Harper stood up and took their plates to the sink. “You’re twenty-eight years old,” she said. “And not that I have any business giving you advice, but don’t you think that’s plenty old enough to come crawling out of the closet? Times have changed. Honestly, I don’t think I know a single person who’s still in the closet. Gay marriage is legal. Is it that big of a deal really, if you came out?”

“Most celebrities who are gay but not out, there are at least rumors swirling around about them. So if—when—they do come out, it’s not such a total shock. Me? The only rumors swirling around about me is which guy I’m currently sleeping with.”

“So which one are you sleeping with?”

Harper was smiling, most likely teasing her with the question, but Dani didn’t return the smile.

“It’s a hard game to play, Harper. It wears on you.”

Harper’s smile faded too. “Then quit playing it.”

“Like you said, I’m twenty-eight years old, nearly twenty-nine. I’ve played it for a long time. I’m good at it. I’m used to it.”

Harper sat down again. “So is this the sole reason you want out of the business? So you don’t have to play the game anymore?”

“I make a terrible celebrity,” she said. “I’ve been told that by nearly everyone.”

“So why did you keep doing it?”

“At first, I was still in shock, I think, that someone wanted me in a movie. In the blink of an eye, I had an agent and an assistant and all these people ‘managing’ me,” she said, making quotations in the air. “The first movie was such a success, before I knew what was happening, I had contracts for two others and the whole thing just kinda got out of control. I was so far in over my head, I had no choice but to trust these people.”

“Did they take advantage?”

“Of my naiveté? Sure. Plus the fact that I didn’t want all of this attention made me rely on them that much more. I may have been inexperienced, but I knew the more popular I became, the more money I made…the more they made. I know they pretend to have my best interest at heart, but it’s all a business.”

“So you’re going to walk away. Then what?”

She took a deep breath. “I don’t know. I want to go back to being Dani Strauss. I just don’t know if I can. I mean, I don’t want to have to wear a wig the rest of my life,” she said with a shaky laugh. “I’ll cut my hair, maybe dye it brown.” She smiled at Harper. “You think anyone will know?”