I swallowed as I forced a smile. “I know. I’m so glad you are here.”
She squeezed my shoulder. “I mean it, best summer ever,” she whispered under her breath as we followed Sasha to a large side door.
When we got there, Sasha swiped her card and the red light turned green. The door buzzed, and Sasha pulled it open like it was the most natural thing in the world.
The door opened into a huge room. The ceiling had to be as tall as our apartment building. There were lights hanging from the rafters and cords snaking around on the floor.
A few people milled around, looking like they knew what they were doing. A lot of them had clipboards and were wearing headsets.
But, for a supposedly busy movie set, it felt dead.
Sasha sighed.
“Is everything okay?” I asked as I quickened my pace to catch up with her.
She glanced down at me, and that fake smile returned. “Just a minor hiccup, then we’ll be back to shooting.”
I furrowed my brow as I stared at her. Why was she lying to me? I’d been on a few sets, and I knew this wasn’t normal. But Sasha’s bright-red lips seemed to only tighten as the seconds ticked by. There was no way I was getting information from her.
So I held back, waiting for Michelle. She was busy glancing around at every large light or piece of furniture. Probably trying to spot the Cayden Rivers.
“Come on,” I hissed, waving my hand for Michelle to get a move on.
She giggled and hurried to meet up with me.
We followed Sasha to a small door that led to a hallway. Cool air hit us as we walked past a few doors and then stopped in front of the door labeled “Director.”
Sasha held her finger to her lips as she leaned in. Her expression stilled like she was listening. Before either of us could process what was happening, the door was flung open and I was face to face with those ridiculously blue eyes. They widened as they swept over me.
Like a deer in headlights, I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. It felt as if all the air was getting sucked from the room.
“Who are you?” he asked. I’d recognize that smooth-as-honey voice anywhere. Michelle made me watch—and re-watch—every kiss scene he was in.
The Cayden Rivers.
Before I could glance over to see if Michelle was still conscious, a voice called out from inside the office. “Cayden, come back here. We’re not done.”
Cayden seemed to recover faster than me. He shrugged as he pushed his hand through his hair and flicked his gaze back over his shoulder.
“I don’t think so. I won’t be where I’m not wanted.” He turned back to shoot me one of his signature cocky smiles and then walked down the hallway.
A woman with an exasperated look appeared in the doorway. She wore a bright pink shirt and white linen pants. “I’ll get him back, Chad,” she said as she blew past us to race after Cayden.
I glanced over at Sasha, whose face had paled. She kept glancing into the room and back down the hall. She finally nodded and waved her hand toward Dad’s office.
“He’s in there. Go ahead, I’m going to go…” her voice trailed off as she followed after Cayden and the woman.
Taking a deep breath, I peered over at Michelle, who was standing there, slack jawed. I could see the synapses in her brain firing as she stood rooted to the spot.
“That was…I mean…Cayden Rivers…” she mumbled.
I linked my arm through hers and guided her into Dad’s office. No need to have her standing there looking like she’d just suffered a stroke. Better to get her inside and sitting while she recovered.
And maybe having a job to do would help me with my first interaction with Dad for the summer.
“Button!” Dad exclaimed before I was even three steps in. I swallowed at that nickname and just nodded in his direction.
“Hey, Dad,” I said as I guided Michelle over to a chair that faced his desk.
From the corner of my eye, I could see him get up from behind his desk and make his way over to me. I winced as I felt his arms engulf me with a hug.
Add physical touch to the things Scarlett Lamoroux doesn’t like.
If Dad noticed, he didn’t care. He held me there for a few seconds before pulling back.
“You’re beautiful,” he said as his gaze roamed my face.
Heat rushed to my cheeks as I dropped my gaze to the floor. That was not something I wanted to hear, let alone from Dad. “Thanks?” I said as I tucked some hair that had escaped my ponytail back behind my ear.
Dad patted my shoulders a few times and then stepped back. “Sorry. I know you don’t like physical contact or compliments, but Trinity—” He cut his sentence short in a very suspicious way.
He must have noticed my gaze flick up to him because he stammered a few incoherent things as he ran his hand through his hair.
“I mean…”
I stood there, waiting for him to finish.
Who was Trinity? Why was he talking about me to her?
The pit in my stomach was growing bigger by the second until I felt as if my entire body was going to burst.
“Mr. Lamoroux.” Michelle’s voice cut through the fog in my brain.
I turned to see her stand and extend her hand.
“Thanks so much for allowing me to come along. I’m super excited to be here.”
Dad’s expression morphed into relief as he shook her hand. “Of course, Michelle. I’m happy to have you.”
Finally, the courage to speak seemed to sprout inside of me. I held up my hand and focused my attention on Dad. “I’m sorry, who’s Trinity?”
Dad seemed very interested in some papers as he retreated to his desk. He shuffled through the stack a few times before he sighed and glanced up at me. “I wanted to tell you this at dinner, but my plans are already screwed up, so I might as well tell you.” He took a deep breath “Trinity is my fiancée. We’re getting married this summer.”
His voice sort of trailed off as he stared at me. Like I was a time bomb and he was watching the numbers tick down.
My ears were ringing from his words as my mind tried to comprehend what he was saying. He was getting married? Since when? Why did he suddenly have a desire to settle down? I thought he was a lone wolf that was going to live alone forever.
My mouth went dry, and no matter how many times I swallowed, nothing worked. I would have taken that stupid water in the car if I had known it would suddenly become the Sahara Desert in here.
“I’m…I’ve gotta go,” I stammered as I turned to the door and pushed my way out into the hall. I could hear Michelle and Dad call after me, but I didn’t turn back.
They’d be fine for a few minutes while I took some time to compose myself.
I felt like an idiot reacting this way. I should have been happy for my dad. I should have patted him on the shoulder and told him to have a great life. Told him that he was lucky to find the girl that changed his single status to “this guy is taken.”
Instead, my whole body went numb, and I felt as if the world around me was blurring. Maybe it was tears or maybe it was my brain trying to process what had happened.
I needed to get out of there before I broke down.
I hurried down the hallway, keeping my gaze trained on the floor in front of me. I wrapped my arms around my chest and pinched my lips together. I needed some fresh air, some sunlight. The walls felt as if they were slowly closing in on me.
I desperately needed to stop caring that my dad had decided to settle down with someone other than Mom and me.
Feeling out of breath, I zoned in on a small opening off the hallway. I needed to take a moment, regroup and plan out my next move. Just as I rounded the corner, I ran straight into someone. They let out an “umph” and wrapped their hands around my upper arms.
Embarrassed, I glanced up to apologize only to stop dead in my tracks.
Cayden Rivers was staring down at me with a rather amused look on his face. His eyebrows were raised, and there wa
s this hint of laughter in his gaze that made my skin warm. I wasn’t sure if he was mocking me or just teasing me, but I didn’t like it.
My whole body had forgotten how to move, and my feet felt cemented to the ground.
“Who are you running from?” he asked as he pushed his hands through his hair.
I parted my lips but feared I would stumble over my words so I decided it was best to close them. No need to confirm to him that I was as awkward as I felt.
Voices sounded from down the hall, and thankfully Cayden didn’t seem too interested in me anymore. Instead, he snapped his attention in their direction and pushed me farther into the corner.
“Quiet,” he said, holding his hand out.
I stared at him. Was he serious? Did he think I wanted to get found?
The voices, followed by the sound of clicking heels, died off as the people moved in the opposite direction. I could see Cayden visibly relax as he dropped his hand and then glanced back at me with a sheepish expression.
Then what had started out as a sweet, understanding smile morphed into one of his toothy, playboy smiles. Like the one he pulled out for every camera wanting to snap a shot.
Great.
The idea that Cayden thought I would fall for that was laughable. I pushed off the wall and straightened. Even though I was five-foot-five, Cayden towered over me. The alcove wasn’t big, and every movement I made just brought me closer to him.
Despite my best efforts, the smell of his cologne and the feeling of his body right next to mine was causing my senses to fire. Like my nerves had decided to stand up and take notice.
It was ridiculous. I blamed Michelle. She was the one who went on and on about Cayden. My brain must have absorbed her crush, which was now tricking it into thinking that I could feel anything for this ridiculous person.
“Hi, I’m Cayden,” he said as he extended his hand.
I forced down all my butterflies and cleared my throat. I walked past his hand and pinned my back against the wall so I could peek around the corner. “I know,” I whispered, feeling a little bad for ignoring him.
“And you are?”
The closeness of his voice surprised me, and I yelped, whipping around to find him only inches from my face. He was still wearing that signature smile. For a moment, my gaze drifted down to his lips and the thought of their perfection wiggled its way into my mind.
I, of course, pushed it right back out.
This was Cayden Rivers. Signature bad boy and player. Tabloid journalists had literally paid for second houses with the dirt they dug up on him. He’d perfected the Rivers’ Swagger—or that’s what Michelle told me—and he used it on unsuspecting women.
He was not my friend or helper. He was just a guy who could rip your heart out and stomp on it in two seconds flat.
“It’s not important,” I said.
I saw Dad’s office door move. Realizing it was now or never, I slipped out of the alcove, down the hallway, and back out the doors that Sasha had led us through.
Once the hot, California sun was beating down on me, I let out the breath I’d been holding. There was so much to unpack from the last ten minutes that I could barely breath.
Dad. Cayden. My decision to act like an idiot and run away. None of those things were particularly flattering.
But I craved stability, and if I was going to find that balance, I needed a minute or two to myself.
I kept to the side of the building as I took slow, deep breaths in through my nose and let them out through my mouth. It was something Dr. Nelson had taught me years ago for when I felt overwhelmed. Granted, I was a preteen when I’d used it last. But it was helping.
The roaring of an engine drew my attention. A slick black car had pulled up next to me, and the tinted window rolled down to expose Cayden. He was leaning over the passenger seat as he pulled on the door handle.
“Get in,” he said.
“What?” I asked. It wasn’t eloquent, but at least I remembered how to speak in his presence. Perhaps that strange hold he had on me was over.
“Get in,” he said again as he pulled a pair of sunglasses from the center console.
“Why?”
He glanced over at me, his eyes hidden behind his shades. “I figured you needed a getaway car.”
I blinked a few times, trying to silence the warning bells ringing in my mind. I needed to think. Cayden wanted me to get into his car with him. Could I do that?
Was it safe?
Suddenly, my legs had a mind of their own, and I found myself walking over to the passenger seat and plopping down onto it. I reached over and slammed the door then turned to Cayden.
My mind felt as if it were swimming and my body was icy cold. There was so much of me that was resisting what was happening right now, but I didn’t care.
I would go and compose myself and then come back.
Cayden chuckled as he threw the car into drive and glanced over his shoulder. He settled his wrist on the steering wheel as he peeled away from the building and sped down the road.
“You should put your seatbelt on,” he said, flicking his head in my direction.
I nodded as I reached over my shoulder and grabbed the belt. After it was secured, I took a deep breath as I rubbed my sweaty hands on my knees.
“Where are we off too?” I asked.
Cayden glanced over at me and smiled. “You’ll see.”
Chapter Three
It was crazy to be sitting in the same car as Cayden Rivers, the guy who’d collected more speeding tickets then I had books, but that was the sort of thing I should have thought about before I decided to throw caution to the wind.
I could hear Dr. Nelson in my head, praising me for finally pushing myself outside of my comfort zone and acting like a teenager instead of a risk-adverse adult.
And, if I allowed myself to be honest, I was kind of enjoying my freedom. Here, alongside Cayden, chaos existed. It was the first time that having no control over my environment wasn’t paralyzing me.
If I were to go all Dr. Nelson on myself, I’d say I was still in control because, technically, Cayden was the one creating the chaos. I was just along for the ride, and I was weirdly okay with that. Whatever inkblot reason I had for being here, I didn’t mind it.
I was free, and it felt good.
“So, who were you running from?” he asked as he paused at a stoplight. He turned to look at me, and even though I couldn’t see his eyes, heat flushed my body.
I shrugged as I fiddled with the armrest next to me. How much of my life did I want Cayden to know about? Was it safe to trust him with my secrets?
I wasn’t sure I was willing to take that kind of risk, so I just shrugged. “People.”
He cleared his throat as he revved the engine, and we took off as soon as the light flipped to green.
We drove along the ocean. It was surprisingly relaxing to stare out at the glistening water as the waves rolled up to the beach. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly through my parted lips.
The tension that had seized my chest since Mom told me I was heading to California for the summer lessened. If I had known being in the warm sun and seeing the ocean would calm me down, I would have been here a lot sooner.
“Are you always this elusive?” Cayden asked, drawing my attention back to him.
I entwined my fingers in my lap and shrugged. “I guess so.” I was trying to think of anyone in my life that I actually told my secrets too. I was supposed to tell Dr. Nelson, but I always kept him about five feet away from the whole truth. I knew he talked to Mom. I wasn’t naive.
“Wow. Is there anyone you talk to?”
I shifted in my seat, not sure how I felt about his questions. Why did he want to know? It wasn’t like we were hanging out. We were just two people on the run.
“Michelle.”
He flicked his gaze over to me. “Was she the girl standing next to you in the hallway?”
He remembered seeing me in the hall? Tiny tingl
es rushed up my spine at the thought of Cayden noticing me. It felt nice, being remembered. “Yeah.”
Cayden shrugged as he flipped on his blinker and merged into the other lane. “She’s cute.”
I could literally hear Michelle’s scream from where I was sitting. She was going to die when I told her. “She’s president of your fan club.”
Cayden chuckled. “She is?”
I nodded.
From the corner of my eye, I could feel Cayden’s gaze linger on my face. “And you are…the vice-president?”
I snorted. I didn’t mean to, it just sort of came out. Embarrassment rushed to my cheeks as I glanced over at him. “I’m sorry.”
I could see his dark eyebrows over the top of his sunglasses. His lips were parted like he was surprised that had been my answer.
“What I was trying to say was…” You’re not my type? You’re a whirlwind of impulse and that stresses me out? I’d never have a shot with you so why entertain it?
None of those seemed particularly redeeming, so I sighed and dropped my gaze to my lap. “Maybe you can call me the treasurer?”
He laughed. A deep, genuine laugh. It filled the car and caused my heart to speed up. I’d never in my life heard a laugh so good.
I should have known though. His lips were perfection. Anything coming out of them would have to be perfection as well.
Whoa.
Calm it down, Scarlett. He’s just laughing. Stop reading into things.
“The treasurer? And what does a treasurer do in my fan club?”
I reached up and started twirling my hair around my finger. I’d gone this far, I might as well take it home. “I balance the books and cheer silently from the sidelines.”
I mean, I’d never allowed myself to crush on Cayden because there was no chance that it would amount to anything. But that didn’t mean I wanted the guy to fail. I was indifferent to him. A silent observer. That felt honest and not too insulting.
“Well, at least I’ve got you on the sidelines.” He turned to shoot me a grin—the signature I-have-to-smile-like-this kind of smile. And honestly, it wasn’t as attractive as the genuine one he showed me just moments ago.
Rule #6: You Can't Fall for Your Fake Summer Fling: A Standalone Sweet High School Romance (The Rules of Love) Page 2