by Ali Parker
I walked in and pointed toward her as the hostess glanced up. "I'm meeting a friend. She's already here."
"Awesome. Enjoy your meal."
"Thanks." I walked toward her and smiled as she stood and offered me a friendly hug.
"Hey. I'm so glad I get to see you." She held on a little longer than I would have expected.
"You okay?" I moved back, but didn't release her.
"I'm supposed to ask you that, silly girl." She nodded and sat back down. "I'm just trying to work through a few things right now. Between Ethan and Darren, I'm ready to crawl back in bed and just stay there."
"Uh oh." I pulled my napkin into my lap. "My best friend just called and told me about the news report on Ethan."
"I'm not surprised. The whole damn universe is talking about it."
"And what are they saying?" I sat back, feeling calm and collected. It was an odd sensation seeing that anything related to my career, Deza included, left me unraveled and nervous as hell.
"I'm sure they're judging him, thinking he's not the great guy that he is." She shrugged. "I don't know. I just want to protect him, but sometimes he makes it so fucking hard."
"Maybe he doesn't need your protection. He's twenty-four. He's a man, D." I tilted my head to the side and studied her. She was beautiful, but she didn't know it. Why she didn't was a mystery. "Maybe he just needs your love. I think you're the only one besides his wild-ass brother that he lets near him."
"You're right." She glanced down at her hands and back up, straightening her shoulders and changing her expression back to business. "Let's not talk about a bunch of trivial crap. Let's get you rolling on your coaching sessions and then we can chat."
"Sounds great." I picked up my menu as the server came over and quickly ordered two eggs and a piece of toast.
She ordered and pulled out a folder, extending it toward me. "I have several options for coaches that I think might be good for you. My top pick is Clayton Welms."
"Clayton Welms?" Goosebumps ran down my arms and legs. "Like, the Clayton Welms?"
She laughed. "Why did I think I would have to sell Clayton to you?"
"No clue. His face is all over the drama hall at UCLA. He's... he's a legend."
"Right, and he's always strict, demanding, a cocky bastard and hotter than sin. Ethan hates the guy, but they grew close a few years back and Clayton stabbed Ethan in the back." She let out a short sigh. "At least that's the way Ethan sees it."
"I don't even want to know what happened." I glanced down at the picture of Clayton. He was in his mid-thirties and far too old for me, but he was insanely dreamy. Dark hair and charcoal-colored eyes. I hadn't known a woman that didn't swoon over him. He was Ethan, less playful, more grown up. Solemn.
"So here are the others." She handed me a stack of folders. "We'll go with any of them that you want. We just need to know which you would be more comfortable around."
"I don't even have to look. Clayton would be my top pick." I handed them back, but kept his folder. "When do we start?"
"Excellent." She clapped her hands. "I'll call him today and see what his schedule looks like. I am hoping that he will be open for a Tuesday afternoon session. How does that work?"
"That's great. I have a few tests this week and my drama final on Friday afternoon, but other than that, I'm ready to start now."
"Awesome. He's going to be so good for you. Just don't ask Ethan his opinion."
"I won't. I seriously can't wait to meet him. I needed some good news." Sweat gathered in my palms and along my hairline as my pulse raced. Clayton Welms. I couldn't believe it.
"Finally... someone with some damn sense in their head." She laughed. "Oh, and we deposited your first check in the bank account you gave us. Make sure you check it and let me know that it got there."
"Perfect." I waited until the food was served to slip away to the bathroom. I had to check the account to see how much it was. My hands shook as I pulled up the app on my phone and checked it.
$28,485. I almost swallowed my tongue. Tears blurred my vision as I closed the bathroom door and sat down on the toilet, fully clothed. One week. If I'd had this money a week ago, would my mom still be alive? I couldn't help but think she would.
Chapter 14
Three Days Later
Ethan
The air had cleared a little between me and Deza by Tuesday, and I was grateful. Without having Riley to joke around with, life was getting beyond dull. I couldn't remember what I did before we started filming together, or maybe I just didn't want to remember.
I sat down and pulled a pair of tennis shoes out from under the bed. The image of Riley sitting on top of me, rolling her perfect hips during her audition raced through me, leaving my cock hard and pulsing as blood pumped through it.
"Ugh," I groaned and stood up. There was no fucking way to keep my t-shirt tucked in now that I was sporting a hard-on for the world to see. I'm sure Deza would get pissed at me about that like she'd been getting pissed at me about everything.
Someone knocked at the door to my trailer, and though I didn't want to deal with anyone, it was better than stewing in my boredom.
"What?" I jerked the door open.
Tricia Desmount jerked back like she'd been slapped. "Oh, I'm sorry. Ethan. I didn't realize you didn't want to-"
"Damn, I'm sorry about that." I walked down the few steps to the trailer and smiled. "What's up?"
She'd been crying. "Nothing. I just. I don't know."
"Hey, what's going on?" I moved around her and wrapped my arm around her shoulders as I walked us over to the little grassy area beside my trailer. It was still busy with people, but not nearly as bad as the sidewalk that led to the studio.
"My marriage." She turned to face me and pressed her fingers to her eyes. "I thought getting married to someone who wasn't in showbiz would make things easier, but it doesn't. He's always on my case about being in love with my latest co-actor or sneaking around behind his back. I'm the most loyal person in the world. This is my job, you know?"
"Yeah, I can't imagine." I pulled her close for a quick hug. "It's gonna work out. Maybe you should just start bringing the guy to work with you. It's not like he's doing anything, right? There's no need for him to work."
"He's a lawyer in the city. He's not willing to leave his job, and I don't blame him. He loves what he does. He's just insanely jealous. I think bringing him here would be fine, unless I was doing a love scene that day, then forget it. He'd probably beat the poor guy playing across from me to a pulp."
"Remind me not to be that guy, all right?"
"The jealous type?" She sniffed and pulled out of my arms.
"No, silly. The one getting my ass handed to be by your meathead husband."
She laughed and wiped at her tears. "I just think it might be easier to let him go, you know. Let him find someone with a normal life. It's not like this is ever going to change. This is what I do." She lifted her hands to the side and shook her head. Her long blond hair danced around her shoulders, leaving her looking innocent and beautiful.
I slid my hands around her face and leaned down to kiss the tip of her nose. "You're one of my oldest friends. You can make this work if you want to. If you don't, then stop trying to create drama and get out of the relationship."
"Oldest friends as in time we've been friends or-" She smiled and cupped her hands over mine as she closed her eyes and pressed her forehead to my chest. "I'm scared I'll never know love. Is this career really worth all of that? To give up knowing love?"
"There's no guarantee that we'll know that regardless of our careers or callings, right? Love is a fickle bitch." I pressed my cheek to the top of her head. "I'm totally falling for Riley, by the way. It's fucking up everything."
She moved back and glanced up. "Oh man. Does she know?"
"Yeah. No." I shrugged and rubbed her cheeks softly. "Break up with your guy and come help me make her jealous? I have a really big-"
"Hey. Don't even, or I'll te
ll Deza on you."
"A really big heart, you dirty bird." I leaned in and kissed her forehead one more time before jerking back.
Riley.
"Hey guys." She gave us a half wave and a sad smile before walking toward the building.
"Hey you. We missed you." I dropped my hands from Tricia like I'd been burned.
"Yeah. I'm praying for you," Tricia called after her.
"Thanks," she mumbled and walked into the building.
"God, she's beautiful. I can't stop thinking about her. She's in my day dreams, my wet dreams, my-"
"Go after her. Idiot." Tricia pushed at my chest, surprising me a little. She was usually so docile. "Go find out what's wrong and help her get through it."
"What? No. That's what they would do in the movies. I'm not faking the rest of my life like I fake my job." I shook my head and tried to ignore how badly I wanted to go after her.
"The movies emulate real life, Ethan. The best parts of it. Go after her, or I will."
"You like girls?" I lifted my eyebrow as she smiled.
"Get out of here and see what's up with her. Someone else is going to move in and take her if you don't."
"I'm afraid someone already did." I slipped my hands into my pants pockets and turned to watch her walk down the hall. Thank God for big windows in the conference room building.
I followed the line of where she was headed and felt my stomach turn. Clayton. Fucking Clayton Welms.
"Ugh. I hate that asshole." I started for the door.
"Who? The guy she's with?"
"No. The one that's going to steal her away from me before I really get her." I walked in and stopped at the entrance to the hall. "Riley?"
She paused and glanced back as a sweet smile played on her perfect pink lips. "Hey. How are you?"
"I'm okay. I've missed you." I walked toward her. Was I really going to start the conversation after a week of not seeing her with offering her my heart on a silver platter? I'd been at her mother's funeral the week before, but we hadn't spoken a word. She's been so lost. So broken.
"Me too." She brushed her short hair behind her ear and took a shallow breath. "I heard you're up shit’s creek with Deza."
I chuckled and reached out to tuck the same unruly hair behind her ear. "Yeah, it's the norm around here. A poor guy can't go out for a drink and a few dry humps on a dance floor without getting an earful."
She laughed, and the room brightened around me. "I'm sorry about the scene in the funeral home. I guess that was you that caught me when I walked out of the sanctuary?"
"Yeah, fate put me in the right place at the right time. I thought about copping a feel, but the moment didn't seem quite right." I smirked as she laughed again. "Don't apologize for anything. I wish I could have taken your pain away. It broke my heart."
I touched my chest as I searched her face. What was it about her that left me bent in half, needy and desperate for her attention, for her touch, for words of affirmation?
Affirmation? God, you're such a pussy.
"Thanks. I'm doing better. I have my exams this week, and Friday, I'm starring front and center for the UCLA spring production of Phantom of the Opera. Should be fun."
"You sing?" I could see her being the perfect lead for the play. Innocent and beautiful.
"Yeah, but only when I'm forced to." She glanced over her shoulder as the door opened. I couldn't help but notice the vein beating like crazy in the side of her neck as she turned. Was she worked up over talking to me or seeing Clayton? He was a legend of sorts.
Speaking of the bastard.
"Ethan. Good to see you, old friend." He turned and smiled at Riley, looking like a vulture who'd been starved for a while. "And you must be Riley. Your pictures do you no justice, though they are quite stunning."
She laughed and extended her hand. Her shoulders stiffened as he gripped them and leaned down, kissing her on each cheek. Her voice was nothing more than a whisper when she responded.
"Wow. It's so nice to meet you. I'm a huge fan of your work."
He winked at her and moved toward me as Frank walked up, stealing Riley’s attention for a minute.
"No kisses for me this time, old man. I'm not interested in you figuring yourself out sexually." I extended my hand and shook his tightly as my teeth clenched. The look of challenge in his smoky gaze pissed me off instantaneous look. Sorry bastard.
The movie had won all sorts of Academy awards, though the lead was to be played by a much younger man. Clayton was smooth as all get out, but no one wanted to recognize it but me. He was a fucking snake dressed up to look like a knight in shining armor.
"I'm watching you," I whispered as he glared down at me.
"Good. Watch me while I steal this girl’s heart and then her panties. You don't... like her, right?" His words drove anger deep inside me.
"I'll fuck you up so good, you won't know what hit you, asshole." I took a step forward, ready to rip him apart.
"Guys! Really. Damn." Deza walked down the hall toward us, yelling at us the whole time, but neither of us moved. "Come on. I know you have bad blood, but this isn't the time. All right?"
"You're right. I've actually gotten over all of it, but it would seem Ethan hasn't. I'm sad to see that." Clayton shrugged and put his arm around Deza's shoulders. "Come on, let's get all of the paperwork signed." He glanced over toward Riley. "See you in a few minutes, yes?"
She nodded and turned back to face me. "You okay?"
"No. I'm not." I turned and walked back to the front of the studio. The sound of her heels clicking behind me gave me hope that she was following me. Why did I find it so damn hard to go after her, but she had all the courage in the world to come after me? The roles were reversed.
"Ethan." She grabbed the back of my arm. "Please. What happened? Should I tell Deza to get someone else?"
She trusted me. Trusted my opinion. Was it skewed because I was falling for her?
I turned and crossed my arms over my chest. "I want you to do whatever you think you should do. Honestly."
"What happened between you guys?"
"I'll tell you all about it soon, but like all shitty situations in life, it's only one side of the story. I'm sure cock-head in there has his own version too."
"Did you..." she tilted her head to the side and moved closer, "did you get hit in the face?"
"Yeah. Deza's boyfriend was up here, giving her hell, and I got in the middle of it."
"Darren?"
I'd forgotten that Darren was Riley's old agent.
"Yeah. I'm fine though." I glanced down at her as she reached up to touch the side of my face. Everything inside me screamed to grab her, throw her over my shoulder and find the nearest set with a bed in it to make her mine.
"You don't look fine." She brushed her fingers under my eye, and I reached up and grabbed her wrist.
"Hey. I said I'm good."
Chapter 15
Riley
His words bit into me, as if after the stuff we'd been through still left me with no right to touch him. I pulled my hand back and stood a step back.
"Right. I'm sorry." I offered a sheepish smile. "I should go."
"No, don't. I'm sorry. That guy brings out the worst in me. I swear he was sent to earth to fuck with my head." He ran his fingers through his hair and studied me. Just being near him left my heart racing in a way it hadn't around anyone else.
"I'm glad to hear you helped out Deza. She looked pretty upset when we had breakfast on Saturday." I clasped my hands in front of me to keep from reaching out. Had it really been a week ago that we were tearing at each other, wanting so badly to use each other for pleasure? It was so much more than pleasure where I was concerned.
"She's gotta figure out what she wants to do about him. The two of them can't keep meeting up because of some silly reason that one of them comes up with. They get together and fight because they're not grown up enough to realize they’re still in love." He shrugged and glanced over his shoulder where
Tricia stood.
"You should go. I didn't mean to interrupt you guys." I knew they weren't officially together, but seeing him comforting her when I walked by left me with one conclusion. They were way more than friends. Maybe they were something like me and Jace, but Tricia was married. It was too confusing to dive into with everything else going on in my life.
"What?" He chuckled and reached out, running his hand down my arm and clasping my fingers. "I'm not anything to Tricia. She's having trouble in her marriage, and I'm a safe place to land."
"Like Jace is to me?"
"I don't like talking about Jace, but no. I'm not sleeping with her." He squeezed my hand and lifted it to his lips, kissing my knuckles. "I should have called."
"Why is that? We're co-workers with an attraction to each other. You're not responsible for checking up on me."
His tongue darted out and ran in a slow circle over my fingers as my insides purred. "Just co-workers, hmmm? I thought we were becoming more." He kissed my hand again and released it. "Maybe I was wrong, but maybe not."
"I need to go."
"Don't wanna talk about the night you almost let me inside of you, Riley? So close, right? So fucking close that when I close my eyes... I can feel you beneath me in the sand. I can hear your soft whimpers and smell your skin."
"What do you want from me, Ethan?" I pressed my hands to his chest, needing him to stop. I wasn't nearly as put together as I thought. He could pull a few strings, push a few buttons and I would melt in a sickeningly wet puddle before him.
He opened his deep brown eyes and stepped closer. "I want that night back. I think it had the power to help us stop fucking around and do something incredible together."
"Like make us better actors?" I gripped his shirt in an effort to not feel the twitching of his chest muscles beneath my fingers. He was too much, too overwhelming, too beautiful to imagine as someone who could belong to me.