“Oh, I get it!” Ryan looked at me. “Have you thought of any locations Matt?”
The seventh circle of hell.
“I considered Central Park, but I don’t want to have to deal with extra security. So, I’m thinking somewhere indoors. It’ll be a surprise for her.”
“You guys are adorable,” he said. “Tell me about this big announcement you guys wanted to share with us.”
Big announcement?
“We are expecting a new addition!” Selena rubbed her stomach. “We wanted to let everyone know before the tabloids got a hold of it.”
WHAT THE FUCK? Stay cool. Stay calm. It’s almost over…
“That’s amazing! Matt, do you have any preference? Boy or girl?”
“Just…a healthy baby,” I barely managed.
“Congratulations to you both!” he looked excited. “We’ll be right back for more with Selena Ross and Matt Sterling!”
“Two minutes ‘til we’re live again!” a producer shouted.
Hair and makeup rushed over to Selena and me, touching up our faces. A couple of cameramen shook my hand and wished me well with the baby.
I couldn’t nod my head in thanks. I couldn’t even speak.
“And we’re going live in 5…4…3…2,” the producer snapped her fingers and the set fell quiet.
“We’re back with Selena Ross and Matt Sterling. They’ve just announced that they are expecting a baby! Selena, it seems like you’re having the best month ever. You’re newly engaged, pregnant, and you’ve landed the role of a lifetime. Are you feeling overwhelmed at all?”
“A little bit, Ryan. It’s like I’ve dreamed of getting married and having kids for forever, so to finally have that, it’s just, I can’t even put it into words.”
“I can imagine. Matt, are you overwhelmed as well? You have two more projects coming out this year and studios are practically breaking down your door to get you in their films.”
“I am utterly speechless, Ryan.”
Ryan laughed. “I bet! I know you guys can’t stay much longer, so we at E sincerely wish you the absolute best for your careers and the new baby.”
“Thank you so much for having us!” Selena kissed him on the cheek.
“Thanks man,” I shook his hand.
“Now, live in the studio is Giuliana Rancic with celebrity news updates!”
The cameras panned over to another set and I tore out my earpiece. Ryan congratulated us both again and I stormed to the elevator, ignoring my security detail.
“Matt! Wait!” Selena squeezed in before the doors could close.
“Please tell me you’re not really pregnant!” I tried not to scream.
“Of course I’m not pregnant. Ratings, remember?”
I glared at her. “Do you have a soul? A conscience? Anything that would make me believe you’re a human being and not some crazy press-driven psycho?”
“Matt,” she grabbed my hand. “You’ll thank me for this one day.”
“I’m pretty sure I won’t,” I jerked my hand away. “How are we going to have a fake baby?”
“I’m going to have a miscarriage a couple months from now. After you dump me I’ll be in so much grief that I go into a deep depression and lose the thing. Boo hoo hoo, poor Selena. Lost baby equals even more press.”
“Joan!” I stepped off the elevator. “Joan! Where are you?”
“Yes?” she was right beside me.
“Is the Instyle lady here?”
“Yes. She’s across the street already.”
“Great,” I rushed outside with Selena running behind me.
“Matt! Matt! Stop!”
I stopped once I noticed a pack of paparazzi heading our way.
“I’m so sorry, Matt. I should’ve asked you about the baby thing first.”
“Shhh,” I pulled her close and kissed her, pretending she was Melody Carter.
“You sure you don’t want me to catch a cab back home?” Selena twisted the strands of her hair.
“Get in the car Selena. I would never make a pregnant woman catch a cab.”
She smiled and scooted next to me. “Aw! You’re the best! And you know what we can do while we’re here together?”
“What?”
“We can go over some of these launch party photos Stan emailed to me. I’m only putting up the ones of the beautiful people though. If I put up ugly people, my fans will associate that with my perfume and my perfume is not for ugly people.”
“No dear, you’re not shallow at all,” I sighed.
She leaned on me and clicked through the pictures on her phone. There were so many—directors, actors and actresses, dreamers. In every photo of the two of us, we looked like such a happy couple.
“Wait. I think that’s Melody Carter,” I leaned in closer to make sure.
“Who?”
“She’s some film critic at The New York Appeal,” I tried to sound nonchalant. I hadn’t forgotten how sexy she looked that night, how I literally had to calm my nerves before approaching her.
I’ve got to see her again…
“Oh. Well, she’s adorable! A film critic who can actually dress? Who’d have thought? But she’s a nobody so, moving on!”
I didn’t pay attention to the rest of the photos. I couldn’t think about anything besides Melody Carter and that was beginning to scare me. The last time I thought about a woman that much and actually pursued it, she turned into a fame hungry monster.