“This is terrible,” said Grayson. His face was beyond panicked. “What are the headlines going to say? Grayson Edwards led off in a cop car!”
“Grayson, I’m so sorry,” I stated to apologize.
“Just give me a few minutes,” Grayson said. “I need to call Melissa, and my publicist and my agent.”
Grayson quickly got on damage control. I could tell he was extremely upset, and I could hear his agent screaming at him on the phone.
“How the hell did this happen?” Grayson’s agent screamed.
“My guest wanted to see Hollywood,” Grayson replied.
Oh boy, now I was just being referred to as his guest? I had made a serious mistake.
We got to Grayson’s car, and he jumped on his car phone and continued to make calls to anyone he could think of to get his side of the story out, which wasn’t much better. Once we got back, Grayson rushed into the house.
“Abby, I’m going to have to work for a while. Why don’t you go find Lisa?” he said in an unfamiliar and cold voice.
I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. I ran out to the pool to start searching for Lisa. I figured she would be outside enjoying the sun.
“Abby, what happened?” Lisa asked. “Melissa has been rushing around here like a crazy woman for over an hour.”
“I got him mobbed by a group of women,” I cried out. “He had to be rescued by the cops, and now it looks like he was arrested. It’s all over the internet already.”
“Slow down. How did you get him mobbed?” Lisa asked.
“I just wanted a nice picture of us so I had him take off his sunglasses and cap. My luck – it was just a big tour bus full of tourists pulled up.”
“That’s not your fault,” Lisa said, comforting me.” You wanted a picture with your boyfriend. What’s wrong with that?”
“He is so mad, Lisa. I’m not sure what to do. He didn’t say a word to me on the way home.”
“This will blow over, I promise,” Lisa said confidently. “Just hang out with me. Give him some time to cool off and let his people earn their money. You can apologize tonight on your date – even though I don’t think you have any reason too.”
“I’ll go put my suit on and join you.” I quietly crept back into the house. I could hear Grayson and Melissa in the kitchen. I peeked in to see what exactly was going on. TMZ had already picked up the story and had plenty of pictures of Grayson and me, but who actually cared about me, as Melissa put it. How had I screwed everything up in a day? I changed quickly and rejoined Lisa outside.
Lisa spent the day trying to cheer me up. All I could do was look forward to my date and hope we could have a lovely time and put this mess behind us. By mid afternoon, I was able to sneak back upstairs and get cleaned up for our date. I put on my sexiest sundress, which Lisa had picked out for me. Lisa even volunteered to help me with my hair and makeup. I looked stunning.
I went downstairs to find out where Grayson was, and I noticed that Holly and Patrick were over, trying to comfort Grayson and calm his nerves.
“I told you she would never fit into our world,” Holly said with a smirk.
“Grayson, why are you wasting your time and career on her?” Patrick added.
At this point, Grayson looked up and noticed that I had entered the room. He also noticed that I was dressed up. “We have had a change in plans,” he said. “The studio does not want me going out tonight.” He looked back at the computer again.
“Oh, okay,” I said, trying not to sound too disappointed. I didn’t want Grayson to see how upset I was, but I could feel the tears burning in my eyes again. I blinked them away as best I could. “Grayson, could I talk to you for a second?” I asked, knowing full well that this could be potentially bad for me.
Grayson followed me out into the hallway where he leaned up against the wall with his arms crossed across his chest. He gave me a cold, distant look: the look Scott had given Becky when he took off in Texas High. That was Grayson’s trademark Scott look: brooding disappointment. This was exceedingly bad – maybe worse that I thought. I shifted my weight and looked down at my hands. All I could do was apologize at this point.
“Grayson,” I started to say, “I’m genuinely sorry—”
“Abby, it was a rookie mistake,” he said, cutting me off. “LA is different from Wisconsin. I can’t go out in public here like I can there.”
“Honestly, I didn’t think anything would happen. If I thought people would have bothered you, I would have never asked you to take a picture with me. I just wanted to spend time with you.”
“Look I’m sorry that I’m so angry, but I now have the studio on my back and my agent calling me non-stop. God, even my mom called from London to see if I had been arrested. How would you like it if the world thought you had been arrested?”
“Gray—”
“Look, the studio thinks it would be best for me to spend the night at a hotel and just meet you at the MTV awards tomorrow.”
“No, Grayson, please don’t go! We only have one more day, and I want to spend as much time with you as I can. Please, can we just fix this?”
“Abby, this is part of my job. I know this seems fun to you, but I have to be focused on work tomorrow. Today has been such a distraction. The studio is right to want to keep the damage control on.”
“We can stay in. I’ll cook for you,” I offered. “It’s early yet. Stay for a while at least.” My eyes were pleading with him to stay. I just needed to be alone with him, and I knew that everyone around him was trying to get him to dump me. I needed to be doing my own damage control.
“OK, I’ll stay for dinner. You don’t have to cook though; I’ll send Melissa out for something. What would you like?” Grayson asked.
I could feel some of the tension had lifted from his voice. He uncrossed his arms and brushed my hair back.
“Whatever everyone else wants.” I did not want to be any more of a bother than I had been today.
“Well, Holly won’t eat anything but a salad tonight, and probably the same with Patrick. Is that okay with you and Lisa, or do you need real food?”
“No, that should be fine. I have a dress to fit into tomorrow too. At least, I hope you still want me to come.” I could tell my voice was still trembling. The thought had just crossed my mind that I may no longer be invited to the event.
“Yes, of course I want you to come. Abby, I’m sorry for how I acted today. You just have no idea the amount of crap I have to deal with.”
“We can deal with all the crap together,” I said. “Don’t shut me out when things get rough. Let me help you. I’m on your side.”
Grayson walked over and threw his arms around me. He held me tight for a few seconds. I looked up at his beautiful brown eyes, and he kissed me – a long passionate kiss. I could tell our connection had been re-established, and I started to feel the fear leave me.
“I have an idea. After this weekend is done, why don’t you come to Port and hang out for a while. I think a couple down days would be good for you. When do you start shooting again?”
“I do have a few days off next week,” Grayson said with a smile. “I’ll have to ask the director and see if she’s okay with me being gone until Wednesday or Thursday.”
“I love you, Grayson. Thank you.” I hugged him tightly. I just needed to feel that he was real again.
Grayson sent Melissa out for stuff to make salads with. He was holding my hand when we walked back over to Holly and Patrick.
“Looks like things are better,” said Holly with a smirk.
“I forget sometime how silly some of the crap we deal with is,” said Grayson. “Normal people don’t have to be yelled at by fifty different bosses when they screw up.”
“Grayson, we’re not normal people. Would you want a normal job?” Asked Patrick.
“Some days I wish I
had a normal job. I wish I could just walk the streets like everyone else, or go see a movie in a theater the weekend it comes out, or visit my New York or London apartment without teenage girls outside the gates,” said Grayson wishfully.
“In the real world, you wouldn’t have this great house, or get to travel, or have the cars you have,” added Patrick. I could tell he lived for this celebrity life.
“It was just a thought. I’m not giving up my career,” said Grayson. “I just wish it was the Hollywood of twenty years ago. Before TMZ and the paparazzi and all the crap we deal with now.”
We were all sitting around the kitchen table when Lisa came to join the group. She looked surprised to see Patrick and Holly over.
“Oh, they’re over again. Great,” Lisa said sarcastically as she sat down.
“We’re going to stay in tonight, per the studios request,” I said. “Melissa ran out to get some food.”
“Great, I’m starved.” She looked at me with concern.
I was sitting next to Grayson, so I snuggled against his arm to let her know we had talked, and things were okay now.
Melissa returned with a few groceries. We all ate and then decided to go enjoy the tranquil evening outside by the pool. I wondered how late everyone would stay. Grayson called his agent and explained that he would be staying at his house after all. The agent wasn’t very happy, but Grayson stood his ground and won that battle.
“Your view is incredible,” I said.
Grayson’s backyard opened out with a view of LA. You could see all the lights and the haze of the city, just like in movies.
“It’s not bad. Your view of the lake is much more relaxing,” he said as he walked over to me. He put his arm over my shoulder, and I relaxed my head onto it.
“Well, you have to walk a few blocks to see my view,” I teased. “I can’t wait for you to come back to Port.”
“Why would you want to go back to that backward state?” Patrick asked.
“If you’re not going to be nice, you can leave,” said Grayson.
“I’m just trying to understand, that’s all,” said Patrick.
“You think you’re a star in LA? Wait until you see how you’re treated there,” said Lisa, defending our home state. “You would be treated like a king by the girls of that backward state. Who do you think goes and sees your movies and buys your merchandise and worships you?”
Soon after that, Patrick and Holly left. Lisa excused herself, and finally Grayson and I were alone. This was all I had wanted all day.
That night, we snuggled together. I enjoyed his strong arms around me and the feel of him breathing while he slept. I knew I should get some sleep too, but the nerves would not let my brain settle down enough. Tomorrow, I needed to do everything right. I made mental notes of how I would stay back and out of the way. Melissa was right: this was Grayson’s night, and also a night for his fans to see him up close. The studio wanted him to seem single or with Holly, so I would be a good girlfriend and stand back in the shadows and not let it bother me.
Chapter 18
The next morning came, and I was surprised to be woken up by Melissa.
“Rise and shine,” she said and pulled the curtains back.
“What time is it?” I asked sleepily. I pulled the covers tight over me.
“About 10 a.m. Grayson went to work out with Patrick. He always does that before an event.”
“Why would he do that?” I asked, wondering why he would not want to sleep in since it was going to be a long day and night.
“It puts him in the zone and makes his muscles look amazing,” Melissa answered. “You need to get in the shower. Hair and makeup will be here by 11a.m. for you and Lisa. We need you to be dressed and out the door by 3 p.m.”
“That seems like a lot of time to me,” I answered.
“We only have one person for both of you. I figured with two hours apiece we will be good to make our 3 p.m. deadline. Oh, and Abby, no drama today. Studio execs will be at this event, and they are not very happy with Grayson bringing a date.”
I could tell Melissa would never let what happened yesterday go. I begrudgingly got up and got into the shower. I didn’t bother with my hair or makeup, since that would be done for me. I found a zip-up hoodie I had brought with me and went downstairs to find something to eat.
Grayson would be changing at a hotel before he came back to pick us up. He had left me a note and a box. I picked up the note. It simply said, “Enjoy your day – Grayson.” Inside the box was a diamond necklace. I looked at in awe. My jaw must have been open when Melissa walked in.
“That’s a loner. I will need it back by midnight tonight, understand?”
“Of course, I know,” I snapped back. Why did she feel a need to ruin my moments?
Soon the hair and makeup lady came over. I went first. I had never had someone do my makeup for me. I tried as best I could to control my flinches, and keep still, but I couldn’t stand having someone put something so close to my eye. She finally gave up and let me put on the eyeliner myself.
It took forever, but when I looked into the mirror after she was done, I didn’t recognize myself. She had done a phenomenal job. My cheekbones were so pronounced; I looked like I lost ten pounds. My eyes were also sexy and stunning. Maybe this is why most girls take an hour to put on makeup. If I could look like this every day, it might be worth putting in the extra time.
Next was hair. She went right to work, teasing my hair out before she pulled it up into a loose up-do. Melissa had joined us again to see my progress.
“We need to hurry and get you into the dress. I want to see if we need any last minute alterations done,” she barked.
I quickly put the dress on, and she helped me zip it up. She decided it needed to be taken in a tiny bit. I was surprised when she grabbed a needle and thread and sewed me into the dress. I guess assistants must have many different talents.
It was almost three. I quickly put on my shoes and grabbed the purse that had been provided to me. Melissa had done a terrific job of stocking it with the extra accessories I might need lipstick, powder, gum. I had just a second to admire myself before she rushed me downstairs to meet Grayson.
“Abby, you look amazing,” he said.
“Thank you. You look hot,” was all I could say back. He had on a dashing suit that was ultra-modern. The shirt showed off his magnificent body, which I would admit might look slightly better since he worked out earlier.
“Do you like the necklace?” Gray asked. He walked over to me to and admires the necklace himself, then put his arms around me and gently kissed my neck.
“None of that,” ordered Melissa. “You will mess her up, or she will wrinkle you. God forbid you get lipstick on your face or shirt. The studio would have fits if that happened.”
By this time, Lisa had joined us. She also looked stunning in a short black dress and bright-red high heel. Her hair was long and straight and almost sparkled in the light. She looked even sexier than she normally did.
“Wow, Lisa, you look great,” I said.
“Nobody will guess we’re farm girls tonight, will they? Patrick can eat his heart out,” she said.
All four of us piled into the limo. I noticed how professional Melissa looked. She had her hair pulled back and was wearing an elegant dress, but she still clenched her blackberry in one hand and was wearing her Bluetooth headset. She had our passes and a few random lists in her lap.
It took us almost an hour in LA traffic to make it to the event. I looked out the window and could not believe how large the crowd was. The city had closed down a road and built bleachers for the fans to sit in. Thousands of paparazzi were everywhere, taking pictures, and reporters lined the red carpet. Melissa handed out our passes as we pulled up.
“Okay, Grayson will be exiting the car alone, and we will join him in the auditorium,” Mel
issa said.
“That’s not the plan. She’ll come with me,” Grayson said.
“The studio thinks it’s better for Abby to join you inside. You have pictures with her just yesterday; the press will notice that she’s with you again and want to know why.”
“Well, then all four of us are getting out,” Grayson said.
“Grayson, that’s a bad idea.” Melissa was too late; the limo door opened and Grayson jumped out onto the red carpet. He gave a giant wave to his fans and then looked back at me and signaled for me to get out of the car.
I was too scared to look at Melissa, so I just jumped out and followed him. Lisa was right on my heels and, reluctantly, Melissa joined us. Quickly, Melissa pulled me and Lisa back into the shadows with her and everyone else’s assistants.
I could only watch Grayson. I was in awe of him walking the carpet like a professional movie star. He stopped every few feet to shake hands with fans and sign autographs and have a few pictures snapped. He was one of a few stars who reached through the police barrier to greet the young girls who had come to see him. He did a fantastic job of showing off his sexy smile.
He was joined at the end of the carpet by the rest of the cast of Texas High. He posed for a bunch of pictures with Holly and Patrick. When he carefully put his arm around Holly’s shoulder, the crowd cheered even louder for them. After the group poses, the cast was interviewed one-by-one by a series of reporters. We followed Grayson into the press tent. I was excited to get to see him work.
“Welcome, Grayson Edwards. What is it like to have all this attention?” the reporter asked.
“Tough, but I’m enjoying every moment of it,” Grayson said.
“Who are you wearing tonight?”
“Oh, I think Gucci – I’m not sure,” Grayson replied.
My Life With The Movie Star Page 11