And our moment has been shot down.
Thanks, best friend.
“Whatever,” she mutters. “We have a plane to catch. Ready to go?”
Hudson finishes off his coffee, rinses out his cup, and places it in the dishwasher. “I’m ready for whatever I’m getting myself into.”
“I promise it’s nothing as crazy as jumping out of planes and all of that other dangerous shit you did with your last job,” Willow comments.
“I enjoy jumping out of planes. There’s nothing that compares to the rush of it.”
“No thank you on that,” I cut in. “If God wanted me to fly, he would’ve given me wings.”
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but we’re about to board a plane that flies,” he fires back.
“Big difference.”
“Yeah, your choice isn’t nearly as fun.”
“Maybe I’ll have to try it sometime then.” I’m totally lying. This girl is not going to be flying solo in the air anytime soon, but I want him to change his mind about me – to see who I really am. I’m not a spoiled diva who only eats pink Starbursts and makes my assistant go through bags of them to pick out all of the other colors. I do wish that one were true, though, because we all know pink is the best flavor. Not to mention, Willow would probably quit in a second if I told her to do something like that.
That’s why my ex and I connected so well. Knox knew this life and understood not to believe everything written in the headlines. Real stories don’t sell. Scandals do. Relationship rumors do.
Willow shoves my side in excitement, practically jumping up and down when Hudson leaves the kitchen to grab his bag. “I love being right. He totally has a thing for you. Fingers crossed he’s single.” I give her a dirty look when she points to my vagina. “I hope you waxed that kitty of yours.”
Chapter Six
Hudson
A guy falls down in the seat across from me and stretches out his hand. “What’s up, man? I’m Josh.” He’s a built dude, a few inches shorter than me, and looks like he spends ample time at the gym. My money is on him being a boxer or a guy into MMA. His blonde hair is tightly combed back into a man-bun. Cameron always begged me to do the whole man-bun thing, even when I tried to explain you can’t have that when serving.
I lean forward to shake it. “Hudson.”
“You Stella’s new bodyguard?” I nod. “I’m Eli’s.” Eli is Stella’s co-star and love interest in her new movie. Willow filled me in on the cast, the movie title, and what we’ll be doing while on the drive to the airport.
“You have any tips for me?” My brother’s advice was to watch out for assholes and always have Stella’s back. She’s had a few scary run-ins where Dallas had to tackle people to the ground. One guy even tried sticking a camera up her skirt. Fucking creeps.
“It’s a decent gig if you don’t work for an asshole. Eli isn’t bad. I’ve had worse, and from what I’ve seen so far, Stella seems to be cool.” He throws his arm out to gesture to the private plane we’re on. “Another perk is the traveling. There’s no way I’d be living life like this if it weren’t for this job.” He pauses, a smile passing over his face. “And let’s not forget the ladies. This job is a goddamn pussy magnet. Women sleep with me in hopes they’ll get closer to whatever dude I’m working for.” Something dawns on him. “Although it might not be that easy for you since you’re working for a chick.”
“Yeah, I don’t think women will be busting down doors to sleep with me thinking it might lead them into Stella’s panties, and I’m not one to judge, but I don’t bat for the other team. The chances are not exactly in my favor.”
“We’ll be spending some time together, so if I have any extras, I’ll send them your way.” He winks, like his favor is equivalent to giving me a kidney or some shit.
Willow starts to move past us down the aisle but suddenly turns around to look at us. “Extras?” she repeats, giving Josh a cold glare. Her gaze moves my way. “Don’t let this idiot corrupt you. He’s a bad influence.”
“Ignore her,” Josh argues. “Willow thinks I have cooties.”
She scrunches her face up into a look that resembles disgust and holds a finger in the air. “Correction. I believe you have the adult version of cooties: STDS.” She gives him one final snarl before leaving us and sitting by Stella in the row behind him.
Josh laughs, not realizing that she was making fun of him, not flirting. “I’ve been trying to hit that for a few weeks now.”
“I take it you’re failing?” Of course he is.
“She ain’t giving it up, but I’ll break her down soon. I’m sure of it.”
“Good luck.” Willow seems cool so far, and Josh … not so much, so I hope she doesn’t fall for his cheesy shit. I’d hate to hear him brag about it.
I pull out my phone and open up my Solitaire app. Sure, it feels good to have someone around that I can relate to, but there’s no way in hell we’re going to be friends. My douchebag radar is firing off at full speed. Hanging out with this guy would be like a giant contraceptive to any decent female.
I stand on the sidelines of a long ass red carpet while watching Willow situate Stella’s dress until it’s in the perfect position. The black gown shows enough cleavage to make my dick stir but not so much that she might have a nip slip if she makes a wrong move.
Willow explained my duties while Stella was getting ready with a group of people who referred to themselves as her glam squad – whatever the fuck that means. My job is to stay by Stella and yet be unseen at the same time. I need to have her back but stay out of pictures and look too scary to fuck with. I have to linger around in the shadows like a creep to stop the real creeps.
The diamond bracelet around her wrist glistens when she runs a hand down her glossy, jet-black hair before strutting to the middle of the red carpet in her high heels. It takes her a second to get into her pose – one arm on her side, a hip pumped out while she sticks a leg through the long slit in her dress. The flashes of cameras hurt my eyes when they all go off at once – like everyone is afraid to miss a second of her. She shifts into a different pose and then another to give them every angle of her.
I catch my breath when she turns around and shows off the bare back of her dress that cinches at the base of her spine. I watch her but make sure I’m keeping my eyes on every movement around us too. It would be hard for someone to get to her. News anchors are squashed up like sardines in a can against the red rope blocking them off from the carpet, and there are other security guards placed in almost every direction.
Josh comes my way when I get a view of Eli. Eli reminds me of a frat boy, even though he’s in his late twenties. He sports a cocky smile, his blonde hair is gelled and combed to the side like a kid who stole his mom’s beauty products, and he’s wearing a black pinstriped suit that fits his skinny stature.
I don’t bother looking over at Josh when he stops at my side, or when he slaps my back. My eyes never leave Stella. “Let the madness begin, my friend,” he says.
I only nod in response. Eli poses for a few pictures and then moves into Stella’s space. She looks up at him, the corners of her lips curving up when he wraps his arm around her waist and drags her into his side. She tilts her hips into him, her hand resting on his chest like a prom picture, and the cameras go off like wildfire.
I cock my head to the side, confused as hell when he tips his head down to kiss her on the lips.
I scratch my cheek. What am I missing here?
She and the dude barely exchanged three words with each other on the flight here. Eli sat next to Josh, and I tuned them out after they started arguing about which models were the most bangable. He wasn’t in her hotel suite when she got ready, and nobody mentioned him staying there tonight. Maybe they’re in some open relationship type shit.
Hollywood. I’ve heard crazy stories about the things they do around there.
“Stella!” a woman screams when Eli grabs her hand and walks her down the red carpet. “How long hav
e you two been dating?”
Neither one of them answers her question.
“Eli!” another blurts out. “Do you think your romance will continue when you finish promoting the movie?”
They make puppy eyes at each other, and Eli leads her over to the crowd. “Our relationship will stay strong even after these promotions,” he answers, kissing Stella’s cheek. “I love this woman to death. She loves me. And that’s all you need to know. Now if you’ll excuse us, we have an excellent movie to watch.”
Willow rushes over with a pinched expression on her face when Stella makes it to me. “I hope it’s worth it,” she hisses to Stella, louder than what I’m sure she intended to.
“Don’t start right now,” Stella snaps.
Willow rolls her eyes. “Whatever.” She looks over at me as we file into the theater. “We’re sitting in the row behind the two love birds. I hope you have a thing for romance films.”
I chuckle. “They’re my favorite. Can’t live without ‘em.”
She laughs. “How’d I know you were a romantic at heart?”
“Definitely strikes me as the type,” Stella says, looking back at me and winking.
I wait for her to take her seat next to Eli before sitting down.
I’m not a romance film dude.
I fucking swear it.
But it has me transfixed, and I know it’s not actually the movie.
It’s Stella.
I’m watching everything she does. Every move she makes. My attention bounces from the unreality of her on the screen to the reality of her in front of me where Eli’s arm is settled on the back of her seat and around her shoulders.
Why does him touching her on and off the screen make my blood boil?
I shake my head, trying to reason with myself. I’m not going insane. I’m not into this chick. I’m only agitated because nothing adds up.
My attention goes to Willow when her phone vibrates again. It’s been going off for the past ten minutes. I lean over to whisper to her. “You better answer that. It sounds important.”
“Fuck,” she moans, roughly dragging the phone from her purse. “Who the hell keeps blowing me up? Everyone knows I’m here.” She encloses her hand around the screen to block out the bright light while unlocking it.
She gets my attention again at the sound of her whimpering. Her hand is shaking as she types out a reply.
“Is everything okay?” I ask, even though I’m certain it’s not.
She keeps the screen covered but lowers her hand enough for me to read the text.
Mom: Brett got into a car accident. It’s bad. You need to come home ASAP.
“Brett is my boyfriend,” she trembles. “This isn’t good. I don’t know what to do.”
I give her a comforting look. “I think you need to go be with him.”
“What about Stella?”
I signal to the exit I’ve had scoped out since we walked in. “I’ll tell her what happened and help out in any way I can.”
She squeezes my arm. “Thank you. Thank you so much, Hudson. Watch over her, and I’ll do everything I can via cell phone and email until I figure out what’s going on. Don’t tell her until the movie is over, or she’ll freak out and try to come with me. That can’t happen.”
Chapter Seven
Stella
My chest is tight. My jaw is tight. My muscles are tight.
“I can’t believe you let me sit through the entire movie and didn’t tell me,” I scream at Hudson in a back hallway of the theater. He pulled me to the side a few minutes ago and broke the news about Brett. “I would’ve gone with her. Someone call me a car right now so I can go!”
Willow has always been my rock. She was there for me during my breakup with Knox and when my so-called friends decided to ditch me when I wasn’t good enough. I hate that I can’t be there with her to do the same.
“Your reaction is why we didn’t tell you,” Hudson answers. “She didn’t want you to get worked up like you are right now.”
That’s Willow – always putting my career on a pedestal before everything else. “Well excuse me for being in my feelings when a terrible thing has happened to my best friend!”
His face softens. “That’s not what I meant.”
I run a hand over my forehead. “We need to figure this out.”
“You make the call. If you want to fly to her, I’m game.”
I stiffen when arms wrap around my waist from behind me. “You ready to head out for the after party?” Eli asks. “They’re having it at this kick-ass exclusive club.” I peek back at him to see his face lit up in excitement.
Eli is a partier who goes through money and women like they’re nothing, which is why they pressured me into playing his girlfriend. I’m looked at as a role model. I’m the childhood star who didn’t start doing drugs or go wild. I was the perfect solution to his bad boy image.
I pull away from him and try to look disappointed. “Unfortunately, I have to bail. Willow’s boyfriend got into a serious car accident, so I need to go be with her.”
“That won’t be happening, Stella.” My heart races, and I groan at the sound of the high-strung voice that belongs to Tillie Armstrong - the pain in my ass with a stick up her ass who always seems to hit a nerve. She stops in front of me clad in a purple dress with her honey blonde hair straightened to her shoulders. “You signed an agreement when you were given this part. In that agreement, you are contractually obligated to attend every scheduled premiere with Eli as well as any after-parties. In case you forgot, you signed the dotted line and must adhere to your obligations.”
She’s the bitch … I mean the publicist of the production company that shot the movie and likes to remind me I’m contractually obligated to be their bitch until my cut-off date. She always seems to be lurking around ready to dispute every decision I make.
Contractually obligated makes up ninety percent of her vocabulary. I’m sure she says it in her sleep.
I’m contractually obligated to kiss Eli, act like I’m screwing him, and declare him the love of my life. I’m contractually obligated to not date or hang around with any other men. I’m sure they would’ve tried to throw in a clause where I’d have to carry his babies if they thought they could get away with it.
I wish I were contractually obligated to stick my stiletto up her ass.
“It’s a family emergency,” Hudson cuts in, confusion laced on his face.
Tillie gives him an annoyed look. “I don’t know who you are, nor do I care, but you’re wrong. It’s not a family emergency. It’s someone else’s family emergency. No relation. No excuses.”
Hudson holds out his hand, his jaw clenching. “Then allow me to introduce myself. I’m Hudson, Stella’s bodyguard. Now you know who I am.”
I bite into my lip and stare at him, loving how he’s standing up to her.
“Pleasure,” Tillie says, not bothering to shake his hand or introduce herself.
Hudson doesn’t let her attitude stop him. He jerks his hand over to gesture to me. “You’re going to make her stay here and do this shit when you can see wants to leave and be there for her friend?”
“You must not understand contracts, Henry.” She looks over at me. “Show up at that party, or you’ll be reaping the consequences.”
“You must not have heard me. It’s Hudson,” he corrects.
Tillie snarls her lip. She’s not used to people going to battle with her.
“Can’t she miss one party?” Eli asks before Tillie decides to claw Hudson’s eyes out. “I’ll go with her to see Willow. It’ll make me look like a supportive boyfriend.”
She minutely shakes her head. “Neither one of you are going anywhere but that club. Period. This conversation is over.” She gives us one last sharp look and leaves.
I fiddle with my bracelet. “Thanks for having my back and trying,” I say to the guys, giving them a forced smile. I’m filled with devastation but trying to keep my cool. I’m an actress. I can do this.
Eli squeezes my shoulders in apology. “I’m sorry, babe. I’ll do my best to get us out as early as we can, if that helps.”
I nod. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
“Now I need to go find my manager and let him know what’s going on.” He squeezes my shoulders one last time and disappears.
“Who the fuck was that hag?” Hudson asks.
“That’s the woman who holds my future in her hands and uses it as leverage anytime I don’t do what she wants.” I drop my arms at my sides. “She’s the reason they gave me this role.”
“Fuck her. That’s bullshit.” He stops to pull his phone from his pocket when it chimes. “It’s Willow. She has fifteen minutes before her flight takes off if you want to call her?”
“I left my phone in the room.” I can feel the tears start to swell up in my eyes.
“Good thing I’m here.”
He hands me his phone, and I immediately hit Willow’s name. She’s sobbing when she answers. It hurts. I ask her over and over again if she wants me to come with her, but she isn’t having it. She knows the hell Tillie will put me through if I bail. I make her promise to call or text me as soon as she lands and to keep me updated before we hang up.
“She good?” Hudson asks.
“As good as she can be,” I answer. “Brett is in ICU, and they’re saying his chances aren’t looking good. She said her mom told her that word is going around that he was wasted and drove right through a stop sign.”
“Fucking dumbass. How do they know he was drunk already?”
“There was a half-empty bottle of vodka sitting in his passenger seat. They took blood for toxicology, but the results haven’t come in yet.”
“Oh shit. Poor Willow.”
“That’s not even the worst part.” His brows snap together. “The car he hit was a mini-van with a family of four inside. They’re not sure if one of the children is going to survive. Her mom said the hospital and town are in an uproar and people want to make sure Brett goes down for this if he makes it.”
Make Me Yours Page 4