Launi

I insist on leaving early for the studio. I can't bring myself to climb in the SUV with Rye and Tinsley. Today I will apologize in person to her and pray she forgives me and is willing to move forward with the contract regardless of how badly I've crossed a line. Last night I tossed and turned, trying to convince myself that while I for sure should not have been a part of the contracts as it's a clear conflict of interest, Rye and her were not in a committed relationship so the rest is all personal business. But I'm not that girl. I knew she liked him regardless of how he defined the relationship and since I was involved with her legally and professionally, I crossed a line. It won't happen again.

The sun is just rising as I enter through the large glass doors. I'm given a temporary badge and then escorted by security to the newsroom. I felt prepared this morning as I left the hotel, but something about the vibe of this newsroom is making me nervous. We are here for a lighthearted entertainment segment, but I'm getting the feeling people are trying to avoid eye contact with me. Perhaps my age is off-putting to the professionals who have spent years getting to where they are in this moment.

Tucking away my insecurities and convincing myself it's imposture syndrome, I find Jonie, the talent that will be interviewing Rye and Tinsley.

"Ms. Kline," she says warmly as I approach her. "It's so nice to meet you." Her outstretched hand finds mine and we shake.

"Nice to meet you too. Thanks for doing this on such short notice," I tell her.

"Oh no need to thank me. I think our audience is going to love this little piece in the morning. Something to get the blood pumping for the day," she says with a wink.

Jonie has been doing this segment for the last three years. I've watched her on YouTube and have seen clips of her on other social media sites. She's pretty, young, and has a following that outnumbers some of the top influencers. I understand why. She's sweet and knowledgeable. Her followers expect her to get right into the gossip and ask the tough questions. I knew she was the one to book with because people will trust her. If she buys that Rye and Tinsley are madly in love, her followers will too. I'm hoping the segment gets clipped and reposted everywhere. In fact, I've released our rights to the interview and films so that it can be shared everywhere.

"How has the tour been so far," she asks as a woman finishes touching up her make-up."

"They've killed it," I tell her honestly. "Rye is perfect for the job and the fans love him."

"They do," she agrees. "And they love Tinsley,' she adds.

"They make an adorable couple," I say, proud that I manage to get the words out without them getting stuck in my throat. I make sure to smile at the end to really sell it.

Jonie smiles back. My heart is racing. "Tinsley has a following much like the Swifties," she comments. "They really love her and seem to be ride or die."

She's right. That's why we are working overtime to make sure we don't get on their bad side. "They are loyal," I say vaguely.

"They're vicious," she says carefully. "One wrong move and they'll cancel Free Pony," she warns. While I don't disagree with her, her tone is intimidating. A feel a shiver run down my spine.

I nod. Her eyes watch me as a curler is removed from her perfect hair.

"Oh, there's the happy couple now," she says.

Rye and Tinsley enter the room, hand in hand looking the part of a newly in love couple. Rye makes eye contact with me, but I quickly look away. It's painful to be in the same room as him. Last night I'd blocked his number. I don't want to hear him justify our behavior. No matter what, Tinsley was hurt and I messed up. He can believe he is innocent, but I won't co-sign his bullshit.

"Hi Jonie!" Tinsley says in her charming voice. She skips the handshake opting for a hug instead. If Jonie is surprised, her face gives nothing away.

"Rye," Jonie says, standing a reaching her hand out to him. "It's so nice to meet me. My mother loved Free Pony when your dad was the drummer. I was raised on their music.

I blow out a breath as discretely as possible. If she loves the band, she'll want this story to work too. She might be more likely to believe if she has some skin in this game. No one wants to see the downfall of a band you grew up listening too.

Don't act weird, Launi. I force myself to smile up at the happy couple. Rye's eyes are already on mine.

"Launi, do you have a minute," Tinsley says. She motions over her shoulder that she wants to speak to me privately.

"Sure," I say.

"There really isn't time," Jonie interrupts. "We go on in six minutes,"

As if her words have magically summed them, a group of workers rush over and begin to put the microphones on Rye and Tinsley.

"After the segment," Tinsley says.

I have no idea of she wants to ask me questions about me and Rye or if she wants to tell me I'm a horrible person and need to be fired. I guess it will have to wait until after. Jonie motions for an assistant to mic me up too.

"Oh, I'm not really a part of this," I say, waving off the mic.

"It's standard. They'll give you an audio feed too," she tells me. Before she can even finish, the microphone has been clipped to my shirt and they are handing me the ear piece. I quickly put it in. Suddenly directions are being given, and we follow them without question.

Rye takes Tinsley's hand again and places a sweet kiss on her forehead. If they aren't in love, I'm a fool. My heart clenches in my chest and I absently rub at it through my shirt, hoping the ache recedes. On the couch, Tinsley snuggles up to Rye, intertwining her limbs with his effortlessly as if this is how they sit on the couch together at home. They make a stunning couple; I'll give their agents credit for that.

Tinsley looks up at Ryea and I swear she has hearts in her eyes. He looks back at her, smiling and lifting her chin with his finger to give her a quick kiss in the lips.

Jonie sits beside them in a separate chair. She's taking it all in, a smile ear-to-ear. This segment is probably going to get the most views of any of her stories so far. Rye and Tinsley have become a viral sensation on social media, and she is lucky to have them on her couch. Jonie looks up at me and gives me the thumbs up. She motions for me to move closer, pointing out the open area beside the stage manager.

The intro music begins to play, and the lights flood the stage. Tinsley seems to soak it up. She's beautiful and in her element. Rye, grips her hand tightly, giving it a squeeze. I hope the cameras captured it the way my brain did. I'm sure it will forever be on repeat in there.

"Good morning. We have a treat for you today. I'm joined by Rye, auditioning drummer for Free Pony and son of the infamous Ed Banning, and Tinsley Lockheart, America's new favorite sweetheart." Jonie looks to them and the camera man moves to capture them in frame.

Rye gives Tinsley a kiss and she melts right into him. Rye's hand grips behind her head, making the kiss walk the line between wholesome romantic and hot and racy. In my ear I hear a distant voice tell the camera man to keep them in the shot. It's a morning show, but this is what sells. Rye pulls back first, brushing a strand of Tinsley's hair from her forehead.

Tinsley laughs warmly, clearly enamored with is gesture. "Thanks Babe," she says casually. The nickname rolls off her tongue so easily as if it's practiced often.

I feel that ache again at the thought, and from the stage, Rye glances at me quickly, his expression slipping slightly before he turns to Jonie and says, "I'm a lucky guy."

"You sure are," she agrees. "Winning the most beautiful girl runs in your genes," she says, glancing down at the papers in her lap. "Your mother was a beauty queen, isn't that right?"

"She was," he answers, turning to the camera and giving a loving look that is too natural to be performative. "Love you Mom," he says, and then nervously laughs as if sending a personal message of love to his mother isn't the most endearing thing ever. Tinsley practically swoons.

"She must be really proud," Jonie continues.

"I hope so," Rye counters.

"She had a rough life with your dad," Jonie says. The tension that suddenly fills the room steals all the oxygen. My heart stops. This is not part of the interview. Rye's eyes find mind mine again. I can't even give him a reassuring look because I'm as shocked as he is. Jonie is off script.

Rye recovers quickly. "He had his demons," he says. "He never really appreciated my mom the way he should have." Rye smoothly reaches his arm behind Tinsley, pulling her closer and looking down at her as if to express that he would never do that to her.

Tinsley places her hand on his chest and rubs his heart. "You have your father's talent and your mother's heart," she says like a love-sick girlfriend. What a professional.

I look around the studio for some sign that we all can see this interview is going off the rails, but the camera men are locked in and the stage manager beside me wont' make eye contact.

"There have been a few viral moments of you two on this tour," Jonie says. The large screen behind the couch is green, but I can see on the display near the stage the video footage that is appearing to the audience at home. There is a montage of viral clips of Rye and Tinsley. Her leaving the hotel, her arriving, the two of them kissing that first night after he left the van we were in together. Then of course, the most liked picture of Rye in her bed. Tinsley smiles and pretends to be embarrassed as the last image stays up. Rye's attention is on the small monitor facing them that clearly is showing the images. His eyes flick to mine and then back to the main camera in his face. He adjusts his position, pulling Tinsley in to place a kiss on the top of her head.

"That's so sweet," Jonie says, placing her hand over her heart. "I think we actually have one more," she says.

The stage manager presses her earphone to her ear and then takes a step to the side. I don't know what's about to happen, but I feel like an animal in the slaughterhouse. This interview has gone completely off script and any trust I had in Jonie to connive the audience Rye and Tinsley are in love is slipping with each passing second.

A grainy video is played. I can't breathe. My knees almost give out. Rye leans forward to get a closer look, his arm leaving Tinsley so quickly she must fix her hair. Rye looks up at me, but I'm already spinning. The world feels like it's closing in as the video plays on a loop.

"I'm sorry," Jonie says, but her voice has no remorse. "That's not Tinsley, is it?" she asks already knowing the answer. "That's your PR girl, Launi Kline."

A camera is in my face, and the deliberate move of the stage manager only moments ago makes complete sense. This was an ambush. I watch one last time, the backstage video from last night of Rye and me before the encore. He has me pressed up against the wall and our faces are dangerously close. If there is a way to spin this, it's not coming to me in this moment.

Rye stands up, taking two big steps in my direction, but it's too late. I'm already turning to leave, my hands furiously trying to remove the microphone that most likely caught to gasp of a lifetime from me. Jonie is a genius, and if my entire world didn't just explode taking the legacy of our father's band with us, I might take a moment to appreciate her work.