I quickly bark out, “Can I press play again, please?”
“Sure.”
My heart pounding, I cue the video. And once again, the woman springs to life.
“So, after some flirting,” she says, “I decided to make my move. I suggested we head to Savage’s room upstairs—”
“See?” I mutter.
“So he could make my fantasies come true. And guess what Savage said to me in reply to that? You won’t believe it. Brace yourselves. He said, ‘Sorry, I can’t . . . because of . . . Laila.’”
“Bullshit!” I blurt.
The woman clutches her heart, just above her ample breasts. “I was like, ‘I knew it!’ And Savage just laughed and winked.”
“I did not. She’s a liar.”
The Instagrammer continues, “And then, I said, ‘You’re the sweetest boyfriend, ever.’”
“Fuck!”
“And he goes, ‘I’m not being sweet. I made a promise to her, and I’m going to keep it.’”
“What the fuck?” I yell. I pause the video and practically hurl the phone at Eli. “I said none of that! Zippo. Zero! Either she’s lying, or she misheard me. I think she said something like, ‘Thanks for being so sweet about this.’ And I said, ‘I’m not being sweet. I made a promise.’ But I was talking about my contract! The morality clause! I didn’t say I couldn’t fuck her because of Laila. Why would I say that? I’d never say that! Laila never even crosses my mind!”
Eli chuckles. “Calm down, Player. I know she’s full of shit. And so do the producers. If you ask me, the most logical explanation is that you said she looks like Laila, which she does, and then, when you said the next thing, she made the mental leap that you’d said the word ‘Laila’ again. My bet? You told her you needed to ‘lay low’ because of your contract.”
Oh, thank God. I feel like he’s just thrown me a lifeline. “Yes!” I shout. “That’s exactly what I said! Lay low! Not Laila! That’s obviously what I said!”
“You use that phrase a lot.”
“I do! I totally do!” I exhale with relief. “I remember everything now. I said I had to ‘lay low’ because of the show. And when she said thanks for being sweet, I said, ‘I’m not being sweet, I made a promise to the show.’ Boom.” Oh, God, I’m so relieved. I sit quietly for a beat, rubbing my forehead, feeling like I’ve dodged a bullet. Until, suddenly, a horrifying thought strikes me—one that makes my blood turn cold. “Oh, fuck. Laila can’t see this video, Eli! Hand me my phone. I’ve got to post a rebuttal video, explaining what I really said, so Laila doesn’t see this bullshit and think—"
“Like hell you will. That video, and the fact that the whole world believes every word of it, is the only thing keeping your job on life support right now.”
“How?”
Eli gestures to the phone in my hand. “Watch the rest.”
With a loud groan, I press play again, and this time, the woman says, “So, guys, I can confidently report the exclusive scoop that Savage and Laila Fitzgerald are, indeed, secretly together, despite their denials.”
“I’ve never denied anything,” I mutter.
She continues, “Am I disappointed about Savage being off the market? Absolutely. But, at least, I’m thrilled to know he’s so happy and devoted to his girlfriend.” She leans into the camera. “Now, don’t you dare break our Savage’s heart, Laila. Or I’m coming for you, bitch.” She snarls comically and the video ends.
I hand Eli his phone, my heart thudding in my ears. “I don’t see how this isn’t a horrific disaster for me. The thought of Laila seeing that and thinking I actually said any of that stuff makes me want to throw myself off a bridge.”
Eli laughs. “Forget Laila’s reaction. That’s a casualty of war. All that matters is what the world thinks. And thanks to that, the producers have given me until five today to pull a rabbit out of my hat.”
“What rabbit? Stop speaking in code and tell me what’s going on.”
Eli grins. “A rabbit called Laila. If we can convince her to be your team’s mentor this season, rather than Aloha’s—and for three episodes, rather than one, and if—”
“Kendrick’s going to be my mentor this season!”
“Not if we can get Laila.”
“She won’t do it. She hates me. Even for a three-episode stint, she’d never agree to it.”
“You didn’t let me finish. There’s something else she’d have to do besides being your mentor for three episodes.” He smiles. “She’d also have to pretend to be your girlfriend.”
My jaw hangs