I pulled my shoulders back, smiling the smile I’d practiced in the mirror, the one that was regal and slightly aloof, the one that sought to gain the upper hand. Not Em. Not even Emily. But Nova. I reserved it for those who got too close because they thought my public image meant they knew me. Or those who made me feel less-than. It was time to say good-night to Tuck. Instead, I blurted out, “I’ll have you know that my team weighed the risks and determined that lip-synching my own music was in my best interest.” I knew that was at least part of the reason he looked at me with such disdain. He thought I’d tossed my standards aside for fame. I understood that, and it was the only thing I could address or defend. “The dance moves are very intense and I’m not only a singer—I’m a performer. Fans are paying for the whole package.”

One of Tuck’s eyebrows went up and the other went down as though he was as surprised as me over my sudden outburst. I remembered that look. He’d given it to me often, growing up. Only then, it had usually been followed by a disarmed smile. Right now, there was no trace of affection in his expression. “You don’t owe me an explanation.”

I resisted a cringe. “No, you’re right. I don’t. It’s just, well, it’d be in your best interest to root for my success. A lot of people are depending on me for their paychecks, including you, by the way, and if I mess this up… I’ll let them all down.”

“That’s a lot of pressure,” he said. “But I hope you’re not only doing this for other people.”

“Of course not,” I snapped. “I’m in full agreement with how things are being done.”

“Good. It’s your life. Your career. You have to manage it as you see fit.”

The words he said didn’t match the tone in his voice and I bristled. More judgment. “And you? Are you living your life as you see fit, Tuck?”

“Low blow,” he said smoothly. “I’m trying.”

I released a long breath and pinched the top of my nose. He’d come rushing over here to help me, and I was insulting him. True, he was getting paid to respond to my calls, but still. I felt emotionally out of whack and somehow completely unsurprised that of all the people who might have managed to make me feel that way, it was still only him. “We always did love to fight, didn’t we?” I asked.

“Old habits die hard, I guess,” he said. “And that was a long time ago.”