Chemistry

After a couple weeks went by, I felt even more confident about putting my best foot forward with my very public relationship with Reed.  I couldn't make any strides with Nate until this situation was all finished so why not focus on the task at hand.

I still checked my phone constantly, never missing a call or text, making sure Nate hadn't tried to get in touch with me. Lily was delighted she could get a hold of me at a moment's notice. Her time had become more valuable after Reed was officially a new client.

Our next appearance as a couple was by far the biggest one yet. Reed and I were honored when we were asked to perform at the country music awards. The show was always a hit. The producers were famous for placing different musicians together to create unique, one-time performances that fans would gossip about for days after.

I first heard from Lily, then Walt, and then from Reed, what the production team was asking Reed and I to do. Someone decided it would be a genius idea for Reed to join me on stage for the last part of, "Honestly." They thought his presence alongside me would be some kind of ratings gold.

Walt agreed immediately. He believed his two, powerhouse musicians singing in primetime together would be a publicity win for everyone.

I expressed to Walt, "Under no circumstances would I sing my song to someone else on stage."

"You're not singing to him, you're singing with him," Walt said in a dismissive tone.

I bitched and moaned to Lily, explaining the optics would be horrible for Nate to see, like rubbing salt in his wounds.

Lily reminded me that "Ricky's" couple status was on track to end in just over a week. Reed and I had become that happy, boring couple.  We made sure we did not have any missteps along the way. We didn't overshare, we were not overly affectionate, and we seemed to have our crap together. The tabloids couldn't find any mistakes to pounce on.

Our scandal had turned into a normal relationship, and people moved on to more juicy and salacious gossip. Lily assured me the press release, about Reed and I confessing our difficult decision to just be friends, would be buried under other news. We would quietly walk out of the spotlight and be back to living our lives the way we wanted.

Our performance on the show would be the most important part of the puzzle. Walt informed us we had to play our cards right. We had to appear like individuals, separate artists who admired one another more so for their talent than anything else.

Walt's rules were clear, we would be separated on stage with a good distance between us while we performed. At the end of the song, we would simply come together, hold hands just briefly enough to take a bow, and then walk off the stage.

Like I did with every encounter with Reed, I texted Nate and explained everything that was going to happen before it happened. Even if he didn't want to give me the courtesy of responding back, I wanted him to know I didn't want this to be the end of us.

As I waited backstage with Reed, my palms were sweaty like usual. Lily checked my hair and makeup, and made sure my black, lace, slip dress was perfectly placed as to not show too much. She also examined Reed's hair and made sure not a strand was out of place as his long locks were tied back in a tight ponytail. He wore a simple, form-fitting, black suit with a white, button-down shirt underneath without a tie.

The two of us looked more like a couple about to hit the town for a fancy dinner at some swanky restaurant than a couple about to perform on country music's largest stage.

Finally, the producers told me I was next up. Lily gave me a soft tap on my butt, her usual ritual to wish me good luck. Reed noticed the exchange and smiled at Lily, amused at the way she expressed her encouragement. He asked her if he would be receiving the same treatment as her newest client. She quickly blushed at the thought, then came back to real life, reminding him how awkward that would be if someone secretly snapped those pictures.

Reed and Lily turned their attention back on me, wishing me luck as I made my way to the middle of the stage.

The curtain was still down as I got set with my guitar and waited for my cue. As I heard my name being announced, the spotlight went on and the curtain slowly went up. The audience applauded as the band started to play, "Honestly." I joined in with my guitar, then started singing my very personal song to millions and millions of people worldwide. I only cared about one particular person, and wondered if he was watching or not.

Halfway through the song, I knew the moment had arrived. The extra microphone stood off to my right, just enough distance away from me, like Walt had requested. The audience went wild at the sight of him, no one knew we were actually performing together. Earlier, we had kept the secret all the way down the red carpet, even when reporters inquired about our performances and asked if there would be any surprises.

As Reed joined in on the harmony with me, something unexpected happened. Our blended voices were so pure, so natural, so perfect together, almost too perfect. We sounded like a powerhouse duo and looked like a real couple without even trying. Our dynamic chemistry was blatantly obvious to everyone, including Nate if he was watching.

The goose-bump, worthy performance really didn't translate into what Walt had in mind. We weren't just two artists showcasing our individual talents who happened to be sharing a stage together, it appeared like we were a package deal.

As we finished the song, we heard the enormous roar of the crowd and saw the standing ovation. I held my hand out for Reed to take a bow with me, just like the plan. He smiled, then unexpectedly leaned in and gave me a surprise kiss on my cheek. He then grabbed my hand and we took a bow. His affection should've stunned me, but I understood why he did it.

Everyone had just witnessed magic on the stage, and we were part of it. Sometimes you get caught up in the moment and things happen that are out of your control.

As we headed backstage, the reality set in that Nate and I probably were further away from any type of reconciliation, just from that performance alone. Not to mention, all the other problems we hadn't cleared up yet. This dilemma was compounded by the question I kept asking myself, how were Reed and I ever going to break this relationship off in a week without making it seem like someone's fault?

After that display, our fans would demand more answers and not just take the break-up at face value. That night, I texted Nate again, and tried to explain further what had happened on stage. As I typed, I was having a hard time selling the story to him. The whole situation appeared pretty cut and dry to anyone looking in from the outside. Even if I didn't have feelings like that for Reed anymore, I wasn't naïve about how our relationship would be perceived.

Once again, I received zero response from Nate, though I knew he read the text, like all the other previous messages. To make things worse, Reed and I received some bad news from Walt. The timeline for the demise of our relationship had been pushed back. After our, "hot and steamy," performance, like one headline read, we couldn't follow through with the original plan.

Reed immediately blamed himself. If he had just stuck with the plan and didn't plant a kiss on my cheek, none of this would be happening. I told him I didn't agree with his assumption. I referenced Lily, who seemed to be always on point with her conclusions.

"Some people just have chemistry without even having to try. You can't hide something that comes so naturally. We just have to deal with it and move on," she said.

The press became curious about our relationship again and turned their attention back on us. After being hounded by the paparazzi for numerous days after the awards show, Reed and I thought it would be best if we avoided seeing one another out in public. The tabloids would have to split their time between the two us, allowing us to breathe a little more with less bodies following us around all the time.

One early morning, I woke up and immediately felt restless and anxiety ridden. I needed to calm my nerves and find some peace within my chaotic life. I decided to head to the hot yoga studio for the seven o'clock class. This was the only time when reporters rarely followed me. I surmised  they more night owls, which benefited me as an early bird.

For an hour or so, I stood in class, wearing my yoga attire, trying to survive in the excruciating heat. I couldn't think about my problems, because I was just trying to get out of the class alive. I felt like the humidity was just about to get me until I realized the class was finally ending.

I rolled up my mat and grabbed my much-needed water bottle. I slung my small, string backpack, with my phone and wristlet inside, over my sweaty shoulders and started to walk out of the yoga studio.

As I hit the parking lot, I was surprised to see paparazzi waiting for me. Not one or two reporters, but many of them. Like a pack of wolves, they were basically standing outside, lying in wait. Their presence was slightly odd. My attendance at a boring yoga class never seemed to be worthy of the volume of cameras staring back at me at that very moment.

As I contemplated the strange occurrence happening around me, I saw Lily, in her white, BMW, speeding into the parking lot. She jumped out of the car, barely dressed with a crazed look on her face. The photographers started to shout at me, all trying to be louder than the next, just so they could get my attention.

Major confusion set in, then my stomach sank. I realized Lily's sudden presence, along with the enormous amount of press, meant I was in trouble.

A reporter shouted out, "Nicky, is it true..." his voice trailed off as others shouted over him,  a screaming match ensued.

"Let's go," Lily abruptly said as she finally made her way to me. She grabbed my sweaty arm and started to personally escort me away from the reporters.

"They were trying to ask me something, but I couldn't understand what they were saying," I said perplexed.

"Just get in the car," she pointed to her passenger seat.

I did what I was told. A few seconds later, Lily sped out of the parking lot as flashes from the paparazzi's cameras reflected off the windows in the car.

I didn't want to ask, but I knew I had to.

"What's going on, Lily?"