Another glug. He might need the bottle.
“So you will be pursuing legal action against Boyd Hampton?” the interviewer asked.
“Absolutely.”
“That must be an awful burden to carry around, knowing that the video exists. How do you feel about that?”
“I admit it bothers me. It’s embarrassing, but the thing I’ve learned from this experience is that you should never let anyone else determine how you feel about yourself. If someone takes advantage of you, speak up.”
If someone takes advantage? Is that what had really happened? Remorse swept over him. The only thing he’d seen or heard was that single magazine article suggesting she released the video herself, and he’d hesitated to give her the benefit of the doubt. She’d told him as much, but he hadn’t believed her, and that made him nearly as big of a jerk as the guy who’d made that video in the first place. Nearly.
Lane shifted in the chair, dropping one foot down to the floor, casual, comfortable, in spite of the topic. The camera loved her. She was a natural as she went on talking. “I’ve finally realized there is no shame in defending yourself. There’s no shame in owning up to your mistakes either. I’ve made plenty. I’m probably not finished.”
She smiled brightly and the interviewer laughed. “We all make mistakes, right?”
Lane nodded. “Some of us just like to go big. For instance, running away from this situation was a mistake. I should have faced it straight on. Turns out you can’t outswim a shark so your best bet is just to punch it right in the nose.”
The interviewer chuckled again. “Interesting analogy.”
Lane chuckled along with her. “I think the bottom line is that whatever life hands you, deal with it. You can’t hide. Whoever you are, whatever you’ve done, whatever the circumstances, own it. Be yourself, don’t try to hide, don’t try to be someone or something you’re not. Image is a pretty big deal around here in Los Angeles, probably in most other places too, but when it comes down to it, it’s the person we are at the core that really matters. All the rest is just details.”
Details. All the rest was just details. That’s what she’d tried to tell him about her name. And she was right. He knew who she was at the core.
The interviewer nodded, her head tilting sideways a bit as if she was pondering this very controversial point. “That’s true about image, but as a celebrity stylist, I would think you’d consider image to be pretty important too.”
Lane nodded back. “It’s human nature to want to look your best. There’s nothing wrong with that as long as that’s not your only focus. I’ve enjoyed being a stylist, but now I’m excited about turning my attention to some other projects that I’m really passionate about.”
“Such as?”
Such as? What other projects? What was she talking about?
“I have a few charity projects I’m interested in, but you’ll learn more about those as the season goes forward.”
“So you’ve decided to stay with the show, then?” the interviewer asked. “There were rumors you’d decided to leave.”
Lane giggle-hiccupped. That one was more obvious. “There are rumors I’m having an alien baby too. I can pretty much promise that nothing you read in a magazine is verifiable.”
“So what about the rumors concerning you and a certain cameraman, or you and a certain musician?”
Grant leaned forward on the couch.
Lane brushed her bangs to the side. “As I said, nothing you read in a magazine is verifiable, but this might be a good time to mention I’m making it my official policy to not publicly discuss who I may or may not be involved with. That part of my life will stay private.”
The interviewer practically wagged a finger at her. “Your fans will be disappointed to hear that.”
Delaney’s smile looked tight for the first time, but only for a second. “My fans will probably be much happier with their lives if they go out and find their own romances, and not waste time speculating about mine.” Her voice was pleasant but the point was clear.
“Even so, I have to ask,” the interviewer pressed, “with all that you’ve been through recently, being betrayed by an old boyfriend, being disparaged by some of the tabloids, Delaney Masterson, do you still believe in love?”
Her smile turned genuine and Grant’s heart paused. She pressed her thumb against her lip for a second before dropping her hand into her lap. “Absolutely. Life is messy, it’s complicated, and sometimes we let down the people we love the most. And sometimes they let us down, but you can’t give up. Every day is a chance to get it right. So, yes, absolutely. I believe in love. You know what Elvis said. Sometimes you can’t help falling.”
Grant nodded at the screen. She was telling the truth. Sometimes you can’t help falling.
Chapter 27