Beware of Boys (24 page)

M
kel straightened the tongue on his white sneakers, which matched his all-white outfit. He looked at her. “So, shoot. What's the question?”

A knock on the dressing room door announced a visitor, interrupting their conversation. A head popped in, and all Charly could see was the back of a baseball cap on a man's head. “M
kel, you're on in three. Ready?” he asked, then followed M
kel's eyes to Charly. The man smiled. “Ah, there you are. It's nice to see you again, Charly. Hold up your pass for me.” It was Butter Pecan, the same man who'd been protecting M
kel in the sneaker store in New York. He put a walkie-talkie to his mouth after Charly held up the pass she'd been given by the Staples Center. “I'm going to need an all-access stage pass for Charly from
The Extreme Dream Team
. And set her up stage left,” he said to whoever was on the receiving end of his communication. The walkie-talkie crackled, and a voice said something Charly couldn't make out. Butter Pecan turned to her again, pointing toward her chest. “The pass you have now won't allow you on stage or to some other areas back here in backstage, so we have to switch it out. How many pluses do you have?” he asked. Charly held up one finger, then put it down. She remembered what Coop had said; he didn't want M
kel to know he was there. “None?” Butter Pecan asked, then nodded when she confirmed she was alone. “Good. Good. I hope you don't mind doing a photo shoot immediately after the show, but you and M
kel need a public appearance to kill the YouTube and other viral controversy.” He raised his brows. “Per the network, the record company, and the lawyers.” He shot M
kel a look. “Cool?” he asked only Charly, telling her M
kel didn't have as much control as he thought he had, at least not over his career.

Charly shrugged. “Well, I don't know. That depends on M
kel. My career is pretty much a wrap because of him, so I have nothing to lose, but apparently . . .” She looked at M
kel. “You have a lot to lose.” She looked back at Butter Pecan. “I'll be more than happy to be shot with M
kel—on stage. I want a guest appearance, and he has to accompany me to Las Vegas to see Bobsy. First thing in the morning.”

Butter Pecan waited patiently, looking from M
kel to Charly. M
kel huffed, but Charly didn't care. “That's dirty, Charly. Okay, back to what you were saying earlier. What's your question? Hurry up, I only have like ten seconds.”