by Krys Janae
“Well, princess, guess we should turn in. Gotta get up for that early flight.” As he stood up, he ruffled her hair, and in one swift motion, he kissed her on the lips. “Good night.”
Time was at a standstill for a few seconds. When he pulled away, Alisa wasn’t sure what sort of face she was making, but she was definitely stunned. After a few blinks, she smiled and leaned back against the large pillow on the bed. The door shut behind him.
“Good night.”
***
The flight home seemed quick, and she was thankful for that. Not saying much to each other, they went their separate ways with a promise of meeting within the next few days to practice their lines for the first shoot.
Her thoughts drifted back to the director, and she got sidetracked.
When she tried to text him about what happened the night before, he responded that it was practice for what was to come.
That’s it.
She assumed it was the episode they’d have to film, but her mind was still racing. Evan gave her butterflies every time he came around, and she couldn’t deny the dynamic had truly changed between them. Not to mention the detailed daydream making her nervous around him … well, nothing bad had happened, and it was a simple kiss, nothing more. Alisa was just happy to be back home to see her husband.
“Honey, I’m home!”
That morning, Alisa woke up alone. Logan was in the living room with Sports Center on the television when she came out to find him. He stood to greet her, and she practically leapt into his arms, holding tight to him and swinging around. When she made note of his expression, she reached with her toes to get back down to the floor safely. “What’s the matter?”
Something was really wrong. He looked just as put off as he had before she left.
“How was it, then?” Logan asked.
“New York? It was ”
“Joey sent me a picture of you and that bastard.” He was angry, and she could hear a faint hint of his accent coming through. That’s how she always knew Logan was pissed off.
“What picture? When?” Alisa spat.
“Quin’s party. That harmless party. Joey saw you there, outside on the balcony. Having a good time, you told me.”
Her face must have lost a lot of blood, because it felt numb. Alisa instantly had a knot in her throat. “He ... what?”
The crease between Logan’s eyebrows was so sharp, it scared her. Alisa hadn’t ever seen him this angry, not even before she left for New York. “You get any closer and he’d be down your throat, Alisa.”
“Logan … What’s wrong with you?”
There was something that felt off about him. He was way more on edge than normal, even if it did have something to do with Evan. The jitters, the attitude, the sweat. Alisa recalled those signs, but she let it slide. There was no way he would have gone back. He promised.
He put up his hand to stop her from continuing with her line of questioning which made her flinch. “I don’t want to hear it.” The conviction in his voice was startling. “This … Evan books a flight to New York with you on business. Is that your business, staying in some stranger’s room? Are you serious?”
“We didn’t do anything! Logan, why are you being this way?”
“You’re telling me you did nothing with him? He didn’t make a move on you, didn’t try to kiss you or sleep with you?”
Though his accusations were a little brash, her face must have gone as pale as a sheet when he asked about a kiss. Logan could see the panic and the fear in her eyes when he called her out on it, and he shook his head furiously.
“The studio received a call saying they had booked it wrong, and you were without a room for a night. Where did you stay, Alisa?”
She knew there was only one answer to that question, and she was sure he knew it as well. Alisa was speechless.
“Unbelievable.” Logan’s back was to her instantly. “I oughtta knock him out.”
“Seriously?”
“Don’t seriously me, Alisa. That is beyond ridiculous.”
“We were reading for a scene—”she desperately reached for some sort of shield to protect them both, even if it was a half-truth. Alisa didn’t think she was capable of doing such a thing, but desperate people do things that surprise even themselves.
“When?”
“His audition. He found out I was Theresa and ...”
“Likely story.”
“Logan!”
He had already started to walk away. She saw his muscles tense and his hands ball into fists as he stormed away.
“Where are you going?” She called out to him.
“Out.”
The door slammed. It all happened so fast. She came home, hoping to see her husband and spend some quality time with him, only to be persecuted for something she figured was harmless, and just like that, he was gone. The last thing she remembered was how sore her eyes felt from all of the crying, staring at the rotating ceiling fan for hours, and waking up minutes before her alarm went off.
“Alisa?”
She heard snapping to her left. John was staring at her over his menu from across the table. “Hmm?”
“They’re going to send out the hors d’oeuvres samples in a minute are you okay?” John looked over at her with a worried gaze; he could tell something was bothering her. He looked rather dashing in his suit. John had come into some money after his great uncle passed away, and left an inheritance for him and his family. He had paid off his debts, invested some of it, and also began producing the films he’d written. But most of it he put in savings for the future. Alisa and Logan were partly to thank for his success, and she was proud to see how much he had grown.
Alisa was dressed for the occasion but still felt slightly ragged next to her well-dressed friend. Her eyes were heavy, and no amount of concealer could hide the fact that she hadn’t slept well the night before. She cleared her throat. “Yeah. Thanks for inviting me along.”
“Alex appointed you maid of honor, after all.”
“Why isn’t he here yet?”
“He’s packing up some old stuff from his parents’ place in Virginia. I told him this was the only day they would have us tasting food, and he said he trusted your judgment.”
Alisa laughed, “Yes, I got a very clear three part text about his expectations.”
The hostess came through with a bottle in her hand. “Here we are. Some more wine, you two?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Where’s the wedding?”
“We were thinking to have it on my family’s property in Long Beach.”
“Beautiful. Did you pick out your colors yet?” The woman’s eyes settled on Alisa, which made her a little shy.
Alisa chuckled, “Oh, no. I’m not the bride. I’m the maid of honor.”
“Oh, really? I’m sorry about that; my mistake. Is she all right? The bride? We usually don’t see this sort of thing it’s usually the bride and groom ”
“Actually, he is in Virginia right now, and Mrs. Rider is a dear friend of ours. She will be accompanying me for every course.”
The hostess looked embarrassed. “Very well. I apologize, Mr. Damien.”
When the caterer dismissed herself, Alisa raised her eyebrows at her former assistant.
“Mr. Damien ... how formal. Lifestyles of the rich and fabulously formal.”
He winked and clinked his glass against hers before the two sipped the red wine. “Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten my roots. Though, I have to thank you for your help. If it wasn’t for you, my first movie never would have made it beyond the pitch.”
Alisa waved her hand at him, “I did nothing. The script spoke for itself, and I just showed it to Ron. No big deal.” She was being modest, but his first film, Killing Jeremiah, was a hit, and she played a huge part to his success.
“So please, sweetheart, don’t tell me you’re fine and brush it off.”
Alisa arched a brow.
“Don’t do that either. You know wha
t I’m talking about.”
“John, this is your time to plan your big day. Why do we have to talk about this?”
“Because if this is about Mr. Rider ”
“Logan,”
“Logan ... then it concerns me, because it concerns you. You have to tell me what’s on your mind.”
“Something’s off about him. I can’t figure it out. He just … he hasn’t been himself lately.” She confessed. It had been bothering her so much; it was nice to get it out in the open.
“Oh?”
Alisa nodded. “I don’t know. He just seems so … aggressive lately. Anything I do will set him off, it seems, but then he snaps back like nothing happened.”
“Hmm … Is this about that cute director Ron snagged?”
Alisa blushed.
“I knew it.”
“No, please don’t start that. I get enough from Ray and Alex as it is …”
“I just want you to be okay.”
“I will be. It’s just been hot and cold with him lately, and I’ve been on edge. One minute he’s pissed I’m going to New York, and the next he’s calling me at 4 a.m., saying he misses me. Then, because his brother shows him this silly picture of me and Evan at Quin’s ”
John’s eyebrow rose this time, but Alisa held up a hand to stop him before he made any assumptions.
“…not doing anything. We were slow dancing is all.”
“Like Jamie Lee in True Lies slow dancing or …”
“No, my God, John,” She chuckled, “Slow dancing as in really awkward homecoming date who takes you home two hours before curfew slow.”
“Ohhhh….” John laughed. “So why is Logan so worried?”
“He skipped the worried phase and went straight to jealous. I ... also may have spent the night in a room with him.”
John’s eyebrows rose higher than before. “Whoa.”
“But we didn’t do anything. You know I love Logan. I couldn’t do that. There was just a huge mistake with the booking. I figured it was only one night and not a big deal. It was a suite, and he wasn’t even in the same vicinity as me most of the night. He slept on the couch.”
“Can you honestly tell me there are no feelings there? That really, nothing happened between you two that night?”
“I’m sure ....” She replied, not even convincing herself.
He puckered his lips and let out a long sigh, processing everything that she was saying. “That’s convincing.”
“Off the record …”
“Yes?”
“He kissed me.”
“What?!”
“It was nothing. He told me after our flight back that it was practice for an upcoming scene our characters have, or … something.” That wasn’t a lie, “But it was ... I don’t know. It didn’t mean anything.” That may have been a lie. “I told Logan, and it blew up in my face.”
“I see.”
“You do?”
“Look, Logan’s just being a Jealous Jimmy right now. I’ve seen photos of this guy, Evan, and I totally get the jealousy game, believe me. But if you say you’re innocent and you truly did nothing more with him, then ride it out. I’ve seen worse shit happen in Hollywood. If you didn’t sleep with him, and you can honestly say that you have no intentions of letting this continue any further before figuring out what sort of place you’re in with your husband, just let it play out. Let Logan blow off steam, get pissed. Show him that you’re there for him and only him. I mean, yeah, it seems a little shady you spent the night with a single man in a strange city. So, while I may see your side, I see it from his side too.”
“Damn you for being so rational.”
“Keeps you coming back?” He winked, putting his arm around her. He kissed her forehead and rubbed her arm with his palm. “Love you.”
“Love you too, sweetie.”
After all of the courses came through, they decided on a three-tier red velvet cake, and a choice of a steak or lobster dinner for the reception. There were a few more pieces to throw together for the wedding, and Alisa told John she needed a little more time to set it all up. Tables and seating, invitations, centerpieces, cameras, music … it was going to be one hell of a process, but she knew she had to help her friends prepare for their big day.
Once she was finished with her chat with John, she felt a little more confident in herself. She was going to tell Logan about Evan, and she was going to come clean about how overwhelmed she was by the lifestyle she was still getting used to. By becoming part of the movie/television scene and stepping into the ring with writers, producers, and executives … not to mention the actors, she’d been forced into the limelight. Plus, marrying Logan brought its own craziness.
Alisa needed to see Logan. He was working on the tail end of his film, so she went to surprise him with lunch at the studio.
“Hey, where’s Logan?”
Quin smiled. “There she is.”
Giving him a quick hug, she pulled back and showed him the brown paper bag. She figured Logan had been working hard on the last scenes before post-production, and he needed some food in his system.
“Hi, Quin.”
“Hey! Bringing lunch for the hubby?” He was so handsome, and even though she’d already been to his New York City home, had talked to him over the video phone while Logan was overseas, and had connected on social media with him--she still felt slightly nervous around him.
There was a clicking of heels coming from behind her, and when Alisa spun around to see who it was, she was surprised to see a woman dressed in a hot little red number and stiletto heels coming their way. “Logan’s with Reggie in the office; they’re with Mark going over the last scene.”
Alisa didn’t have to ask who those men were. The directors of the film were well-known in the action genre. The fact that Alisa was even this close to their genius was a little overwhelming.
“Well, hello. I don’t believe I’ve met you. Kirsten.”
Alisa’s stomach dropped. The woman looked familiar, but becoming a brunette after leaving the television scene made Kirsten Gale hard to place. “Alisa.”
“Alisa, the writer? Oh, yes. I saw you on Evie’s show! Logan’s wife. Isn’t it sweet of you to stop by? I mean, I know you’re so busy.”
“Thanks.” Alisa spoke quietly. She looked over at Quin, who, luckily for her, stood by her for moral support.
“Logan has been such a workhorse around here. He’s always on the move. It’s like he never gets tired! There’s so much left to do here, you know I’d be surprised if he was home for dinner. Well, with you gone in New York and everything, I’m sure he knows how to take care of himself. How’s Evan doing, by the way?”
She tried not to take offense to her words, but it was difficult.
Quin cleared his throat. “Kirsten.”
“Anyway, I’m going to get going. See you tomorrow, Quin. Nice meeting you.”
“Yeah.” Alisa responded with that fake Hollywood smile.
“Don’t worry about her. Do you want me to go grab Logan? I’m sure ”
Alisa raised her hand to stop him, “No, it’s fine. You guys have work to do. I’m just here for a minute anyway. Can you make sure he gets this and actually takes time to eat? I know when he gets busy and all, he kinda loses track of time and forgets to eat.”
Quin winked. “Of course. Take care.”
When she arrived home, she knocked out three more chapters for her latest book, which meant she was nearly finished. Alisa received a couple of messages from Joann and Evie about the Facebook posts that Evan was writing up; he had posted a couple of pictures from Quin’s, a photo of him and his guitar in the hotel, and a couple of silly ones they took on their adventure, out and about in the city. The pictures made her laugh, and she refrained from responding to her inquisitive friends too quickly.
Lying back on the bed, she used one hand to swipe through her phone, smiling at the entertaining pictures she and Evan took throughout their trip. Her free hand was tucked behind the
pillow she was resting on, and as she moved it around to get comfortable, she felt something hard, a plastic canister of sorts. She sat up and fluffed the pillow. A small object tumbled to the floor. It was a bottle of pills; nondescript and half empty. They weren’t your ordinary painkiller or antibiotic. No, they were far more sinister. Alisa recognized them easily.
“No …” She said, gravely.
“Please, let me explain ” Logan had appeared beside her, hands up, as if to surrender or tame what was about to explode. She must not have heard the door close behind him. How much time had actually passed since she got home? Losing complete track of time, she didn’t realize he would be off of work so soon.
You know how to find me for more ... Kir. Xoxo.
Her face went from cold and numb to boiling hot. “You ... have got ... to be kidding. Tell me this isn’t who ...”
“Babe ”
Dizziness overcame her. She felt sick. “Who gave you these?”
“Alisa ”
“Logan, who gave these to you? Who is Kir?”
Logan froze for a moment, still a vision even in this turmoil. His bottom lip twitched.
“Answer me.”
“Kirsten.”
“Kirsten Gale?! That’s why she was on set today?”
He nodded. “She’s…She’s in the movie too.”
“I don’t even…I thought that you were done with that mess--that--that habit. Logan, before we got married, you told me it was over. You weren’t going to use anymore!”
“I…” His voice faded.
“Did Quin…” She stopped mid-sentence. It hit her; the possibility that her new friend, Quin Stephens, was in on this whole charade. “Did he know about this too? The whole time… did he know?”
Logan nodded again. “Please let me explain.”
“What’s to explain? Is this why that damn hashtag “Kirgan” kept popping up on my feed? Pictures of you and her at Christian’s all over the internet? Shit. I didn’t want to believe it, but…damn.”
“Sweetie ”
“No, do not … do not try that sweetie stuff now. Are you kidding me?” She screamed at the top of her lungs. Her voice echoed in the hallway. “Kirsten, of all people. I-I can’t even ... I can’t believe this. I’m …”