When He Was Bad

by Poppy Dennison

  Still, Tony couldn’t wait to get the damn wool trousers off and get into some swim trunks and a pool. He was lucky the place he was renting had an awesome pool. Actually, luck had nothing to do with it. It had been a requirement. His costar Marissa saw him sitting on the stoop with his boring sugar-free drink and wandered over. She had earbuds in, an anachronism which still made him laugh, in the middle of their old-fashioned set complete with cobbled roads and a mix of carriages and ancient cars, but she pulled out the earbuds and gave Tony a brilliant smile.

  “Hey, Tony. Are we going to see you tonight at Boa?”

  He didn’t want to go to Boa. He was tired of the B-list celebrity scene, of paps waiting outside the ropes ready to blind him, of making sure he was with the right people for ultimate publicity impact. Tony hadn’t ever been good at being a celeb before, and he’d never needed to be good at it. But he was a somebody now, thanks to Coconut Cove, which meant playing the game. It was a lot more work than fun.

  “Yeah. I’ll be there.” He tried to sound excited. Honestly, there were quite a few days where he remembered what it was like not to be on the it list. Maybe after the buzz and scandal of a fully gay primetime teen drama died down after another season or so, things would feel more normal.

  It had been a head rush the first time the movie cast went out on the town. Even the buzz he and the rest of the cast had gotten in Florida all year had nothing on what it felt like to be a kindasorta somebody out in the middle of paparazzi central. But after he got used to it, he started to miss the Pirate’s Booty and their little quirky hotel with the weird cat and palm-shrouded pool. Of course the hotel was out. Everyone had found their own accommodations for the second season, which would start back up in a couple of weeks. His was the tiny guest room in Blair’s new house right by the beach, which was fine with him. Tony hadn’t ever liked being alone.

  His phone buzzed in his itchy-ass wool trousers. He smiled when he saw it was Blair. Speak of the devil….

  “I’d better take this.” Tony gestured to his phone. Marissa nodded with a grin and mouthed, “See you later,” before wandering off.

  “Hey bro, what’s up?” Tony had been texting and emailing back and forth with Blair since they’d broken set back in the spring for the summer hiatus. He still missed him. It was surprising how close they’d become. Or maybe not so surprising. They’d worked well together since the very first week of filming—most of the cast had. It wasn’t a shock at all that a lot of them had gotten to be friends.

  “Not much. Just got back from a hike. Sander’s taking a nap, and I’m chilling on the back deck of our cabin.”

  Blair sounded relaxed and happy. Pretty much the opposite of hot, uncomfortable, and tired. He knew it had been a good move for him to take the part. Period pieces added serious actor cred to his resume, and it was nice to not have to worry every day about water weight hiding his abs in board shorts.

  “Where are you again exactly?” he asked Blair. Tony just knew it was somewhere in the mountains. He forgot where, other than Canada. Not that it mattered much for Blair and Sander. He imagined they spent most of the time in bed.

  “Whistler. It’s beautiful up here.”

  Somehow Tony thought Blair had probably seen more of the inside of his cabin than the actual mountains. He snorted at the idea.

  “I’m sure it is.”

  Blair chuckled. Tony was always surprised by how bashful Blair could be after all this time. “We’ve been hiking. You have to make everything seem like porn, don’t you?”

  “It’s one of my skills. Not going to lie.” Tony laughed, relieved to have a conversation that felt comfortable after so many weeks of being completely out of his element.

  “How is LA? Ready to get out of there yet?”

  He was so ready. So very, very ready. Well, maybe not quite ready to get back to everything he left back on the island, though. He was feeling something in between desperately wanting to go back and dreading it with everything he had.

  It can’t happen with us. You know that….

  Tony winced. Again. Then he realized Blair was still waiting for an answer.

  “Yeah, I can’t wait to see you, man. Have you talked to Levi?”

  Blair sounded like he was chewing. “Yeah. Sorry. Was eating lunch. I did. He spent most of the break at home with Whitney and his mom, I think. She was sick.”

  Levi had sent him a few messages, but not too many since all of the rumors of their nonexistent offscreen romance had blown up. He was sure the producers loved it. Hell, maybe they were providing the gossip rags with the rumors themselves to boost ratings, but it made Levi act really weird. If anyone listened to the gossip magazines, Tony was stringing Blair and Levi along at the same time. You know, having nothing to do with their actual boyfriends. He guessed Levi and Whitney were still too new to not make it awkward. Sander just laughed.

  I’m such a Casanova. Breaking up relationships right and left with my nonexistent charm.

  He was too busy trying to hold his head up in a major role on a surprisingly popular television show to manage to break two hearts at once. Or any. Tony thought of all his days in commercials and bit parts and wondered if he hadn’t known where it was at back then. Sure, the money was a hell of a lot nicer on this side. But he wasn’t in love with some of the stuff that came with it.

  “Hey, Tony!” one of his other castmates called from the street. Brian. He was cute, about Tony’s age, and he was completely sure Brian was into him. Tony wished he could be into him right back.

  We’ll never work…. It’s better to forget about what happened….

  The moment came with the usual twinge of pain that hadn’t quite faded. Tony wanted to slice out whatever part of his brain was responsible for his memories. He’d like them gone, thanks. “Hey, Bri.”

  Blair giggled from the other line. “Who’s Bri?”

  “Castmate. You’d like most of these people a lot,” Tony told him. “Unlike certain people we get to work with all year.”

  “Don’t tell me you’re not missing Howie. I know you had a secret crush on him. It’s not good for you to hold these things in, man. I’m here for you.”

  “How’d you guess?” Tony giggled. “I keep a shrine by my bedside so I’m reminded of him every day we’re not together. I’m counting down the days until we can rekindle our flame.”

  At that Blair laughed aloud. “I miss you, T. Two more weeks.”

  “Yeah. This wraps in a couple of days, and I don’t really have anything keeping me here. You mind if I head down early?”

  “Not at all. Your key is with my mom. She’s been using it to feed my fish while I’ve been on vacation.”

  Tony breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn’t realized just how much he wanted to get out of the Hollywood scene until Key West was staring him in the face. A few more days… he could do it.

  Coconut Cove

  Coconut Cove: Book One

  Life’s a beach… and then you meet the guy of your dreams.

  Flynn Wright’s role on the upcoming teen drama Coconut Cove means a fresh start in the land of crystal water, palm trees, and gorgeous people. The move to the beautiful beaches of Key West, Florida—and away from LA and his conniving ex—is just what Flynn needs.

  Meeting sexy bartender Seth is the cherry on top of Flynn’s colorful frozen drink, and he can’t wait to take a taste. But Seth isn’t impressed by Flynn’s Hollywood good looks, nor is he interested in the complications of dating an actor, no matter how hot.

  Can Flynn dodge his scheming ex and the eager paparazzi while showing Seth that he is more than a pretty package?

  Coconut Cove: Book Two

  Will a reunion between high school friends lead to romance—or regret?

  Key West local Blair Fletcher goes from wallflower to star overnight. One day he’s waiting tables, and the next he’s thrust into a different world—as an actor on the new gay teen drama Coconut Cove. Playing queen-bee Ryder quickly makes him friends—and
enemies—but it’s the set carpenter who’s had his heart since they were kids.

  Blair always assumed golden god Sander Johansen was completely unattainable… and straight. Now that Sander has returned to their hometown, it seems Blair’s assumptions might have been wrong. As things heat up on set and in the bedroom, Blair has to realize he’s no longer the shy kid who never moved away from home and maybe it’s finally time for him to have the life, and love, he’s always wanted.

  More from Poppy Dennison

  Diagnosis: Wolf by Poppy Dennison

  Thanks to his good-for-nothing brother, Andrew Hughes is up to his eyeballs in debt and needs a job fast. When a nursing position opens up in Myerson, Arizona, Andrew has no choice but to take it, despite a warning about how difficult a patient Caleb DiMartino can be. Andrew can deal with a little trouble—but Caleb’s strange family, the armed guards, and the unknown cause of Caleb’s mysterious illness may be beyond his skill set.

  Landslide by Mary Calmes

  For three years, paranormal courier Frank Corrigan has been working for incubus demon Cael Berith. Cael knows Frank is his mate, but Frank is pretty sure Cael doesn’t even like him, never mind want to spend the rest of his life with him, so their personal relationship is at an impasse. When Frank’s sister, Lindsey, gets bitten by a werewolf she’s sleeping with—and possibly witnesses a murder—Frank rides to her rescue. If he’s lucky, he might just save his love life too.

  Holly Creek: Book One

  Small town heroes and big town hearts.

  Jefferson Lee Davis is happy with his life in the city until his favorite uncle has a bad fall and he rushes to Holly Creek to make sure Uncle Sherman is okay. Jefferson Lee knows how to navigate small Southern town’s politics and the residents greet him with open arms. Everyone but the town’s sheriff, Zane Yarbrough, that is.

  Dogwood Days, the town’s biggest festival is looming, so Jefferson has to step up and take over his uncle’s job as the town blogger, even if that puts him right in the sheriff’s path. Quirky neighbors, meddling family, and a sassy best friend all come together to make Jefferson Lee’s life in Holly Creek a full-time adventure. When he loses his job back in the city, Jefferson Lee has to start a new job search that will take him away from the town he’s learning to think of as home. Will this big city boy find sweet romance in the arms of a small town sheriff or will the allure of the city call him back?

  Holly Creek: Book Two

  Jefferson Lee Davis, Holly Creek’s new Director of Publicity, is gearing up for the next big town event, the summer Rose Festival. The job is running smoothly, but the course of true love has hit a rocky patch. His hunky boyfriend, Sheriff Zane Yarbrough, is receiving mysterious phone calls he doesn’t want to discuss. While Jefferson Lee is blindsided by jealousy, the second shoe drops with the appearance of a handsome stranger in the small tight-knit community. Needing answers, Jefferson Lee enlists his best gal-pal Clover Crofton to help find out what secrets Zane is hiding. When they land themselves in more trouble than Jefferson Lee bargained for, he and Zane face the first big test of their relationship. Zane and Jefferson Lee must work through their trust issues if they’re going to make it as a couple, and Clover may just have a thing or two to learn herself.

  Add two parts sass and one part sweet and you have POPPY DENNISON to a T—sweet tea that is. Raised by a gaggle of Southern women who love reading and have backbones of steel, Poppy was brought up to see the best in people but always speak her mind. Mix it all together like Grandma’s famous cobbler, and you get a sassy Southern lady with a quick wit and loads of charm who will soften any blow with “Bless your heart.” Her books reflect her small-town roots, are filled with all the comforts of home, and come with a side dish of spicy, because that’s the way she likes it.

  Website: www.poppydennison.com

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/poppydennison

  Twitter: @PoppyDennison

  By Poppy Dennison

  Born This Way

  COCONUT COVE

  Life’s a Beach

  By M.J. O’Shea: Nerdy Little Secret

  When He Was Bad

  CREATURE FEATURE

  With Mary Calmes: Creature Feature

  With Rhys Ford: Creature Feature 2

  HOLLY CREEK

  Dogwood Days

  Spring Fever

  Dogwood Days & Spring Fever (Paperback Anthology)

  TRIAD

  Mind Magic

  Body Magic

  Soul Magic

  Wild Magic

  Published by DREAMSPINNER PRESS

  www.dreamspinnerpress.com

  Published by

  DREAMSPINNER PRESS

  5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA

  www.dreamspinnerpress.com

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  When He Was Bad

  © 2018 Poppy Dennison.

  Cover Art

  © 2018 Reese Dante.

  http://www.reesedante.com

  Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.

  All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or www.dreamspinnerpress.com.

  Digital ISBN: 978-1-64080-458-6

  Digital eBook published July 2018

  v. 1.0

  Printed in the United States of America