Hollywood & Vine

by Olivia Evans

  Aubrey dragged her finger along the surface of his vanity and nodded. “Yes, as I said, I’m sure you had those needs taken care of this weekend.”

  Anders stiffened. “What are you talking about?”

  “The pictures, Anders. The pictures of you and Owen out on the town this weekend. It’s nice to know you’re so fond of blondes.”

  “I wasn’t with any blonde this weekend.”

  “Well, the pictures of that girl straddling your lap say otherwise.”

  “Fuck.” Anders reached for his phone. He wondered if Josie had seen them. His shoulders slumped and his eyes fell shut when he realized he never told her about going out with Owen.

  “Exactly. How do you think those pictures make me look?”

  “You? What the fuck do you have to do with anything?” The only person he was worried about was Josie and the fight they were going to have because―yet again―she was going to be pissed.

  “Excuse me? We’re supposed to be dating. Your little romp with that slut makes me look like a fool. I didn’t sign up for that.”

  Anders’ eyes flashed, a dark look crossing his face as he stood. She was worried about how she would appear in public, how his actions made her look. A memory of Eva draped over his arm and smiling for the cameras flashed in his mind. It made his chest tighten and his fists clench. “I didn’t want to do this shit in the first place, but I didn’t have a choice, did I?”

  Aubrey cocked her head to the side and smiled. It was small and calculating. “What’s the big deal? It’s not like you’re dating someone for real, and until this very moment, I thought you were just playing hard to get. Maybe I was wrong and there’s more to your avoidance than I’d realized.”

  Aubrey was the picture of calm on the outside, but on the inside jealousy burned through her veins like poison. She hated being stuck in Italy for months, filming a movie she didn’t care about. She wanted to be in LA with Anders so she could do what she wanted to for over a year: Tame him. Claim him.

  Anders’ breath stilled as anxiety slithered up his spine. His anger faded as his old friend, fear, wrapped its hands around his throat and squeezed. His relationship with Josie had changed, shifted. He knew that. Just the same, fear was seldom rational, and years of building walls and molding himself into someone who would never be hurt again wasn’t going to change overnight. Falling into the person he’d become, though, feeling nothing but apathy for anyone other than himself...that was as easy as breathing.

  “I think the pictures should prove to you that I’m not attached to anyone, Aubrey. Come on,” he chastised, “you know better. Now, what can I do to make up for those pictures?”

  Aubrey dragged her tongue over her lower lip and stepped closer. “We need to be seen together. That will overshadow some shitty trash mag’s picture of you with that slut.”

  Anders’ jaw ticked, but he kept a smile on his face. It didn’t go unnoticed that she didn’t ask him to fuck her. She asked to be seen in public. And even though he had no idea what he would’ve done had she asked, at least then he would have felt less used. He thought of Josie. Even though she hated hiding, it was different. She didn’t want to go out to put on a show. His stomach twisted when he remembered the pictures again. He needed to tell Josie what had happened before she drew her own conclusions. He needed to get Aubrey out of his face.

  “When?”

  “I’ll text you?”

  “Awesome. I’ve got something I need to do. I’ll see you back on set.” Not waiting for her reply, he crossed the room and walked out the door. He grabbed his phone and called Josie.

  “Hey, you.”

  “Where are you?”

  “In Craig’s office,” she replied, her words slow and measured.

  “You alone?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’ll be right there.” He was relieved she didn’t sound angry.

  Josie straightened the papers in front of her and eyed the door. Anders sounded on edge, agitated, and nothing good ever came from that. Something had happened, and she was certain she wasn’t going to like it.

  As soon as he stepped through the door, his stance confirmed her thoughts. “What’s the matter?”

  “I kinda fucked up.” He chuckled, raking a hand through his hair and falling into the chair across from her.

  Josie lifted her brow. “Oh? How so?”

  “The night you went out with Madison…,” he trailed off, prolonging the inevitable.

  “Yeah?”

  “I might have forgotten to tell you that I’d been out with Owen when you texted.”

  Josie’s stomach bottomed out and her face smoothed. “And why are telling me now?”

  “I wasn’t trying to hide it from you.” His tone was defensive, his posture rigid.

  “Anders, we were together all weekend. You had a million opportunities to tell me.”

  He sat back in the chair and smirked. “Really? Should I have told you while you were puking your guts out? Or how about the next morning when you were hungover and hiding me from your brother? I guess with all that excitement, it slipped my mind.”

  Josie’s faced heated with embarrassment and anger. “Oh my God, you’re an asshole. It’s one thing to be like, ‘Oh hey, remember that one time you threw up because you were drunk? That was great.’ It’s another thing to use it to deflect being a jerk and keeping shit from me. Obviously whatever you did that night is going to piss me off, so just spit it out already.”

  Anders wanted to argue, but he knew she was right. Pulling in a deep breath, he told her about going to the bar. How he’d wanted to relax and hang out. How he’d signed autographs for fans and had been getting ready to leave when a drunk girl fell into his lap and kissed him.

  Josie tried to mask her emotions, but the tremble in her voice gave her away. “She kissed you on the mouth?”

  Anders was out of his seat and around the desk before she even finished speaking. “Ivy, it was less than two seconds. I swear. She fell in my lap and kissed me at the same time. I pushed her off and was out of there right after.” He cupped her jaw and tilted her face until they were eye level. “I just wanted to see you. You have to know that much at least. Come on, Ivy, you know that, right?”

  Josie let out a heavy breath and dipped her chin. “Yeah.”

  “Hey.” He hooked his finger under her chin and tugged until their eyes met. “Come over tonight. We can have a Honey Boo Boo marathon. We can even order some fried chicken and cornbread. Get the whole experience.”

  Josie smiled, her eyes pinching at the corners. Her pulse fluttered when his smile matched hers. These were the moments that made her heart race and set her body on fire, the unguarded moments when everything between them felt like more. “Will you drink Budweiser and stick your hand down your pants?”

  “I’ll stick my hand down your pants.” He laughed, kissing her before standing. “I have to get back.” Anders hesitated and shifted his weight. Squaring his shoulders, he shoved his hand into his pocket and pulled out his keys. Twisting his house key off the ring, he stared at it for a second, wondering if he’d lost his mind, before handing it to her. He’d get it back. He was just making things easier for tonight. That was all.

  Josie stared at the key like it might bite her. She lifted her eyes to Anders’, her expression a mix of shock and curiosity. “Um…”

  “I don’t know if I’ll be running late. You can let yourself in. You still have the codes I texted you, right?”

  Josie reached out tentatively and pulled the key from his fingers. “Yeah.”

  “I’ll see you later?” He walked backward as he spoke, a small smile on his lips.

  “Yeah.” Josie’s expression was dazed and unsure, like she was waiting for aliens to land and give her back the Anders who barged into the room minutes earlier.

  Anders chuckled and reached behind him to open the door. “Bye, Ivy.”

  She smiled. “Bye, asshole.”

  His laugh echoed down the hall. />
  Josie spent the rest of the day with a smile on her face. He was trying. He sucked at it, but he was trying nonetheless. Besides, nothing said I like you like offering to have a Honey Boo Boo marathon.

  She took a little extra time getting ready that afternoon. She even conned Holden into making her a pan of cornbread to go with the fried chicken she’d decided to pick up on her way over. It was strange being in his house alone, but at the same time, the enormity of the gesture was unmistakable. He was slowly starting to trust her; he was letting her in. She felt like she was beginning to matter to him, that it wasn’t only her that felt things changing, which was weird considering earlier she was preparing herself for the worst. Maybe in their own ways, they were both messed up.

  Anders groaned as the director changed the scene again. They’d shot eight different takes so far, and nothing seemed to please him. He yelled for them to take five while he spoke with the lighting crew. Anders moved to the edge of the set and pulled out his phone to text Josie that he was going to be late when Clarence and Aubrey appeared in front of him.

  “Anders, having a rough night?” Clarence’s smile was indulgent and patronizing.

  “Nope. Things are perfect. It’s a beautiful thing watching the director learn the difference between his ass and a hole in the ground.”

  “Pleasant as ever,” Clarence murmured, a fake smile stretched across his face. “Here.” He handed Anders a slip of paper.

  “What’s this?”

  “It’s reservations for your dinner tonight with Aubrey. We need to do some damage control after your weekend exploits.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “We’ve arranged your first date with Aubrey. It’s tonight. We can’t afford to wait after those pictures.”

  Anders’ jaw clenched. “I have plans tonight.”

  “Oh?” Aubrey challenged. “Hot date?”

  Anders glared at her then looked to Clarence, who watched with a bemused expression.

  “Then cancel. This is important, Anders, and you did agree to this, after all.”

  Anders nodded. He didn’t want to cancel on Josie, but he didn’t have a choice. With a resigned sigh he excused himself and pulled out his phone.

  Josie chewed on a piece of cornbread, her socked feet tucked under her and a blanket draped over her lap as she flipped through the channels. She reached absently for her phone when it buzzed, her eyes still glued to the television. When she looked down, her good mood vanished.

  I can’t make it for dinner. They’re making me go out with Aubrey. Wait for me?

  Irrational or not, she felt second best, discarded and unimportant. She turned off the television before cleaning up her mess and putting away the food she’d brought. Slipping out the front door, she drove to her house in silence. She didn’t want to sit at his house and wait for him knowing he was on a date. Something burned in her chest, something that made her heart hurt, and she wondered if she was right to try to put up her own walls to protect her heart. Pulling out her phone, she fought back tears as she typed out a reply.

  Rain check.

  She dropped her phone to her side and let out a heavy breath. Her emotions were swinging from one extreme to the other, but the one thing that remained constant was the burning question bombarding her mind. Could she really do this?

  “You’re not going home to change?” Aubrey grinned and pulled her purse strap over her shoulder. “Eager are we?”

  “No, I’m not going home to change, and neither are you. The sooner we go, the sooner this can be over.” Anders looked at his phone again. He still hadn’t received a reply from Josie, and with every passing second his unease grew. He thought about what Madison had said, how Josie wouldn’t put up with this kind of thing forever. He wondered just how many more apologies she would allow him.

  “Anders, honey, I get that you’re an asshole to the world. I find it rather endearing to be honest. That being said, can you cut me a little slack? Let’s have dinner, make fun of all the people whose careers have turned into utter shit, and just enjoy each other’s company.”

  “I don’t like being told what to do. I agreed to this for the sake of the movie, and I get why the studio is pushing it, but if I could go back to that day, I’d tell all of you to go fuck yourselves.” Anders walked to the car and climbed into the back seat, not bothering to wait for Aubrey.

  The ride to the restaurant was quiet. Aubrey touched up her makeup while Anders kept his phone clutched in his hand. Just before the car pulled to a stop, his phone alerted him of a new message. With a sigh he unlocked the screen.

  Rain check.

  “Fuck,” he swore under his breath. Her response didn’t tell him anything other than she wouldn’t be waiting for him. He didn’t know if that was a good or bad thing.

  “You ready?” Aubrey smiled.

  Anders nodded. He needed to get his head in the game. The cameras were rolling, and it was time to put on a show. “As I’ll ever be.”

  When they stepped out of the car, the paparazzi bombarded them. They shouted questions about Anders’ weekend out. They yelled for a pose, for the status of their relationship, all the questions Anders expected but hated nonetheless.

  He wrapped his arm around Aubrey’s waist and pulled her against his side. He kept his head down but a small, secret smile could be seen on his lips. His goal was to leave them wondering what his smile meant.

  Over the shouts and whistles, a voice rang out that made Aubrey grin and Anders’ steps falter. “Can we expect you to be less of an asshole now that you have a good woman?”

  Anders’ gaze burned through the crowd. His grip tightened around Aubrey, and his jaw ticked with anger. He knew that voice. He hated that voice. Aubrey tugged on Anders’ shirt and looked at him, concern etched in her features. She lifted her hand and brushed her fingers along his jawline. “Are you okay?”

  Anders grabbed her hand and pulled it away from his face, then nodded. “Yeah. I’m fine. Let’s get inside.”

  Aubrey grinned as the hostess pulled open the door, her eyes finding Levi just before she stepped inside. He gave her a quick wink then disappeared into the crowd. He got his shot.

  Anders felt everyone’s eyes on them the moment they walked through the door, so he did what he needed to. He shut down and gave them the performance they wanted.

  “So tell me about your parents.” Aubrey smiled as she stared at him expectantly.

  Anders chuckled and took a sip from his glass of whiskey. “Now, Aubrey,” he chastised with a grin, “I don’t talk about things like that with just anyone.”

  She pouted. “You could talk to me. I’m not the bad guy. I understand what it’s like to be in this business. People on the outside don’t understand, but everyone needs someone to confide in. I could be that person for you.”

  Anders couldn’t help but think about Josie. He wanted to question why Aubrey would bring up outsiders, but he had the sinking feeling she was fishing. He wasn’t giving her bait. Instead, he covered her hand with his and squeezed. “Thanks. I realize I’ve been a bit…difficult lately, but I just have a lot going on right now.”

  Aubrey blinked in surprise. She wasn’t expecting that response, and it stunned her into silence. Anders, never one to miss the opportunity, took advantage.

  “Tell me about Italy.”

  Aubrey’s answering smile was genuine. She didn’t mind that he’d steered the conversation away from himself. She was just pleased he was attempting to have a real conversation. If he would give her a chance, he’d see how perfect they were for each other.

  What Aubrey didn’t realize was that Anders wasn’t listening to a word she was saying. Nor did he care. He smiled when she did, laughed when she paused, and nodded in agreement when she gave him a questioning look. To the casual observer, Aubrey and Anders were very much enjoying each other’s company. The buzz spread through the fingertips of every person in the restaurant, with not-so-discreet attempts to snap a photo and whispered phone conver
sations with friends.

  As they exited the restaurant, Aubrey looped her hand around Anders’ bicep and leaned into his side. “See?” she whispered with a coy smile. “That wasn’t so bad was it?”

  Anders grinned as he considered the five Jack and Cokes he’d drank to make the evening bearable. “Nope. Not bad at all.”

  Aubrey laughed as she climbed into the back of the SUV. She looked back in time to catch Anders’ eyes lingering on her ass. She smirked when their eyes met, and he shrugged, his face unapologetic. “Do you want to come to my place for a nightcap?”

  Anders shifted in his seat, flicking his eyes to the driver, who was heading in the direction of what Anders assumed was Aubrey’s house. He might be relaxed, and a little buzzed, but he wasn’t brain-dead. There wasn’t a worse idea in the world than him going to Aubrey Nash’s house.

  “Maybe next time?” His grin was salacious, his expression full of promises he had no intention of keeping.

  “Fine.” Aubrey pursed her lips into a pout and nodded as the car pulled into her drive, but she wasn’t giving up. “At least walk me to my door.”

  Anders rolled his eyes and pushed open the door. “Of course.” It would be less of a headache to just walk her to the door than to argue.

  Aubrey dipped her chin and peeked up at Anders as they stood at her front door. “I know things started out a little strained, but I had a good time tonight.”

  “Yup.”

  Anders moved to step back, but Aubrey caught his hand. She pressed the palm of her other hand flat against his chest and leaned into him. “Are you sure I can’t change your mind?”

  For a moment Anders hesitated. His pulse accelerated from the soft feel of her body lined up with his. He could have her naked and clawing her nails down his back in less than five minutes, but he didn’t want her.

  Aubrey read his hesitation as something else. Before he could react, she kissed him. Anders’ eyes widened in surprise, both from the unexpected kiss and her hand sliding down his chest and palming his dick. “What the fuck?” he sputtered, wrapping his hand around her wrist and shoving her back.