Hollywood & Vine

by Olivia Evans

  “Why don’t you let Levi take you home? I’ll bring your car to you in the morning.”

  “I only had one drink,” Madison interjected. “I can drive her car and you can stop by and pick me up. We have some work stuff we need to discuss anyway.”

  Holden started to protest, but whatever look Madison gave him shut him up. “Okay. I have a few things to wrap up then I’ll be on my way.”

  After exchanging goodbyes, Josie and Madison climbed into her car and headed home. Not bothering to beat around the bush, Josie told her about the text. Madison suggested he was drunk, but Josie disagreed. If Anders had been drunk, he would have either been an asshole or said something inappropriate.

  Josie mentioned the timing and her theory that maybe it had something to do with Levi, but Madison reminded her of the last time Anders had found out she’d been with Levi. Both agreed that sending a text about Honey Boo Boo would be the last thing he’d do. When Madison left an hour later, Josie wasn’t any closer to understanding the meaning behind his bizarre text.

  As she lay in bed that night, she tapped the side of her phone against her forehead. While time hadn’t lessened her feelings for him, it had diluted her anger. Or maybe it was the combination of his message with the wine she drank. No matter the reason, she was definitely curious to see what he would do if she responded.

  It felt like a chess match, but a wrong move wouldn’t get her knocked off the board; it would explode right in her face. The realization made her heart race. However messed up it seemed, the constant push and pull between them ignited something inside her. Like a moth to a flame, she was drawn to something that could destroy her. Squeezing her eyes shut, she berated herself. This wasn’t a game, but even after everything, she still loved him.

  With a resigned sigh, she did what she’d wanted to do the moment he texted. Opening his message, she brushed her thumb over the screen and thought of a response. She realized she had no idea what to say. Indecision crept over her once more. He wasn’t going to change. Prolonging their involvement would make the healing process that much more painful.

  A tear slipped from the corner of her eye as she slammed her phone against the mattress. Rolling away from her phone, she wrapped her arms around her pillow and buried her face in the soft material. Her shoulders shook and her breaths stuttered as silent tears soaked into the fabric. When she succumbed to the mercy of sleep, her head and her heart were still at war.

  It was several days later, while Josie and Madison had a late lunch, when her phone alerted her of a new message. Josie’s eyes darted to Madison, who watched her with cautious eyes and a small smile. Josie huffed and grabbed her phone from her bag. “It’s probably Craig,” she mumbled. It wasn’t.

  Mama June is a fox.

  Just like last time, her laugh was abrupt, loud, and uncontrollable. Before she even realized what she was doing, she typed out a reply.

  Hate to burst your bubble, but Mama June is taken. I wouldn’t mess with Sugar Bear.

  “Did you just text him back?” Madison’s smile had turned into a smirk and her eyes danced with amusement as Josie blanched.

  “Fuck.”

  “Must have been some text.”

  Josie lifted her gaze to Madison’s, her eyes still glassy from laughter-induced tears. “I think he’s lost his mind. Right now, I can’t decide if that’s a good thing or a bad one.”

  Before Madison could respond, Josie’s phone beeped again.

  You’re joking. I’m crushed. Now I have to cancel the plans to build Chicken Nugget’s pen in the backyard. Sugar Bear wins this round.

  “Oh my God,” Josie giggled. “Maddie, I think the heat has broken him.” She passed her phone to Madison, who began laughing as soon as she read his messages.

  “Who knew the biggest asshole in Hollywood could have a sense of humor?”

  Josie’s face fell as she reached for her phone. “I did,” she murmured, her gaze dropping to the table as she slid her phone into her bag.

  “I’m sorry, Josie.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “It’s okay. You’re right. He is an asshole. I shouldn’t have texted him back.”

  Madison let her eyes drift shut as she exhaled. “I want to ask you something,” Madison began. “I don’t want you to think about your answer, just say the first thing that comes to mind, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “Do you love him?”

  “Yes,” Josie croaked without a second’s hesitation.

  “Can you give him another chance if that’s what he’s after?”

  “I don’t know.”

  With a deep breath, Madison leaned forward and grabbed Josie’s hand. “Will you hate yourself if you don’t find out?”

  Josie dropped her head to her chest. “Probably,” she whispered. “But I can’t imagine it would be any worse than how much I’d hate myself if I gave him another chance and he broke my heart all over again.”

  “But that’s life. That’s what it’s all about. Taking risks. Living and learning. You can’t go back to how you were before. You can’t shut yourself off because it’s easier, safer. Don’t deprive yourself of the chance to have it all. It would be such a waste.”

  Josie nodded. “I hear what you’re saying. It’s just easier said than done.”

  “Isn’t everything?”

  Madison was right, but Josie wasn’t going to throw herself to the wolves. Anders’ motives were still unclear, and until he decided to lay all his cards on the table, she wouldn’t either.

  A part of her expected him to lose interest. The idea of someone as aggressive and demanding as Anders being content exchanging superficial text messages was laughable. However, much to her surprise, the texts didn’t stop. Every couple of days her phone would beep with a new message.

  The content for the first several weeks stayed impersonal and random. He’d tell her about a television show he’d watched or a script he’d read. It terrified her how easy it was to fall back into their snarky banter and even more so when she realized how much she’d missed it.

  After the first month, the content became more personal. He told her things about his childhood, his first dog, and the time a kid beat him up on the playground. She found it harder and harder to refrain from asking questions or poking fun at him. He revealed things he guarded fiercely before, endearing himself to her in an entirely different way. It was almost like seeing a different person altogether. She was falling in love with him all over again.

  She tried to hide her inner turmoil, but Madison and Holden noticed. When he pressed the issue over dinner one night, she told him she was working out some personal issues that were not up for discussion.

  Madison told Josie he’d prodded her for answers, asking if she and Anders were seeing each other again. Madison also informed her that she’d overheard Holden complaining to Levi about it one night. To their surprise, however, Levi remained silent on the subject.

  It was no secret to Josie that Levi felt the same as Holden, so his neutral stance earned him a bit of favor. When they all hung out again, she wasn’t quite as distant, and over time they even formed a tentative friendship. Still, the strain of everything that happened in her life since splitting with Anders had taken its toll.

  As she loaded boxes full of costumes onto a dolly, she wondered if a trip to visit her parents would do her good. Maybe a change of pace and scenery would reenergize her. She was mentally and physically exhausted.

  She dug her phone out of her bag when it beeped, thankful for the interruption as she wiped the sweat from her forehead. It was a text from Anders, of course. The frequency with which he contacted her had increased over the past several days. His messages had also become more engaging. This one was no different.

  Guess what I found under my bed today?

  She chuckled as she replied.

  The more pressing question is what were you doing under your bed in the first place?

  “Hey, are you about done?” Madison asked, st
epping into the room and pulling Josie’s attention from her phone.

  Josie nodded and shoved her phone in her back pocket. “Yeah. This is the last box.”

  “Thank God. Let’s get a drink.”

  “Will you take these to the storage room? I need to grab a couple of things from my desk.”

  “Sure. I’ll meet you in the parking lot.”

  Josie’s phone buzzed again as she entered her department. Pulling it out of her pocket, she laughed at his message.

  Nathan’s house is being fumigated. He asked me to keep his demon cat who has taken up residence under my bed. He must hate this cat and hope I end up killing it. Why else would he leave her with me?

  Josie laughed again as she replied.

  Maybe you’re going soft.

  It took mere seconds for him to reply.

  Did you really just go there? I’m trying to behave.

  Josie grabbed the folders on her desk and shoved them into her bag before walking down the hall and out the door.

  You don’t know the meaning of behaving.

  When Josie looked up from her phone, she noticed Madison leaning against the side of her car with a smirk on her face. “Don’t start,” Josie chided.

  “I didn’t say a word! Yet…,” she added with a grin.

  “Get in the car before I leave you behind.”

  “Well, go ahead and look at his text before it drives you crazy.” Madison fastened her seatbelt then studied her nails. Josie scowled at her before looking at her phone.

  I do now. I Googled it. Looks pretty boring if I’m being honest.

  Josie muttered something about needing medication as she tossed her phone in the cup holder and drove to Holden’s restaurant.

  “Do you think Levi’s here?” Madison asked, pulling open the door.

  “Is Philip working? Because if so, then no. Hell no.”

  Madison rolled her eyes. “He needs to pull that baguette out of his ass and chill out.”

  Josie nodded as she slid into a booth in the lounge. “I don’t know why he’s so jealous of Levi. It’s not like we’re dating. We’re friends. And barely at that.”

  “I don’t think it’s just about you. Maybe he feels Levi has taken his place as Holden’s friend. Those two were close before Holden met Levi.”

  “And Levi made his restaurant the hottest spot in LA overnight,” Josie added with a wry smile.

  “Well, yes. There’s that too.”

  They’d just finished their second round of drinks and ordered dinner when Levi appeared at the end of their booth. “Room for one more?”

  Josie and Madison eyed each other for a brief second, but before either could speak, he laughed and nudged Madison’s leg with his foot. “Scoot over. Philip is working. I don’t want him to spit in my food for sitting next to Josie.”

  Both girls laughed but neither argued. Waving down their server, Levi ordered another round of drinks and an appetizer. While he and Madison chatted, Josie reached into her bag and pulled out her phone. She’d never responded to Anders, and she was more than a little curious about what he’d found under his bed. Setting her phone in her lap, she opened up his text.

  Are you going to tell me what you found or are you busy playing with your houseguest?

  Sipping her drink, she tried to follow the conversation on the other side of the table but her mind was a million miles away.

  Woman. You don’t play with this cat. You fend for your life. But demon cat aside, you owe me an apology.

  Josie almost choked on her drink when she read his text. It felt strange that her first reaction wasn’t anger, but curiosity.

  This is going to be good.

  The appetizer arrived a couple of minutes later, and the trio busied themselves filling their plates. Josie shifted in her seat, unable to stop her eyes from drifting to her lap every couple of seconds. She was about to make sure her text sent when the screen lit up.

  Do you remember how I used to threaten to throw your clothes in the trash because you left them all over the place?

  Josie’s throat tightened as she wiped her hand on the napkin beside her.

  Yes.

  And do you remember the time you looked everywhere for your purple bra then accused me of throwing it away?

  “No!” Josie whispered as she shook her head. She blinked repeatedly to clear her vision and the stinging in her eyes. This was the first time he’d mentioned something so personal between them, and the memory made her stomach flip. Her hands shook as she typed out a reply.

  Let me guess. It was under the bed?

  It was under the bed.

  Madison nudged Josie’s leg, causing Josie to snap her eyes away from her phone. “You okay?”

  “Yeah. I’m―” She stopped speaking when her phone vibrated.

  I miss you so fucking much, Ivy.

  The tears she worked so hard to keep at bay filled her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. Anders’ words, the use of her nickname, the memory of a happier time, it cut her wide open.

  “Actually no. I…I need to go.”

  Madison’s brows dipped in concern, but she didn’t press. “Okay. You’ll call if you need anything?”

  “Of course.” Josie wiped under her eyes and cut her gaze to Levi. “I’m sorry to rush out.”

  Levi lifted his hand and shook his head. “It’s fine. Is there anything you need? Can I drive you?”

  “No, but you can eat the dinner I ordered. No reason to let it go to waste.”

  “Okay.” Both Levi and Madison watched as Josie darted out of the restaurant before he slid out of the booth and moved to the other side.

  “Is she okay?”

  Madison drained the rest of her drink and sighed. “No, she isn’t.”

  Levi’s eyes widened at her omission but schooled his features. He’d grown to care about Josie, and Madison’s confirmation that something was wrong bothered him more than he expected.

  “Can you believe Josie’s never been in love?” Madison continued, her expression melancholy, her eyes distant.

  Levi’s face twisted with confusion. “Ever?”

  Taking a bite of food, she shook her head. “Well, not ever. But it took twenty-five years to happen.”

  The air suddenly felt heavy and stifling. “How old is Josie?”

  Madison lifted her gaze to Levi, a sad smile pulling at the side of her mouth. “She’s twenty-five. It worked out super for her, huh?”

  Levi sat in stunned silence as he processed Madison’s statement. “It couldn’t have been that much of a shock. She had to expect going after someone like Anders would end badly.”

  Madison set down her fork. When she looked Levi in the eye, he shifted in his seat. “You know what? I might regret telling you this, but I’d rather know now if you’ve changed or if your interest in Holden and Josie is about Anders after all. Josie didn’t go after Anders. She avoided him at every turn. He pursued her.”

  “She turned him down? Well that explains it.”

  “It explains why it started, but not why it continued.” Madison propped her elbows on the table. “Let me tell you what I think. Anders Ellis is the biggest jerk in Hollywood. He’s selfish and egotistical. I’m fairly certain he will always be those things to an extent, but Josie saw something good in him. She wanted to be with him in spite of his fame and all the bullshit that goes with it. And because of the way Josie affects people, she got to him as well. There are so many things people don’t know. If I’m being honest, I think they could’ve had a real shot. But after everything with Aubrey?” Madison shook her head and blew out a heavy breath.

  “How can you say he cares about Josie? He slept with Aubrey.” He knew it was a lie.

  “He did. Before they met. Did he do it again? I have my doubts. I’ve talked to Anders. I’ve seen the way he looks at Josie. He was wrong not to tell Josie, but I don’t believe he slept with Aubrey while they were together.”

  “Then why isn’t Josie with him?” Levi didn’t li
ke the direction of their conversation, but a sick part of him needed to know. He needed to hear that it was something other than his involvement that had caused their split.

  Madison shrugged. “Because he’s an asshole? Because something happened to him years ago that made him closed off and ruined his ability to trust people? Those are possibilities.”

  Levi didn’t miss Madison’s pointed glare that accompanied her last statement. “Then Aubrey didn’t have anything to do with their breakup. They wouldn’t have worked out anyway.”

  “No. I said those were possibilities. I think he was changing. If they’d been left alone, been able to remain hidden…” Madison twisted her hands in her hair and sighed. “But Aubrey ruined it. As confident as Josie is, every girl has her limit. Josie’s limit was seeing pictures of Anders doing the walk of shame from Aubrey’s.”

  Guilt twisted inside of Levi. Those pictures had been a set up. Just like every other picture taken of Anders and Aubrey. The entire thing had been done with careful planning and malicious intent. “If you’re so sure about him, why hasn’t he tried to fix things?”

  Madison tore her eyes away from Levi and smiled at Holden as he approached their table. Not taking her eyes off Holden, she said the words Levi dreaded. “Do you think it was the milkman texting her tonight? He’s been in contact with her for months. He hasn’t given up.”

  After exchanging hellos, Levi stayed as long as he could stand. He tried to follow the conversation, but all he could think about was Josie and the possibility that his interference had done more damage than he’d realized. It didn’t change the fact he still wanted to keep his mouth shut, but at some point Levi had grown a conscience.

  In the weeks that followed, Levi insinuated himself into Josie’s life. He hung out with Holden and showed up to any gathering where Josie was sure to be. To an outsider it would seem almost as if he were stalking her. In reality, he wanted proof that Madison was wrong. Instead, what he saw was Josie shoot down every guy who approached her and that was only when she tore herself away from her phone. The look on her face when the screen lit up was all the proof he needed. He felt like shit at how easy it was to see, and even sicker when he realized he had to right his wrongs.