Sorority Girls With Guns (37 page)

One of the dimples gives the barest twitch. “And then...maybe you could be with me?”

“
I don't know,” I say, very honestly. “We do have a lot in common. It's hard for me to trust anyone, and I don't know if I'll find anyone else who's as okay with that as you are. And the idea of being with someone who gets that – it's very intoxicating. I want to say that yes, we can see where this leads once I get rich. But,”I add quickly, and the dimple goes south again. “I really don't know if it will ever work, considering how you feel about what I want for my life. I am never not going to like money and the things it buys. You are never not going to hate your money. So even if we were equals, we might still clash.”

“
But we can try, right?” Richard asks, reaching out to touch my face. His fingers trace an S down my cheek. “Once you get rich with this reality thing, we can try? If it doesn't work out, if there's too big of a personality clash, we can break up. I could never live with myself if I didn't at least try  to be with the most fascinating woman I've ever met.”

“
I guess if I get rich enough, yes, one day we can try,” I say. “But don't pop the cork on the champagne – I've been trying to get rich and famous for years. Failure has a way of following me like body odor follows that guy at Matt and Charlie's fraternity who hasn't showered all semester.”

Richard grins. “You'll succeed, Shade. I know you will.”

He leans over and kisses me, and his tongue is sliding over my misaligned upper teeth when-

“
Oh my gawd, did you hear the news?” Morgan screams as she flings open her bedroom door and comes rushing out. Seeing us on the couch, she gets this shocked look like she just saw Kim Kardashian screwing Justin Bieber in a strip club. “Oh...my gawd.”

I pull away from Richard. “What is it, Morgan? Just tell us.”

“
Oh.” She blinks and holds up her phone. “I just got a news alert. I have my phone set to get them about GluedToYou.”

“
Did they put out a press release about our show? Before we even signed the paperwork?” I know as I say it that didn't happen.

She shakes her head. “No....they've filed for bankruptcy. Apparently their CEO had been turning in false financial statements for some time. They think either he or one of the high-ups was embezzling. Shade, I'm sorry, but....there's not going to be a show. I tried to tell Tiffany, but she's out cold. Too much champagne, I think.”

“
Thanks for telling me,” I say, picking up my cell phone and searching the web for GluedToYou. “I think I'd like a few minutes alone now with my latest failure.”

Morgan sighs. “Shade, this isn't the end. You got a lot of publicity. You could have another successful video on some other site. And maybe Green Day will pick you for the internship.”

“
Thanks,” I say shortly and give her the thank-you-but-please-get-lost look.

She nods. “I'm sorry, Shade. But you'll get famous some other way.” She turns and goes back into her room, closing the door behind her.

“
She's right, you know,” Richard says.

“
No, I don't know that,” I say. “I know you will never truly understand this, but when you have failed as much as I have, you
never
know that. I don't care how much crap I read about believing in yourself. Sometimes, you need other people to believe in you too.”

“
I believe in you,” Richard says, standing up. “And I get why you can't be with me yet. I understand that the money thing is just too hard for you. Believe me, I get that now. But because I believe in you, I know you will get rich one day. And I'll be waiting. I hope you'll still be available then, too.”

“
I can't ask you to wait for me,” I say as he walks toward the door. “It could be a long time. In all honesty, it could be never.”

“
I'll wait,” he says, and walks out the door.