by India Lee
“Most of those are signed jerseys and basketball stuff for Gavin. He asked me for them… several times,” Damian laughed, leaning over to kiss Gemma on the cheek. “But I didn’t forget about you, of course.” He paused. “Or your boy.”
Gemma giggled. “That’s sweet of you. Come on in.”
Damian stepped inside, admiring Gemma’s dress before he cared to look at the grand foyer of Tyler’s home. “You look beautiful, as usual,” he smiled.
Just then, Tyler joined them.
“Hey, Damian,” he called from the stairs. When he reached them, he discreetly squeezed Gemma’s backside before going in for the one-armed hug with Damian. “What’s up, dude, how are you doing?”
“Pretty good, thanks for having me over,” Damian said graciously, looking around. “This place looks really good.”
“Thanks.”
“We should warn you though, that Gavin’s probably gonna tear this house apart once he gets enough alcohol in him,” Damian laughed.
“‘We?’” Tyler cocked his head. “Oh. You and Gemma.” He blinked for a few seconds, a slight frown knit between his brows. “So you know Gavin?”
“Yeah, we were teammates in high school. I haven’t seen that kid in awhile though, so this is gonna be good,” Damian said, rubbing his hands together somewhat mischievously. “I’m gonna give him some grief about this second string position he’s got going on at ‘Cuse.” Gemma cackled.
“Please, feel totally free to do that,” she said. “I’m still mad at him for breaking it off with Leah.”
“I know! That was messed up.”
Gemma laughed, still able to find humor in the situation since Leah had texted her about quickly finding “the one straight guy at FIT to rebound with” following the breakup. As her laugh wound down, she suddenly noticed Tyler who stood beside them silently, looking for once awkward. She hastily wrapped her arm around his midsection, feeling suddenly guilty about how left out he was.
“So… why don’t we go grab some drinks?” she suggested. “I’m sure Gavin’s going to arrive at least tipsy, so we should definitely try to catch up to him.” Much to her relief, Tyler cracked a smile at her joke and the three of them headed into the kitchen.
~
“Oh shit, dude! Let me give you some love!”
Upon opening the front door for Gavin, Gemma felt him drop his luggage and bolt past both her and Tyler with open arms to embrace Damian. As the two laughed and hugged, Gemma glanced at Tyler with a nervous chuckle.
“He’s, um,” she scratched her head. “He’s pretty affectionate with his guy friends. You’ll find out.”
Gavin soon proved her right, prying himself away from Damian to greet Tyler with a bear hug. “My dude. It’s so good to finally meet you.”
Tyler laughed, seemingly relieved. “It’s good to meet you too. I’ve heard a lot of… entertaining stories about you while we were waiting for you to land.” Both Gemma and Damian laughed.
“Yeah. They’re all true,” Gavin nodded seriously. He brightened quickly. “Hey, well I’ve heard a ton of stories about you too, man! And I read a lot. On the way here. There were all these tabloids at the airport with you and Gemma on them. I bought every single one.”
Gemma frowned. “Oh no, Gavin. Those will destroy the last few brain cells you have left.”
“It’s a risk I’m willing to take. You have no idea how hilarious these things are.”
Over dinner and several bottles of Guinness, Gavin enlightened Gemma and Tyler on all the rumors he had studied up on during his plane ride over. They in turn humored him and let him know which ones were false, despite the fact that most of them were, and glaringly so.
“Okay, so Harper is not being a surrogate mom for you and Tyler. That’s kind of a bummer.” Gavin nodded gravely. “Well, what about this perfume story I read about?”
Gemma cocked an eyebrow. “Wow, you might’ve actually read one true story.”
“Yeah. Here.” Gavin reached into his jean pocket and pulled out a folded page from a tabloid, sparking laughter from everyone at the table. “I ripped it out because it had Damian’s face on it, and I’m going to hang it up on my fridge when I get back to Syracuse.”
“Creepy,” Gemma remarked.
“It says,” Gavin started, reading the article. “‘A close source claims that designer Thierry Marc is looking for a provocative photographer to capture the feel of the very steamy shoot featuring the strapping Damian Evans and sexy Queen Bee.’” Gavin folded the article back up. “And that’s where I stopped reading because I was offended that they called you ‘sexy’ and not Damian.”
As Damian laughed, Gemma glanced at Tyler. She couldn’t read his expression as he took a swig of his beer. “I don’t know where they’re getting ‘steamy’ from,” she said. “Because I haven’t heard anything about it yet.”
“We’ll just have to wait and see,” Damian said. “Should be fun though. That Rookies vs. Veterans shoot definitely was.” He smiled at Gemma, who managed a smile back before eyeing Tyler once again. His eyes were on Damian as his fingers drummed hard on the table. He opened his mouth to say something, but Gavin’s voice interrupted.
“I also read this story about you running out on a two thousand dollar bill at a Japanese restaurant,” he said to Gemma. She laughed bitterly.
“Ha! There are worse ones than that, to be honest.”
Gavin made a face. “That’s not good.” He glanced around the table, suddenly serious. “Yeah, Aunt Mira’s been updating me about all the… imposter stuff and psycho blogger stuff. Obsessed people are fucking creepy, but I guess I’m glad you have, you know… protection. Especially since I’m not around to beat bitches up for you anymore.”
Gemma glanced at Tyler with a proud smile. “Yeah, you don’t have to worry about me, Gavin. Not that much anyway.”
“I know,” Gavin smiled again. He looked at Damian, letting go a sigh of relief. “Who would’ve thought it’d work out this well, huh? I’m really so glad that you’re here for her.”
Gemma swallowed hard. Even Damian gave an awkward smile, avoiding Tyler’s eyes. Gemma did too, though she could feel his body tensing next to her. Suddenly realizing his gaffe, Gavin turned to Tyler. “And you too, man!” he said, trying to laugh. “I mean, that one’s a given. I’m glad you’re here for her, too. Totally.”
~
Standing in the middle of the hotel suite, Gemma gazed at Zoe while putting on her earrings. She pondered whether it had been too long since seeing her on television with Desiree to bring up the incident. If Zoe didn’t feel as if she had anything to explain, perhaps there really was nothing to explain. She was an actress doing publicity work – Gemma of all people could understand that. They were already talking, anyway. Having fun. It was as if they hadn’t missed a single beat in their friendship.
“Seriously, if there was any doubt about Perrin being a robot and not an actual human, this is our confirmation.” Zoe shook her head as she pulled on a sequin and jersey dress in front of the mirror. “How many people are on the guest list for tonight?”
“Over a thousand.” Gemma nodded seriously. In just two days, Perrin had hired a team to throw together a New Year’s Eve bash for Gemma to host alongside Tyler. The lavish event would be held at Bisou on Melrose, a place that Perrin no doubt chose for the name alone. It didn’t hurt that the venue was one of the most popular celebrity-owned hotspots in Hollywood. “She’s obsessed with the idea of me getting a kiss at midnight.”
“Aw, that’s actually kind of sweet.”
“No, she just really wants people to see how stable I am with Tyler now,” Gemma laughed. “I don’t think she actually cares about the romantic aspect.”
Zoe shrugged. “Whatever. As long as we get an excuse to party.” She frowned as she eyed her reflection. “Did you make up with Penelope yet? Because I need her to come upstairs and fix my eyeshadow.”
Gemma guffawed as she lay down on the plush bed in their hotel suite.
As requested, it was just herself and Zoe in the room. “Yes, we made up. But I’m still doing my own makeup. You can call her if you want, though.”
“Tsk, tsk.” Zoe shook her head. “You’re being a freak about this. People like Pen and Armand are a blessing – they’re so close to you that you don’t even have to tell them what you want anymore, they just read your mind.”
“That’s just as scary as it is good,” Gemma mumbled distractedly as she checked her mail on her phone. “Speaking of Armand though, did I show you the dress he sent me for the party?”
“Yes, you showed me the email with all the choices in it. I said go with the white one,” Zoe said, rubbing her eyeshadow off. “It’s epic.”
Gemma smiled, popping up to fetch the dress from the bedroom that had been designated as a closet. She emerged holding it to her body, twirling around the room for Zoe to see.
“Oh my God. I want that on my body now.” Zoe stared wide-eyed at the strapless, scallop beaded white dress. “You look so good in white, Bee, it’s sick. I don’t think anyone could pull that off the way you can.”
Gemma laughed as she pulled the dress on, examining it in the mirror. From afar, it looked like a simple but stunning white dress. Only up close would one be able to see just how unique and distinct the beading was. “A one-of-a-kind, so no one can upstage you – as if they could,” Armand had written in his email.
“Ew, I need to be elsewhere when Tyler sees you in that dress,” Zoe said, slipping her feet into her stilettos. “I would seriously hate to be your neighbors tonight.”
“If you’re implying what I think you’re implying, Tyler’s closest neighbors are still way too far away to hear any of that,” Gemma giggled, kicking her jeans off to get dressed.
“Well, va-va-voom. Nice undies, girl.” Zoe raised her eyebrows at Gemma’s raspberry lace lingerie. Gemma grinned and rolled her eyes, though she would be lying if she said that the La Perla set was coincidence – it had been highly premeditated. While shopping on Rodeo with Tyler last week, he had spotted that very set on a mannequin and purchased it immediately. “I need to see you in that,” he had whispered in her ear. Gemma figured that wearing it would provide the mood and confidence boost that she suspected Tyler needed since their strained night on Christmas Eve.
“Told ya,” Zoe said to Gemma as the two met Tyler and Damian in the hallway of the hotel.
“What?” Tyler asked, though his eyes stayed glued on Gemma, seemingly unable to look away. Gemma giggled. Even Damian had to do his best to pry his gaze off of her. He eventually caught her eye to give her a little smile and headshake before heading for the elevators.
“Yeah, I’m out of here, fools,” Zoe said. “I’ll ride with Damian and Nicki so you two can dry hump in the car.” Gemma laughed, though a decent part of her did want to just stay at the hotel and spend the evening with Tyler.
“It’s weird. I feel like I haven’t seen you in so long,” Tyler said, lifting Gemma’s legs onto his lap in the car. They sat close together in the back of the limo, taking up just one small corner of seating despite the abundant amount of space. He kept interrupting his own sentences to kiss her and run his hands along her legs.
“Silly, you see me all the time,” Gemma murmured.
“For work,” Tyler clarified. “I just want a full twenty-four hours with you. Alone. In our room at home.”
“Our room?” Gemma repeated, both amused and delighted.
“My room, I guess,” Tyler laughed. “Though it doesn’t feel like my room when you’re not there with me.” He kissed her, slipping his fingers into the neckline of her dress. “Let’s go back there now.”
Gemma giggled. “Except we’re hosting a party with over a thousand attendees in two minutes.”
“Oh yeah.”
Gemma pouted. “Aw, poor baby.” She held his face in her hands. He kissed her again, first on the lips on then on the forehead.
“I miss you,” he said.
Gemma cocked her head quizzically. “I’m right here,” she smiled. He only nodded in response, sitting up and kissing the top of her head as the car pulled up in front of Bisou. The cameras flashed through the windows and they both quickly made their way to the open door, holding hands as they stepped onto the vast red carpet.
~
Behind the balcony on which Tyler and Gemma were to kiss at midnight was a massive clock in lights, ticking down the seconds until the New Year. Gemma hoped that people would be too busy kissing their own boyfriends and girlfriends to really watch her lock lips with Tyler at the stroke of midnight. Aside from the strangeness of kissing right in front of the clock, Gemma also suspected that Tyler’s kiss would be too passionate and unrestrained for public viewing. His hand on her behind was already an indication as they toured the top floor of Bisou with the others.
“This whole floor is blocked off,” Perrin explained as she walked Gemma and Tyler towards the balcony. “All you have to do is go through this curtain here to get to the balcony. And this area is free for use for any of you,” she pointed at Zoe, Damian, Nicki and Elizabeth. “But once it’s midnight, you guys need to clear out for Tyler and Bee.”
Zoe frowned. “Womp, womp.”
Nicki laughed. “Yeah, so sad I can’t force a thousand people to watch me make out,” she said under her breath. While Elizabeth laughed, Gemma and Zoe narrowed their eyes at her before rolling them elsewhere. There were more important things to tend to than Nicki’s sarcasm. Within an hour, the club was filled to capacity. Gemma found herself mostly posing for pictures, flashing smiles with Zoe, Tyler and Damian.
“Bee, who are you wearing?” the reporters asked.
“This is a one-of-a-kind dress designed by my very good friend, Armand Jadot,” she answered proudly.
“Bee, how much money has your Kick Bullying charity raised?”
“Bee, any comment on the strange behavior you exhibited recently?”
The last question creased Gemma’s brows. She turned to the stocky reporter who asked it. His press credentials were flipped backwards, Gemma suspected because he worked for Pop Dinner.
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” she responded before turning to someone else.
“But there were photos of you,” the reporter persisted. Before Gemma could remind him that she had already released a statement about the strange photos from a few weeks ago, he continued. “From yesterday morning, while you were shopping on Rodeo.”
Gemma blinked with confusion. She hadn’t been anywhere on Rodeo the day before. “I was in my hotel room yesterday morning, so I think you’re confused,” she told the reporter.
“Oh, don’t try to backtrack, Bee! You can’t take those words back now,” the reporter smirked. “Hey, I don’t even blame you for what you said – I don’t like that girl either.”
“Who?”
“Desiree Silver.”
Gemma stared at the man in shock and utter disbelief. She hadn’t once said a negative word about Desiree Silver – at least not to the media. Just as she opened her mouth to ask another question, she felt herself being dragged away by a cold hold hand on her arm.
“I’m going to kill you, Bee, really,” Perrin said, grounding her teeth. “Pop Dinner. No talking. With. Pop Dinner. How many times – ”
“Perrin, did you hear what he said?” Gemma asked, words suddenly spilling out of her previously speechless mouth. “Did you see any video, Perrin? Of me, or someone who looked like me? Something about talking trash about Desiree Silver, I don’t know exactly what – ”
Perrin remained silent until she had dragged Gemma up the stairs and into a private room. She sat her down, standing before her with crossed arms. “I got the video removed already. It’s off their website.”
“You knew about it?” Gemma demanded.
“I did. Did you not?” Perrin asked.
“How could I have?”
Perrin shrugged, arms still crossed. “I don’t know, Bee. By being there.”
&
nbsp; Gemma felt her jaw drop. All this time, Perrin hadn’t believed her. Gemma wanted to rise to her feet and shout in her face, but she couldn’t muster up the strength to stand. If her own publicist didn’t believe that there was some impersonator out there, how could her fans? How could even her friends believe it? The possibility of everyone being completely fake to her brought tears to Gemma’s eyes. She hoped with all her heart that they knew it was someone else doing all those strange things,that they weren’t just smiling and nodding along with whatever she said.
“Perrin, I swear. I can swear on anything that none of those people were me,” Gemma finally managed to say through hiccups and tears. “I can’t believe you don’t believe me.”
Perrin sighed. “It doesn’t matter if I don’t. My job is to make sure the world does.” She heaved another sigh and put a hand on Gemma’s shoulder. “Stay up here for a bit. Come downstairs when you’re calm.” With that, she left the room. Gemma stared at the closed door, unsure if she should be surprised that those were the kindest words that Perrin could offer.
Gemma couldn’t help what she did next. She removed her phone from her clutch to quickly search for the video. It didn’t take long to locate it on Pop Dinner’s website. Indeed, it had been removed, but the comments remained. Gemma’s heart sank as she read them. “I can’t take her Desiree-bashing seriously when she’s just as much of a slut.” “lol please. why is she talking when she’s cheating on tyler chase?” “this jealous bitch.”
“What are you doing?”
Gemma snapped her head up to see Zoe peeking into the door. Gemma shut her phone off and shoved it back into her clutch. “Nothing. I’m coming back downstairs now.”
“Well, it’s almost midnight, you might as well stay and wait for Tyler,” Zoe said. She frowned, shutting the door behind her. “What’s wrong? Why are you hiding up here?” She tipped Gemma’s face up upon getting closer. “And crying. Why are you up here crying?” she asked incredulously. “What is going on with you, girl?”