by Thorpe, Elle
“It’s been a long time since we’ve done this,” I whispered. I couldn’t even remember the last time. We’d been at plenty of events where we could have—weddings, christenings, barbecues. We both loved our small circle of friends dearly and spent a lot of time with them, but normally we sat at opposite sides of the room, glaring at each other.
“Too long,” he whispered. His breath tickled my neck, a tremble beginning as I nodded.
“It’s nice. This not fighting.”
“I agree. But I have to confess something.”
I pulled back, searching his brown-eyed gaze questioningly. “What?”
He tugged me to his chest again, his lips brushing against me as he spoke into my ear. “It feels strange to have you in my arms but not be trying to get you naked.” His voice was husky. “I’m fighting the urge to take you into the bathrooms and fuck you senseless.”
The mental image of him leaning me over the bathroom sink shot straight to my core. That was exactly what we would have normally done. We probably would have been out with our friends, gotten in some petty argument, then gone somewhere and fucked until we were too breathless to yell anymore. A pulse began to throb between my legs at the thought of getting naked with him. Had it really only been last night that we’d gotten it on in the garage of my building? Goddamn him. He always had this effect on me. I could be blazing mad at him, but with just one look I’d be wet and tearing off his clothes. But that never really got us anywhere, did it?
I shook my head slowly. “We shouldn’t. If this is truly going to be a fresh start, then we need to treat it that way. We can’t just keep doing what we’ve been doing. We already know that doesn’t work.”
He sighed, his warm breath brushing over my cheek. “I know. And I agree. We should take this slow. But did you have to wear that dress? I dream about you in that dress, you know.”
My nipples tightened. “Really? What else am I doing in your dreams?”
He groaned and ground himself against me, and I giggled, when I noticed his erection.
“Stop. Please,” he begged.
Please again. Every time he said that… But he was right. We needed to stop or we both knew where this would end up. “Okay, I’m sorry. This isn’t easy for me either, you know.” If he had any idea how damp my underwear was right now, he’d get that.
Thankfully, the song changed to a more upbeat cover, and we moved away from each other. A woman tapped me on the shoulder and shyly asked for a selfie. I agreed quickly, glad for the space between Riley and me, because although my head knew that taking it slow was the right thing to do, my hormones had other ideas. The woman thanked me, and Riley grabbed my hand, spinning me round, making me laugh before his gaze focussed on something over my shoulder, and he stopped completely.
“What?” I asked, turning in the direction he was looking.
“Nothing, that’s just my ex over there with her husband. Can you hang on a second? I need to ask her something about Sadie.”
I forced a smile. “Sure. Of course. Go.”
“I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll be here.”
I forced my focus to the stage, watching as the lead singer strummed his guitar and sang into the microphone, but I couldn’t help glancing over my shoulder at where Riley was shaking hands with his ex’s new partner.
Riley must have said something funny because the couple both broke into laughter. I turned back around, feeling like I was intruding on their family time. And if I was being truthful, I didn’t want to see him with her. It was ridiculous, because the woman was a newlywed, and even now she sat on her husband’s lap, their fingers interlinked. But I’d given him up once before for her, when she’d come back into his life with a five-year-old he knew nothing about. And deep down, I harboured some resentment about that.
So instead I gazed up at the lead singer and sang along with him. He caught my eye, did a double-take when he recognised me, then mouthed ‘holy shit!’ before he turned back to his mic. I couldn’t help but laugh. Even after ten years, it still surprised me when people recognised me. It was even more of a shock when they were actually excited to meet me.
A warm hand touched the bare skin on the back of my neck, and I shivered, spinning to face Riley.
“Sorry,” he said, close to my ear.
I shook my head. Riley and I never spoke about his daughter or his ex during our hookups. I mean, why would we? We didn’t talk about much of anything really. And I’d been avoiding the topic tonight, knowing it had been one of the contributing factors to our ongoing tensions. But the topic had to be addressed at some point.
“How is Sadie?” I asked. “How old is she now?”
“Fifteen. She’s good. For the most part. Super smart. Though the teenage attitude can be a killer.”
I smiled. “I’ll bet. So strange to think of her as fifteen. I haven’t seen her since she was a little girl. She was only five back when we were dating…”
“Yeah. She’s definitely not five anymore.” Riley smiled, but his posture had stiffened at the mention of the first time we’d dated, and I wished I hadn’t brought it up. We’d been having fun. I didn’t want that to end yet by discussing our past.
I knew we’d have to eventually. But not yet.
14
Bianca
I never realised the term ‘thunderous applause’ could apply to an audience of three people. But as I finished my audition, the clapping from the director and the two producers was overwhelming. Their claps and exclamations over how great my audition had been echoed around the large, sparsely furnished room. And I rode the wave. I loved acting. From the very first TV commercial I’d done as a child, I’d always known it was my calling. I got a rush from slipping into a character’s shoes and losing myself in the moment. I wanted the opportunity to do it for the rest of my life. And that was partly why my dreams weren’t too big. I loved the stability that Ocean Bay provided me. A steady, weekly paycheck. A chance to do what I loved on a daily basis. Movie acting was different. It was a few months of shooting, then double or triple that in waiting while they put it all together. Then longer again before it actually released. Things moved faster in television. It was much more fulfilling.
Ridge Leone crossed the small space and took my hand between his, shaking it enthusiastically. “That was incredible. I knew you’d be perfect for the role of Josie. She’s great, huh?”
“She is. I adore her.” And that was the honest truth. I loved Ocean Bay, but it was typical soapie acting. This movie Ridge was producing was something entirely different. And it would fill my upcoming hiatus beautifully.
I loved to work. So I always tried to do a movie in my off months from the TV show. Normally I chose little indie films, with no budget, and worked just for the love of it rather than the measly paycheck. But this movie was something different. It had big names attached to it, and it still blew me away that I was even being considered.
“Tangie told you this audition was just a formality, right?” Ridge asked as he released my hand.
I gave him a questioning look.
“If you want it, the part is yours. I’ll send an official offer over to your team and I hope you’ll accept.”
Excitement stole my breath. Was he serious? A bubble of fangirly screams rose up in my throat, but I swallowed them down and tried to fight the urge to hug him. Instead, I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.
Ridge clapped me on the back and guided me towards the door. “I’m thrilled to have you on board. LA is so beautiful at this time of year. Not as hot as Sydney. Perfect shooting weather.”
My smile faltered. “I thought this project was filming in Sydney?”
Ridge’s laugh boomed. “What gave you that idea? No, honey. We’re doing worldwide casting, but the movie will shoot in LA. Is that a problem for you?”
“Of course not,” I lied, while internally plotting how best to painfully murder my manager.
Ridge walked me out into the bright s
unlight. “We’ll be in touch. Thanks for coming in, BB.”
I climbed into my car, waited for Ridge to return to the building, then dialled Tangie’s number. She squealed into my ear before I could even say anything.
“They already called! They’re sending over an offer! You aced it, babe! Oh my word. This will mean big things for you, BB!”
“Or it will mean nothing more than you being fired,” I yelled, cutting off her gushing. She fell silent on the other end, but I wasn’t done. “I told you I didn’t want any overseas projects! I specifically asked you if this movie shot in Australia, and you flat-out lied. Give me one good reason I shouldn’t fire you right now?”
“Because you love this script and you want this part?”
My blood cooled a little. Damn her, she was right. But that in turn made me even more cranky. “You’re right. I do. So now I’m even more pissed because you made me want it and I can’t have it. I don’t want to spend months overseas, Tangie! All my family and friends are here. I hate the LA scene. It’s so bloody phony. I don’t fit in there. It’s bad enough when I have to go for a few days of promo. I can’t live there for three months. I’ll die of smog inhalation.”
“It’s no worse than Sydney. Smog inhalation is not a reason to turn down the part. You’re going to have to come up with an excuse better than that one.”
I smiled in spite of myself. She’d been my manager for ten years, and we had more than just a professional relationship. She was my friend. Which was probably why she’d pulled a stunt like this. She thought she could get away with it. And she was right. I knew she always had my best interests at heart, but she’d never been able to understand my desire to stay here. I’d never told her the real reasons I couldn’t leave. I’d never told her about my mother. And I’d never told her about Riley.
She sighed. “Look, it’ll take them weeks to get a contract together. We have some time. Just don’t make me turn it down yet. Let’s just see what happens.”
“Turn it down, Tangie. I’m not taking it,” I said firmly.
“Ugh!” she huffed. “You’re the most painful client ever. I should fire you.”
“But you won’t.” I laughed.
“Fine. But only because you’re up for a gold Logie, and that’s good for business. Speaking of which, you know the ceremony is next week. Should I ring Jerome? I know his manager will be up for the two of you going together. And you two have gotten along in the past, right?”
I rolled my eyes. Jerome was a B-grade actor from another local soap. We’d filled in as dates for each other in the past, all organised by our managers for publicity. I didn’t date, and he dated the type his manager didn’t want him seen with, so we were always available for each other. It had worked out nicely in the past. He was a bit egotistical but after a few drinks he could actually be fun. I opened my mouth to confirm, a force of habit, but then the thought of Riley in a tux crossed my mind, and my mouth dried. I didn’t want to go to the awards with Jerome. Not when there was even the slightest possibility I could go with Riley. Was it too soon to ask? We’d only had one date. Which had been a great night despite the awkward conversation about his ex and his daughter. We’d gotten past that, and we’d managed not to fight or have angry hate-sex afterwards either. He hadn’t even kissed me when he’d dropped me off. He’d been pure gentleman.
It had been sweet. If frustrating.
I wanted to ask him to come with me but didn’t want to scare him off either. The way he’d handled, or rather hadn’t handled, the paparazzi outside the hospital concerned me. That tiny group had been nothing compared to walking a red carpet at one of the biggest award nights Australia had. Tangie would flip. She’d already had to sort out the mess he’d created by punching that photographer. Predictably, he’d started throwing around threats of suing. Tangie had promised him an exclusive tip-off, and he’d quietened down. But she wouldn’t be happy about me going with Riley after all that. I respected that we’d made a bit of a mess for her, but the thought of going with Jerome made me cringe.
“Don’t call Jerome. I’ll organise my own date.”
I hung up the phone before she could ask me who I was going to take.
15
Riley
The beer in my hand was getting warm, but I continued to pick at the label instead of drinking. Like I did most evenings, I sat on the front steps of the little three-bedroom townhouse I’d bought when Sadie was ten, watching the occasional car drive by or kids walking their dogs. It was a nice, family neighbourhood, outside the city. Jamison and Elodie had a place in the same suburb, as did my ex.
I knocked on the wood of the step I’d repaired the day I’d gotten the keys to the house. It had been rotted through, and I wouldn’t let her come over until I’d fixed it. When she’d finally arrived, I’d stood back and watched her run up these stairs, her tiny sneaker-encased feet pounding on the new board, and felt the satisfaction that came with knowing I was providing a safe place for my daughter to live.
Then I’d run up the stairs after her, trailing her as she’d run from room to room, squealing her excitement. This house had helped us cement our status as a family of two. No more couch surfing. No more roommates. This was a permanent home where she could have her own room and have friends come to play. And where I’d gotten to know all the quirks that made her amazing. It left me with pretty much no disposable income, but it was worth every cent to know she felt at home here with me. And I lived for the days I had custody of her.
But now that was all going to change. I just knew it. Something had been up with Eliza when I’d bumped into her at the pub last night, and the fact she’d messaged me this morning to ask for a family meeting confirmed it. I’d blown off Sadie’s concerns about her mother being up to something, but now I couldn’t deny it. Something was definitely wrong, and it was all I could think about. We had a big construction project on at work, and a deadline we didn’t have a hope in meeting, but even the frenzied pace of the job site hadn’t kept me from worrying about it.
I looked up as a car pulled into my driveway and my heart kicked when I recognised Bianca’s convertible. Abandoning my beer, I strode across the yard and was by her car before she could even turn off the ignition. I opened the door for her, and she climbed out, the late afternoon sunlight bouncing off the golden waves that flowed down her back. Her blue eyes locked with mine, and it was all I could do to keep myself from gathering her to my chest and kissing her pretty pink lips until they were swollen and begging for more.
But I was used to wanting Bianca and not doing anything about it. I had ten years of experience in that department. In fact, I had so much experience I could have written a manual. One hundred and one ways to distract yourself from the woman who owned your goddamn heart but didn’t know it. Spoiler alert—my top tips included a lot of jacking off in the shower.
My cock thickened and I tried to clear my mind. She’d been right when she’d said we needed to take it slow. We already knew that the physical side of us worked. It was everything else we had to work out. And getting naked was only going to distract us from the real things we needed to focus on.
But still, I leant in and brushed my lips across her cheek, her soft warm skin against my mouth doing nothing to help the erection situation. She smelled faintly of perfume, something sweet and feminine that suited her to a T. I wanted to bury my nose in the crook of her neck and breathe her in but I knew that wasn’t exactly ‘take it slow’ behaviour.
So instead, I pulled away and gave her a slow smile. “What are you doing here? Not that I’m complaining.”
She shook herself, like maybe I’d had some effect on her, too. But then she recovered and grinned at me. “I brought you something.”
“You did?” I leant on the car door.
She held up one finger in a ‘wait’ motion before she reached over the centre console and grabbed a large flat box from the passenger seat. It was tied with a golden ribbon.
She passed it to me, h
er smile going shy.
I squinted at the box, then shook it, making her laugh. “What is it? Early Christmas present?”
“Open it and find out.”
I undid the ribbon and lifted the lid. Inside lay a crisp new tuxedo with a folded note on top. I quirked an eyebrow. “What’s this for?” I asked, running my fingertips over the soft material of the suit. Then quirked an eyebrow at her. “Wait, are you Pretty Woman-ing me?”
She laughed as I unfolded the note, but her laughter sounded nervous. “I guess I am. Do you like it?”
I let her question go unanswered while I read the note out loud. It simply said, Be my Logies date?
I put the note back in the box and closed the lid. “The Logies? Isn’t that strictly stars only? No dates allowed?”
She shook her head, then shrugged. “Not if you’re up for the gold.”
My mouth dropped open. “You’re up for gold?”
“So my manager says.”
I let out a long, low whistle before I reached out and took her hand, lacing her fingers between mine. “That’s amazing, B. But…” But I wouldn’t fit in. I was a carpenter, with calloused hands and dirt smeared across my face ninety percent of the day. I’d never worn a tux in my life. I picked up the sleeve, touching the silky material. Then placed it back down neatly. I’d look ridiculous. I didn’t know how to socialise with those people. What if I embarrassed her? My face went hot. I couldn’t think of anything worse. It was different, back when we’d first dated. We’d both been bartending while we tried to work out what we wanted to do with the rest of our lives. My life had gone one way, while hers had gone so far in the other direction we’d completely lost sight of each other.