It’s not happening,” Tate shouts, jabbing a finger at his agent.

“I don’t think you have a choice. Listen, I don’t want to do this, but…”

I glance between them, barely hearing what they’re saying. It’s like I’m watching from the other side of the room, unfeeling and unhearing. Just an onlooker as two men argue about how toxic I am to a guy who’s in the middle of a sex tape scandal.

Hypocrites.

I’m about to point this out when my phone buzzes. No one’s paying attention to me anyway, so I might as well check it.

I snort. Yeah, tell me something I don’t already know.

I shake my head. And my best friend wonders why she comes off as “strong”…

I frown. I hadn’t thought about it. To be honest, it hadn’t even crossed my mind. Tate and I were in this together…right?

I glance up at the two men fighting over whether I stay or go. The “player” is fighting pretty hard to keep me around. But that still doesn’t mean I’m not afraid of getting hurt—incredibly afraid, actually—especially now that I’ve gone farther with Tate than any other man.

In the end, I still don’t have an answer for her.

I shove my phone in my pocket and turn my attention back to the scene unfolding in front of me. Tate’s still arguing for me to stay, and Kevin is still pointing out all the reasons I need to leave.

I stand up and step between them. “Stop!” I yell, holding up my hands. “Quiet, now!”

They fall silent.

“Thank you.” I look at both of them. “First of all, no one’s even asked me if I want to stay.”

Tate stares at me. “What? Of course you do.”

I take a deep breath. “I don’t know.” His wounded look kills me. “Kevin’s made some compelling points…the biggest is that we’re doing this because of your future in Hollywood.”

Tate scowls. “I told you I don’t care.”

“What?” Kevin snaps.

I ignore him. “I know you say that now, but in a few months, you’ll resent me. You will,” I add, seeing his skepticism.

I turn to Kevin. “What would happen if Tate and I did—” I choke up a little “—break up.”

“Your understudy would take over. We’d create some whirlwind romance similar to how you two met, move you out and her into Tate’s house, and start all over again.”

“What the hell?” Tate shouts. He steps toward me. “That’s not happening!”

“Tate,” I murmur, giving him a pained look, “this hurts me, too.”

“Then don’t do it!”

“It’s for the best,” Kevin says behind us.

Tate glares at him. “I don’t care.”

“Come on, be reasonable—”

Tate cuts him off. “I am, Kevin. Let me be clear: If Charlotte goes, then I’m getting another agent.”

Kevin’s face goes red. “What?”

“You heard me. I’ll sever our contract and get someone new.”

“No one will touch you.”

Tate shrugs. “I doubt that, but it’s a risk I’ll take.”

I gape at Tate, struggling to comprehend the impact of what he’s saying. Fire Kevin,the best agent in Hollywood, for me?

I place my hand on Tate’s chest. “No, Tate.”

“I’ve made up my mind,” he says firmly. “Trust me, it’ll work out.”

“How? How can you be so sure?”

Tate smirks at me. “All that confidence got me where I am today. It’ll get me where I want to go.”

We turn as Kevin slumps into his seat. He takes a labored breath, fighting to get his face under control.

“Kevin,” Tate says quietly, “I don’t want to do this, but you’re backing me up against a wall. I don’t want to start over with some girl when I’d rather be with Charlotte. Plus, the public loves her. This sex tape and that fight are my fault, not hers. Kev, I think you’re looking at this the wrong way.”

There Tate goes again—defending me and taking the blame.

I pull out my phone and shoot off a text. I have my answer. Tate Gunner isn’t that philandering bad boy anymore. He’s mine…at least for the near future.

“You know—”

I stash away my phone as Kevin leans back in his chair.

“—I think I am looking at this the wrong way.” Kevin sits up and points at Tate. “You’re the problem.”

Tate frowns. “I mean, when you say it like that…”

“You’re the one who needs to be changed,” Kevin plows on. He gets up and starts pacing again. “This tape was what you used to be, but it’s not what you’ve become. You’re different now, a changed man, tamed…”

Tate and I glance at each other. “Um, what?” Tate asks.

Kevin nods. “Charlotte’s tamed you, made you see the light—whatever you want to call it. Now we just need to show exactly how far you’ve come.”

Tate shrugs. “I have changed. I thought that was clear.”

“Not after this sex tape. Charlotte’s right about the fight, we don’t need to worry about that because you were just protecting the woman you love.”

Love?

“Yes,” Kevin mutters, thinking out loud. “You’re both madly in love. Tate can’t think straight around you…even the thought of another man hitting on you, flirting with you, makes him wild.”

I shift uncomfortably. Kevin doesn’t realize how close he is to the truth. That’s exactly why Tate did what he did.

Kevin stops and grins at us. “And what do men do when they’re madly in love?”

My stomach drops as we stare back at Kevin. I have a bad feeling about where he’s heading. I mean, come on, he can’t really be suggesting—

“They get engaged!”

Tate and I have totally different reactions. I immediately start arguing with Kevin, listing all the reasons why this is a terrible plan, whereas Tate remains stiff as a board, silently rooted to the spot.

“…and we’ve only been going out for two months!”

Kevin waves my third argument away. “This is L.A. Some celebrities only stay married for a weekend.”

I frown. “Then what about our families? Won’t they be surprised?”

“They’ll be happy for you like the rest of the country! Two people so in love that they can’t wait…?”

Darn it.

I glance at Tate. Still nothing. “Okay, then what about when we break up? I’m assuming our original contract still holds with an engagement as it did before. I’m only here until Tate gets another offer, right?”

Kevin shrugs. “Whatever you two decide after you’ve fulfilled your contract is not my business. You two can date or break up, I don’t care.”

“But Kevin—”

“Speaking of your contract, I don’t have to remind you that it states you must bolster Tate’s image at all costs.”

“Yeah, but—”

“This counts, Charlotte. I’m sorry you don’t like it, but it’s within reason.”

“A fake engagement is within reason?” I scoff and turn to Tate. “What do you think about all this?”

Tate starts. “Oh, um, sorry. I was just thinking.” He meets my gaze and then flicks his eyes to Kevin. “Do you really think people will believe it?”

“Yes.”

“And that it’s our best option?”

“Absolutely.”

Tate turns back to me, his answer written across his face.

I shake my head. “This is crazy, Tate.”

“No crazier than two strangers pretending to be boyfriend and girlfriend,” he argues, giving me a sad smile.

I feel my resolve weakening the longer I stare into his brilliant green eyes. “Is this really what you want?” I ask quietly. “We’ll be going back to the start. Back to being an act.”

He closes the gap between us and palms my cheek. “We’re not going back to the start, Char,” he murmurs so only I can hear. “I’m still yours and you’re still mine. The only thing that changes is you get a shiny new rock on your finger.”

My legs go weak. That’s what I needed to hear.

I lower my eyes and nod. Tate rubs my cheek with his thumb, then steps around me. “We’ll do it.”

“Fantastic!” Kevin cries. “You’re making the right choice here.”

I walk back to my chair and ease into it. I went from being in a fake relationship to a real one, and now a fake engagement, all within a head-spinning two months.

Kevin starts rattling off the things we’ll need to do, like call our families and give exclusive interviews to the major magazines. The bigger we make this announcement, the faster yesterday’s disaster can be swept under the table.

“…and I’ll have my assistant pick out a ring for you. It’ll be sent over tonight.”

I snap my head up. “No. I want to pick out my own ring.”

Kevin frowns. “That’s not really necessary.”

“I’m the one who has to wear it on my finger.” I glance up at Tate. “I want to like it.”

Tate smiles back at me. “I agree,” he says, keeping his eyes on me. “She gets to choose.”

“But I don’t see the point.”

“Think of the photo op, Kev,” Tate says. “Charlotte and me, hand in hand, darting in and out of jewelry stores…”

Kevin nods as he works this scenario in his mind. “Nice, very nice. Okay. Get started tomorrow.”

I smile up at Tate. I know it may sound silly, but it means a lot to me that I get to have some say in this decision. Even if everything else is fake in this harebrained scheme, at least I could look down at my finger and remember that Tate and I are in this together.

That some part of us is real.