The Italian Heartthrob: Forbidden Standalone

by N J Adel

  “What are you talking about?” she inquired. Kyle’s eyes were curious, too.

  “The screenplay contest. I meant to tell you this morning, but I forgot. James and the team are working on it. It’ll be out in three weeks. I’ll text you the link once it’s ready for submissions.”

  Her glossy lips parted with a smile. “This is awesome.” She threw her arms around him, smiling with every inch of her face. A chill ran through his skin as her smell filled his nostrils. He squeezed her to him, his heart banging against his chest. Instinctively, his gaze lifted to Kyle’s, and the blue eyes were piercing.

  Mike cleared his throat. “All right! How about you guys help yourselves to some drinks, and I’ll be right back with the stuff?”

  Maggie wrapped her arms around Kyle’s waist. “Actually, Kyle doesn’t like to smoke. I’m gonna pass on the weed.”

  Mike raised his brows in disbelief. He snorted, his fists on his hips. You gotta be fuckin’ kiddin’ me! What the fuck is she doing with that control freak? What does she see in him anyway?

  “It’s okay, baby. I don’t mind,” Kyle said.

  “You sure?” she asked.

  “Yeah, you sure? Hate to get Maggie in trouble again, breaking your rules.” Mike growled the last words. “You seem to have so many of those.”

  She grimaced, shifting from one leg to the other.

  “As long as my baby is happy, I’m happy. I don’t care if she breaks all the rules of the universe.” Kyle pressed his mouth to hers.

  Mother. Fucker. Mike stared, blood simmering, teeth clenched. He counted to ten, and the fucking kiss didn’t end. “Gonna get that weed or not?”

  She pulled away, her swollen lips grinning, eyes on Kyle. “Yes.” Then she darted a dirty look at Mike. “I’m coming with.”

  “I’ll get the drinks.” Kyle winked at him.

  Mike turned, heat coming up his face in waves, the music suddenly too loud. He weaved his way through the crowd as he followed her strides. “Maggie, wait for me.”

  She reached a corner far enough from the dance floor and spun, her stare fuming. “What the fuck was that?”

  He coughed and rubbed his nose, his eyes darting around avoiding eye contact. “What?”

  “Mike!”

  “Okay. I’m sorry.” He stepped closer, his hands on her bare arms. Her skin was soft and smooth as his hands brushed against it, and he noted the way goose bumps spread along it. “I pushed too far. But the dude is a douche.”

  “No, he’s not.” She jerked his hands off her arms. “Kyle is…the full package. Every girl’s dream.”

  “But not your dream.” He leaned forward and met her stubborn eyes. “I can tell. You’re not yourself around him. I really hate that.”

  Flustered, she glanced at her silver heels. “No. We’re great together, and I like him a lot.”

  Like, not love. Yes. He lifted her chin, checking out her short, silver dress. “Wearing matching outfits doesn’t make you great together. He calls you baby for crying out loud. Since when do you let anyone call you that other than Nick? You broke up with other guys over it.”

  “You call me Kiddo all the fucking time.”

  “To tease you not to…say I love you.” He swallowed. “I know you too well to know that every time he says it, you’re in physical pain.”

  She shook her head, her fingers dipped in the back of her hair, pulling then fluffing. “You know what? This, coming here tonight, was a bad idea. We should leave.” She turned away.

  He grabbed her wrist. “What? No.”

  She twisted. “When you invited us both I thought you wanted to get to know him better. To get along. I didn’t know your plan was to pull this shit.”

  “That’s not… Maggie, C’mon, please.”

  “I can’t just watch you being mean to him.”

  He let out an exasperated sigh. “Okay. Just look me in the eye and tell me that you’re happy with this guy, and I won’t say anything again. I promise.”

  “I’m happy.” She blinked.

  He scoffed at her lie. “Can you be any more convincing?”

  “Fuck you.” She stalked to the weed table, where H, Mike’s personal party planner and weed supplier, sat rolling joints. “Hey, H. What you got?”

  “My girl, Maggie.” He selected a fat joint from the tray in front of him and handed it to her. “You’ll love this.”

  Mike got his lighter out of his pocket and lit the joint for her. She fist-pumped H as she inhaled.

  “You’re friends with the dealer now?” Mike smiled.

  She blew in his face. “Yes. H is my new best friend.”

  He coughed and laughed at the same time, his palm at his burning eyes.

  “Get the shit.” She started. “And if you open your mouth with one hurtful thing toward Kyle, I’ll chop your balls off and feed them to you.”

  He burst into laughter, getting the tray. “God, I love you.”

  “Did you just say something?” she yelled.

  “I said you’re one hell of a woman.”

  Scene 13

  Maggie

  I took a long sip from my cocktail, my head on Kyle’s shoulder, as I stared sideways at the skinny bitch in the golden dress practically giving Mike a lap dance.

  “So this is how celebrities party,” Kyle whispered.

  “Seems like it.” I ground a toothpick.

  His stare shifted to a man and a woman on the other end of the couch; the man was shirtless and the woman just took her top off. Kyle blinked at the exposed breasts. “Um… There’s live porn, too.”

  I laughed, tracking the couple’s steamy gestures. The man was already out of his pants. “Yup. They’re gonna hump right in front of everyone.”

  “Oh God.” Kyle’s head tilted, his hand up to his eyes shielding them. “And you like to come here because…?”

  My stomach flipped when Mike gripped the blonde’s ass as she dry-fucked him. “Definitely not because of the live porn.” I emptied my glass and set it on the table in front of me. “Let’s dance.”

  “Sure.” Kyle offered his arm, and we rose. He guided me to a dimly lit corner of the dance floor, away from the writhing bodies. A Latin rhythm got my hips moving. His glazed eyes lusted after me as his hands slid around my hips. “Easy, Mags. A few more moves like that and we might be the stars of our own live porn.”

  I giggled, pushing my body against his. “Ooh.” I bit my bottom lip mischievously as I felt his need for me. “How about we do just that?” Mike shouldn’t be the only one enjoying himself.

  Kyle’s cheeks reddened as I bent him to my mouth, his gasps loud. He pulled away quickly and spun me across the floor, his gaze reprimanding.

  “Pussy!” I twirled back to him. Then I turned, rubbing my hips against his front, my hands all over his body. He grew harder with my every move.

  My glance flickered at the semicircular couch. Mike no longer had the blonde on him, his eyes on the dance floor, his expression somber. He blinked away when I caught him looking.

  Yeah, I’m no longer a Kiddo, Superstar. I’ll be sexy with my boyfriend all I want.

  I flipped my hair and swayed harder with Kyle, my eyes closed, pushing away all the feelings I should never be feeling, not now, not ever. I just couldn’t help it. I wish I could have. I was torturing myself for no good reason. Mike and I would never happen. I was a kid to him. He didn’t see me that way. Even if he did, I’d never look like any of the women he dated, and even if he wasn’t that superficial, there were other million reasons why we shouldn’t even try.

  When I opened my eyes, Mike’s spot on the couch was empty. I turned and found him next to me. My hand lifted to stifle a gasp.

  He glanced at Kyle. “Do you mind if I steal her for just one dance?”

  It struck me that Mike behaved, so I teased. “Actually, we’re about to go home.” I grinned, pushing my weight on Kyle and lacing my fingers behind his neck.

  “I’m not gonna see you for at least another month.
I just wanna say goodbye,” Mike muttered, rubbing his forehead.

  My hands dropped, my smile slipping away. Kyle planted a quick kiss on my cheek. “I’ll go get our things. I need a minute to catch my breath anyway.”

  Mike held out his hand, and I took it. “You’re leaving again?” My heart squeezed at the words.

  He nodded with his lips pursed. “Tokyo premiere, then another promotion tour around Europe, then Newark. We’re shooting after the holidays, and we need to prep.”

  “I thought you’d stay a little longer this time. You were away too long already.” I only just got him back.

  The music shifted into a slower song, and he placed his hand on the small of my back. “You know how things can be.”

  I nodded once. Maybe it was for the best. How it should be. Because every time he was here, my life got upside down, and I broke every promise I’d made to myself. I must accept that I was weak around my best friend, and despite how important he was to me, Mike Gennaro was really bad for me.

  “You look stunning tonight, by the way.”

  “Thanks.” No compliment could put me in a good mood now.

  He drew me closer into his arms, his gaze intense. He seemed to be holding his breath.

  “What?”

  His lips twitched before he spoke. “Come with me.”

  “Huh?”

  “I know this isn’t the premiere I’m supposed to take you to, but Everlasting doesn’t actually suck.” Before I could object, he added, “And you’d love Japan. I promise we’ll have so much fun.”

  “You’re crazy.” So was I, because I really wanted to say yes.

  “Why?”

  “You want me to drop everything and go to Japan with you.”

  He swirled me counterclockwise. “Europe, too. We can go shopping.” A teasing grin spread across his mouth.

  “I hate shopping.”

  “I know. Still, I want you to come with me.”

  I didn’t know how much resistance I had in me to continue this conversation without doing something stupid, so fucking stupid it would fuck everything up. I returned to his arms, gripping on every shred of decency and sensibility in me. “I’d have loved to go. But I can’t just leave Kyle behind like that. Besides, Dad still owns me for three more weeks.” And I’m shooting my movie in two weeks.

  “I can buy Nick off. Not sure about your giant, though.”

  I shook my head and put it on his heart, unable to laugh at his joke. “I’m gonna miss you.”

  He pulled my body to his, his sigh brushing my neck. His heartbeat thundered in my ear.

  I tilted my head, looking up at him. “You good? Your heart is racing.”

  His lips stretched with a false smile, and I noticed his swallowing. “I must be a little dehydrated.” He pointed in the kitchen’s direction. “I’ll grab some water. Do you want anything?”

  “No, I’m good.”

  “Okay. Let me take you back to your boy first.”

  I rolled my eyes and led the way.

  Kyle twined his fingers with mine. “Ready, baby?”

  Mike snickered, and I rolled my eyes again.

  Mutual eye daggers flew between them. It was hard to tell who hated who the most. “It was very nice meeting you, Kyle.” Mike leaned over and whispered something in his ear. Kyle did the same and pulled back quickly. “Likewise.”

  Scene 14

  Maggie

  “What was that?” I asked.

  Kyle shifted in the backseat of the Limo Mike insisted on making our ride home. “What was what?”

  I made a face. “The whispering.”

  “Oh, that.” He snorted. “He was threatening me.”

  My lashes fluttered. “What?”

  “He said if I ever hurt you, he’d kill me in my sleep.”

  My jaw dropped. “That bastard!” I patted his thigh. “I’m sorry, babe. I’ll get him for it.”

  “No need. I already did.”

  I froze, remembering his last word to Mike. Likewise. “You threatened him back?”

  “I told him if he ever touched you, I’d do the same.”

  “What the fuck? What’s wrong with you two?”

  “Excuse me? What’s wrong with me? He’s the one who treats every woman like they’re his property. Including you.” His hands flew in exasperation. “And you’re asking what’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with you?”

  “What the fuck do you mean?”

  “Are you blind?” he yelled. “He wants to fuck you.”

  My eyes widened in shock, and my chest heaved. I wanted to respond, but my mind hummed blank. What could I possibly say to that? Mike could never feel that way for me. He used to take me for ice-cream after school for fuck’s sake.

  Kyle sighed and held my hand. “I’m sorry I yelled at you. I’m just pissed off.”

  I turned my head to the window, my heart pounding. Could that be true? Could Mike want…? I slapped the thought out of my head, but for a moment, I hoped Kyle was right.

  “You’re wrong.” I finally managed to put two words together.

  “Maggie, I’m a man. I know how men look at women, and I know what I saw. That man is…not to be trusted.”

  PART TWO

  FEVER

  Scene 15

  Maggie

  THREE WEEKS LATER

  I hunched over my laptop in my apartment, tapping a pencil on the working desk, Amanda and Raoul each on either side of me, the monitor split with three different views of the same footage.

  “I hate the light in all three. We need to retake this,” I mumbled, rubbing my temples, frustration coursing through me.

  “I can edit the—” Amanda said.

  “No. It’s shit,” I interrupted, jabbing the pencil at the screen. “Can’t you see this fucking shadow? It’s in all of them. I need to retake this.”

  Amanda stood and moved behind my chair. “Relax, girl. It’s just one shot.” She massaged my shoulders. “You got this.”

  My shoulders slumped, yielding. “Do I?”

  “Hell yeah,” Raoul answered. “You just need to get some rest.”

  “I can’t.” I threw the pencil and rummaged through the chaos of paper and empty energy drink cans on the desk until I found my vape, my stomach clenching. Damn IBS, damn panic attacks, damn stupid shots that wouldn’t just be right. “We’re running out of time.”

  He stared at me like I was insane. “We’re not. We’re ahead of schedule, Mags.”

  “There’s no such thing as ahead of schedule in making movies.”

  “Yes. But with you there is. You keep pushing nonstop, you crazy bitch.” He grabbed my arm, attempting to get me off the chair, motioning at Amanda for help. “You need to get out.” He snatched the vape out of my grasp and tossed it on the desk. “Inhale some air. Not weed. And eat something.”

  My stomach growled. “You’re right. I’m sorry for being such a bitch.” I stood and headed to a red backpack on the floor next to the bed foot. “Let me get my phone, and we’ll get going. Lunch is on me.”

  As I unzipped the backpack, my phone chimed. My eyes narrowed at the text and the website link in it. I tapped it, and it took me to Mike’s contest website. “Raoul, check your phone. I just texted you a link.”

  “Whoa.” He showed the screen to Amanda, whose eyes went wide.

  “No entry fee!” She high-fived Raoul.

  A huge grin hurt my jaws. “It’s so freakishly awesome. Which one are you gonna submit?”

  He mused for a few moments. “Black Sheep.”

  “Yes! Excellent. Mike would be perfect for Sullivan.”

  “Uh…a villain?”

  “Yes, a villain. A complete makeover. Major transformation. That would get him a fuckin’ Oscar.”

  His lips curved on the side. He seemed amused by the thought. “You gonna enter?”

  “No fuckin’ way.”

  “Why not? Dark Hopes is perfect.”

  “I can’t just put my name in there and expect unb
iased results.”

  Amanda shook her head. “Hello? Ever heard of pen names? Besides, these things are judged anonymously.”

  I stared at her for a second, considering the idea. This could jumpstart my directing career. The industry loved directors who could write. But then I shrugged. “Nope. It’s a long shot, but what if I get picked? He’ll know it’s me. The whole credibility of the contest will be tarnished.”

  “If I’m going to submit, your name will be there anyway,” Raoul said.

  I cocked a brow. “Don’t you dare.”

  “What? It’s your script, too.”

  I couldn’t just risk it. This contest was so important for Mike. There would be more to come for me, but for him, this was it. He was putting everything at risk, taking chances for the first time ever, and it needed to go right. Otherwise, he’d lose faith in himself, in the opportunity, the possibility to finally have it his way.

  To shine.

  Andrea and James would win. Would sink their claws back in him, and he’d never find a way out.

  I held Raoul’s gaze. “You’re gonna use your name. Only your name.”

  “Not in a million years.”

  “Then submit something else!”

  “What the fuck? You know the stuff I wrote alone isn’t as half as good.”

  I put my hands on his shoulders and looked him directly in the eye. “You have my full permission and my blessing and whatever the fuck you think you need to submit Black Sheep. Just please, Raoul, don’t put my name in there.”

  He pinched the bridge of his nose. “You’re so fuckin’ stubborn.”

  “Tell me something I don’t know.” I patted him on the shoulder as my phone rang. Tapping the green icon, I grinned. “Congrats, Superstar.”

  “Thanks. You like?” Mike asked.

  Suddenly, all the exhaustion and the crappy mood disappeared when I heard his voice. “It’s awesome.”

  “It’s been like five minutes and submissions are already coming. Can you believe it?”