Of course he did. It was his role, and he’d learned to play it well, even when it rankled.
The Dance Off’s hosts, Juan Carlos and Reggie, went out first to chat with theMorning Mixhosts about the upcoming season. Juan Carlos had been on a number of soaps and sitcoms when he was a teenager, and though he was older, his brown skin was unlined and he still had the smile and dimple that had made him famous. Reggie was petite and pretty, with skin like honey and signature blue streaks in her dark hair. Finally, the couples were called one by one.
“We go in order of fame,” Gina whispered. “Least to most. We’re somewhere in the middle, I think, because you’re on a cable show.”
Keiko Sousa, a Japanese Brazilian model with famous parents, went first with her partner Joel Clarke. They were followed by Rose Jeffers, a Black actress in her forties, and her partner, Matteo Ricci. Rose’s claim to fame had been as one of the main characters onThe Lab,a hit TV show in the nineties about teenage scientists.Stone’s younger brother Winter had loved the show, but Stone couldn’t tell her that.
Alan went third with his partner Rhianne Davis. Stone would have thought a gold medal–winning athlete would be considered more famous than a cable TV survivalist, but who could make sense of these things?
Next out was Farrah Zane, a short Lebanese American teen who’d starred in the popular kids’ TV movieI Spy a Star,about a spy going undercover as a pop singer. Stone had never heard of it. Farrah’s partner was a pro named Danny Johnson.
“She’s supposed to be really good,” Gina said in a low voice. “We’ll have to watch out for her.”
Stone didn’t like the idea of being rivals with a nineteen-year-old girl, but he didn’t reply. They were going out next.
Gina tucked her hand into his elbow and fixed a big smile on her face. The stage manager waved frantically at them, and they strode out onto the set.
The live audience packed onto a set of bleachers cheered, and Gina waved at the crowd while Stone walked them to their seats, which were positioned stadium style on three levels. Since Stone was so tall, they were given seats in the back. He helped Gina, who wore monstrously high heels, onto the platform and took his spot next to her.
They were followed by Norberto “Beto” Velasquez, an Argentinian millionaire and the most recent “star” ofYour Future Fiancé,and his partner Jess Davenport.
The other celebs followed with their dance partners—Jackson and Lori, Dwayne and Natasha, Twyla and her pro partner Roman Shvernik, Rick and dancer Mila Ivanova, and Kevin and Lauren.
Stone would have picked Twyla Rhodes or Rick Carruthers as the most famous, but he was biased.
The rest of the morning passed in a manic blur. The hosts asked him all of two questions, and he supposed he answered them. Gina did most of the talking, smiling through the whole experience. This was her fifth time doing the media circus for a new season, and she was probably used to it. More than that, sheshined.It hit himsuddenly that she loved this stuff. Being in the spotlight, feeding off the cheers of the crowd—she’d said as much the other night while talking to Kevin. She wanted more of this. This was her life.
Meanwhile, Stone was itching to get away. The live audience, the glaring lights, and being packed onto a stage with the rest of the cast made him claustrophobic and distracted. They couldn’t have been on set for more than five minutes, but it felt like hours. Finally, the hosts cut to a commercial break.
Gina let out a deep breath and grinned. “Isn’t this exciting?” She must have seen the answer on his face because her smile dimmed. “Stone, are you okay?”
Aware that there were microphones everywhere, he just gave her a tight smile and nodded, patting her hand. “Tired.”
He could see by the concern in her eyes that she didn’t believe him, but she let it drop. The commercial break ended, the hosts asked questions of the other dancers, and at the next break they were all rushed off set.
“Is that it?” Stone asked, relieved he’d gotten through it without embarrassing himself.
Lori overheard him and chuckled. “No way. We still have to get through the interviews. Put your game face back on.”
She was right. Each couple was seated in their own small room, while a parade of reporters passed through asking the same inane questions over and over. Again, Gina did most of the talking, mostly about how excited she was for the new season, and for the audience to see Stone dance. They were seated close enough that she could nudge him when he should answer, and he thought he managed not to sound like a total idiot.
Donna popped in a couple times between interviews. “Make it good, Gina,” she said, her smile sharp as a blade.
“Always,” Gina replied, with a tight smile of her own that made Stone want to massage the tension from her neck.
And then, miracle of miracles, they were done. A PA entered the room to unhook their mics before handing them fresh bottles of water and bidding them good day.
When they were alone in the room, Gina kicked out her legs and pressed her fingers to the bridge of her nose. “Thank god that’s over,” she mumbled. “I love it and wouldn’t change a thing, but damn if it isn’t draining.”
“You handled it well.” Through every insipid interview, she’d responded with resilience and enthusiasm.
She shrugged and got to her feet. “Part of the job. Come on, we have the rest of the day to ourselves. I want to show you my city.”
“I hear you have to walk a lot in New York.” He glanced down at the sexy sandals that made her legs look a million miles long.
She followed his gaze and laughed. “Don’t worry. I’m going to change into sneakers.”
“And we need our disguises, too, I guess.” At her puzzled frown, he grinned. “Sunglasses and hats.”
