“Adam,” she practically whispers, her voice low as she walks up to me.
I swallow hard, wishing like hell I didn’t have to have this discussion. But I hear myself say, “Carlie, we need to talk.”
She nods, as if expecting my opening sentence. “I saw the posts.”
I exhale, feeling the weight of her gaze as my shoulder sag. “I’m so sorry, Carlie. I had no idea someone was taking photos, let alone posting them.”
“It’s getting a lot of attention.” She wraps her arms around herself, looking smaller, more vulnerable. In the movement, I realize she’s not in her workout gear. She ends with, “Not the good kind.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, fighting the urge to reach out and touch her.
She gives me a small, wry smile, her humor peeking through despite the gravity of the situation. “I always thought if I went viral, it’d be for something cool, like rescuing kittens or accidentally starting a flash mob. Not ...this.”
I can’t help but crack a small smile at her attempt to lighten the mood, even though my heart is heavy with guilt. “I know, and it’s all my fault. I should have been more aware. I wasn’t evening thinking about—” I run a hand through my hair, my frustration getting the better of me.
Carlie shakes her head and bites her lip. “It’s not your fault, Adam. But ... I don’t want to be the reason your career suffers. Or your celebrity status, it seems.” A flicker of a smile graces her lips before dying out.
“That’s not going to happen,” I say quickly—too quickly maybe. “I’m not going to let some idiot with a phone dictate who I train or the methods I use. I could tell yoga was going to help—or at least, I thought it would. You’re here to train and I’m going to help you hit your goals. That’s what matters.”
“But the things they’re saying about me ...” her voice wavers and it hits me straight in the center of my chest.
I didn’t realize just how self-conscious she is but it’s right there—in the tears brimming in her eyes.
“They’re just words, Carlie. Hurtful, yes, but they don’t define you. And they certainly aren’t how I see you,” I say, hoping to convey the sincerity I feel.
Her lips twitch again into that small, uncertain smile. “Thank you, Adam. That means a lot.”
I’m about to say more when my phone rings. I glance at the screen—it’s James, my manager. My stomach knots.
“I have to take this. Wait here for me?”
Carlie nods.
As I’m about to step away to answer the call, Carlie, with a slight twinkle in her eye despite the situation, quips, “Hey, if they’re calling to offer you a movie deal for this dramatic saga, remember, I get to play myself. No one else can capture my unique blend of awkwardness and accidental scandal.”
“I’ll make sure to put in a good word for you,” I reply with a wink. Then, I move a few steps away, pressing the phone to my ear. “Hello?”
“Hey, Adam. Glad I caught you before your first client,” James’s voice comes through, heavy with concern. “Look, we need to have a discussion. Now, if possible. How soon can you meet me in my office?”
I glance back at Carlie, who’s watching me with an expression caught between concern and her recent attempt at humor.
“Sure. Yeah, I’ll be there in a few minutes,” I respond, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. “I’m just outside.”
“Great. See you then,” James says before ending the call.
I return to Carlie, trying hard not to read into whatever that was. “I have to go in. But we’re not done here, okay? We’ll figure this out. Together.”
Carlie gives a small, brave nod. “Sure.”
“Good.” I jab an index finger toward her outfit. “Now, go get changed. You can’t workout in that.”
She shakes her head. “Actually, I wasn’t planning on?—”
I look at her through lowered eyebrows. “We’re not going to let some assholes dictate things. Right?”
Her eyes widen and she tips her head slightly. “Right.”
I smile, the tension easing slightly as I let slip, “That’s my girl.”