by Jillian Dodd
"I promised to give B another chance when I got my life back. I'm going to hurt Aiden no matter how it plays out. If I die, he'll be hurt. If I choose B, he'll be hurt. Why did I have to meet someone so amazing when my life is such a mess?"
Tommy leads me over to the couch, where we both sit down. He pats my hand and says, "My life was a mess when I met your mother."
"Really?"
"Yes. I didn't have a stalker, but the woman I was seeing occasionally had just told me she was pregnant, I had just found out my dad had cancer, and I had just fired my long-time agent. I didn't even want to be on the movie set with your mom. My part in it was so small, it didn't seem worth my time. But Matt and I were going to start filming the first Trinity movie next, and the actor who was cast had to back out last minute. Matt asked me to do the cameo as a favor. He fed me a bunch of bullshit about how it'd show my softer side. About how your mom was romantic comedy box office gold. Honestly, the real reason I did it was to get the hell out of L.A. for a few weeks."
"But then you met her."
"But then I met her," he says dreamily. "In the midst of all my chaos, there she was. And even though we were both pretty smitten, it wasn't easy."
"It wasn't? I thought sparks flew, you took us to the ballet, and we lived happily ever after."
Tommy chuckles. "Not quite. We both had some big personal hurdles to jump over before the happily ever after happened. No offense--I loved you right away--but, not only was she a widow, she was a mom. Being with her meant taking on a kind of responsibility I never thought I'd have."
"You didn't want kids?"
"I very much wanted children, but I wanted a relationship like my parents'. A good, solid one based on love and trust. I was thirty-five when I met your mom. I had all but given up on that dream."
"Tommy, do you have another kid you haven't told us about?"
"No. Turns out the woman I was seeing just wanted to rope me into marriage. She liked my money more than she liked me."
"You have a good agent now. Although your dad didn't make it. I miss Grandpa."
"I miss him too. He got to spend time with the triplets before he passed, though, so that's comforting. I guess what I'm trying to say is what my mom always used to tell me when things didn't go the way I planned."
"She always says that things happen for a reason."
"Exactly. And she's right. Once I got through all that, my life was better than before. Because of you and your mom. The family we've created. My career skyrocketed to a whole other level with the Trinity series. It all worked out."
"You found your calm in the chaos," I say quietly, understanding exactly what he means.
"Is that a yoga thing?"
"No, it's finding one thing to focus on that gets you through."
"What are you focusing on?"
"Getting my family back. My life back. Truth? I was sort of excited to go to Eastbrooke where no one had expectations of who I should be."
"And?"
"I found out that it doesn't matter what my last name is. I'll always be Keatyn Douglas."
"Good," Tommy says, ruffling my hair. "I smell Italian food cooking."
"Aiden is a pretty good cook."
Tommy looks at me seriously. "I don't know when it will be, but I know you'll get your happily ever after, too."
I smile at him. "I hope so. Let's go eat. Then we have lines to practice."
Slowly licks his lips.
11pm
After dinner, Cooper and Aiden play pool while Tommy and I do a read through. I'm doing a good job of focusing until Aiden and Cooper start playing for money.
They joke around loudly and pretend to be pool sharks, both of them donning sunglasses.
"I think it's poker players who wear sunglasses," Tommy says, laughing with them. "Not pool players."
I'm not laughing with them.
Because this is serious.
Aiden is playing pool with sunglasses on.
The ones he had on with his leather jacket.
The night he used his tongue on me.
My body is responding to nothing more than the memory of it.
I consider locking Cooper and Tommy in their rooms so I can dance on the table for Aiden again.
Because I love his bad boy wild side.
Aiden, maybe because he's part god, seems to have the ability to morph into any role. Deal with any social situation. Get along with anyone. He can be the sexy bad boy one minute and the sweetest boy ever the next.
Right now, he's an irresistible combination of them both.
Or not.
I overhear Cooper say, "Is there something I should know about this pool table?"
Aiden can't contain his grin.
"He's grinning because you and I both suck at pool," I say quickly. "And, in case you can't tell, he likes to win."
"I don't suck. I'm just a little rusty," Cooper insists.
As he bends down to make a shot, Aiden looks over his glasses at me and purposefully, slowly licks his lips.
Tommy says to me, "This is when you're supposed to say, I'm not your little girl anymore."
"Uh, what?"
Aiden chuckles, loving that he affects me the way he does. That he can control my body and thoughts with the single swipe of his tongue.
I shake my head and become John Trinity's daughter again. "Dad, I'm not your little girl anymore."
Tommy yawns. "I think it's time to call it a night even though you have more memorized than I do."
"You have way more lines. And most of mine make sense. Like what anyone would probably say to their dad or when they got kidnapped."
"You have a good memory. Okay, so we have a six o'clock call. Get to bed. You need your beauty sleep."
"Okay, good night," I say as Tommy gives me a kiss on the cheek and says good night to Aiden and Cooper.
"Who's winning?" I ask, knowing full well it's Aiden.
Cooper rolls his eyes as Aiden grins and holds up a stack of dollar bills.
"He's a shark," Cooper says. "Good thing it's time for bed. I'm about broke."
I almost tell him I know. That I tried to beat Aiden at pool once, too, but he'll probably ask what I lost and I don't want to have to say my clothes.
"I'm going to get ready for bed too. Uh, night, Cooper," I say, hoping he takes the hint. I'm ready to be alone with Aiden. Maybe not on the pool table, out in the open, but behind closed doors, watch out!
Aiden drops his cue stick, says, "Night, Cooper," and follows me into my bedroom.
I'm standing in my closet, trying to decide what to wear to bed as Aiden's stripping down to his underwear.
"I want to sleep with you, but I don't want to offend Tommy," he says seriously.
Did I mention that he's practically naked?
Not that it's affecting my judgment or anything.
"He won't be offended. I told him--you know, that we haven't."
"You told him we haven't had sex? When?"
"When I showed him to his room."
"And how did it come up?"
"He asked which room was yours."
Aiden's shoulders drop. "What did you say?"
"That most of your stuff was in the bedroom but that you usually sleep with me."
Aiden throws on a pair of low-slung jersey shorts and a white tank top.
"Why are you getting dressed?"
"I'm sleeping in this. And we're leaving your door open."
"What?"
"I don't want him to think anything is going on."
I pick up the sexy dice he bought me as a naughty Santa gift and pout. "But, I thought we could use these tonight. And, besides, you told your parents that we slept together and didn't even tell them that we weren't having sex."
Aiden pulls me into his arms. "My parents are liberal."
"So are mine. B used to--uh . . ." I stupidly say. "I, uh . . . Shit. I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I understand what you're saying, but I'm not comfortable with it. Your choi
ce. I'll go sleep in my room, or I'll sleep in here with the door open."
"I hate when you do that." I pull out of his arms, move away from him, and start taking off my clothes.
"Do what?" he asks, studying me.
"Give me ultimatums," I reply, turning around to face him as I take off my bra.
I'm getting ready to slide a camisole over my head when he pounces. In mere seconds, I'm sprawled across my chaise, pinned underneath him.
I start laughing. "What the hell was that for?"
"I decided the door to your closet can stay closed," he says, his voice deep and sensual, as he glides his tongue down my chest. "You were teasing me and you know it."
"I was changing clothes."
He moves his mouth to my neck and kisses me in a way that makes me giggle.
"Aiden! That tickles," I screech.
"Shhh," he says, covering my mouth with his.
After a thorough kissing, he says, "How am I supposed to attack you on the down low if you're gonna scream?"
I slide my hand down the front of his shorts and whisper, "Let's see how quiet you can be."
A little while later, we slide into bed together, dressed in our pajamas.
Aiden props his head up on his fist. "Tommy was wrong," he says breathlessly, studying my face. "You don't need beauty sleep. You're already beautiful." He leans down and kisses the side of my face, my forehead, and my cheek.
"I think you're beautiful too." I reply, snuggling closer to him and laying my head on his shoulder. I reach up and touch his face. "And not just because of your perfect face." I glide my hand down his chest, run my fingers across his abs, and then trace down his V-line. "Or your perfect muscles."
"You move your hand any lower and I'm going to have to take you back in the closet."
I slide my fingers under the waistband just to tease him, but then I lay my hand across the left side of his chest. "This is what makes you the most beautiful, Aiden. You have a really good heart."
He smiles at me, kisses the top of my head, and wraps me tightly in a hug.
I close my eyes and fall into a blissful sleep.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 19TH
Milking the fame cow.
5:50am
Cooper drops Tommy and me off at a little before six, then heads back to my loft. Tommy told him there was no reason for him to sit around all day. But he and Aiden are both excited to watch the process for a bit, so I know they'll be here at some point. I also know they will get bored. It's going to be a really long day.
I get a hug from Matt, who is already on the soundstage. "Before you go to hair and makeup, let's rehearse the first scene. Since you're still in bed in the scene, it should be easy."
I lie in the bed, cover up, and pretend to be sleeping. Tommy tiptoes in from the left side of the stage, sits on my bed, runs his hand gently across my forehead, and bends down to kiss it.
I open my eyes. "Have a safe trip."
"I will. Are you sure you're going to be okay until Grandma gets here?"
"Dad, I'm nineteen. I don't need Grandma to babysit me."
He smirks at me. "Your being nineteen is exactly why Grandma is coming."
I roll my eyes. "So, one time, when I was seventeen and didn't know any better, I had a little party when you were out of town. You're never going to forget it, are you?"
"Harper, honey, I saw the video your friend posted on YouTube. You know, the one where the cops kicked the door down? Oh, and then tasered your drunk twenty-four-year-old boyfriend?"
"He wasn't my boyfriend." Or much of a friend, I say under my breath.
"At least something good came out of it," he says, ruffling my hair. He reaches in a fake pocket, pulls out a fake wallet, and pretends to put money on my nightstand. "Why don't you go to the mall and find a cute outfit for tonight?"
I laugh at him. "Probably because I'm not doing anything tonight but sitting on my ass and playing cards with Grandma. I mean, I love her and all, but it's a Saturday night!"
He nods his head toward the cash and grins at me. I squint at him, supposedly puzzled. I reach over and grab the nonexistent cash off the nightstand and see what's supposed to be underneath. I let a wide, happy smile spread across my face then throw my arms around his neck. "Concert Tickets? To see Drake? Ohmigawd! You're the Best. Dad. Ever!"
"Did you notice the seats I got you?"
I look down. "Ohmigawd. Third row? Maybe he'll sweat on me!"
"I'm not sure Grandma will like that."
"I have to take Grandma!?" I ask in horror.
"I'm just teasing. Take Michelle. Have fun. Be responsible. Don't talk to strangers."
"I won't. I promise. Have a good trip! Where are you going, anyway?"
He gives me the vague look that supposedly he always gives me when he's going on a mission. "Just Berlin. I'll be back in a few days."
"Cut. Perfect," Matt says. "All right. Let's go ahead and block it out."
Blocking out is basically planning the physical movements and positioning on set in relationship to the camera. My job isn't too difficult for this, since I don't get out of bed.
After that, I'm sent to hair and makeup. I study my lines again--so I don't screw them up--and have fun listening to gossip about Knox's latest fling.
Halfway through, I'm pulled out for a wardrobe check and when I get back to hair and makeup, Knox himself is sitting in the chair I just left.
"You took my spot," I tell him.
"The early bird gets the worm."
"The early bird looks tired."
He groans. "The only thing I hate about making movies. The early morning calls."
"I was here before six."
"You weren't at the club last night. You should've been."
"No, I was rehearsing with Tommy. I take this seriously."
"So, what's your deal, anyway?"
"My deal?"
"Yeah, where'd you come from? How are you Abby fucking Johnston's daughter and I've never seen your picture anywhere? Last one I could find of Keatyn Douglas was from like five years ago. You don't even have any social media."
"I like my privacy, maybe?"
"Why? You're young and hot. You should be milking the fame cow."
"Milking the fame cow. That's one I've never heard. Enough about last night. Are you ready for today?"
"You inviting me to your dressing room to practice our lines?"
The hairdresser who's running product through his hair groans.
I stifle a laugh. "Actually, yes. That's not a bad idea."
Knox grins. "I knew you just wanted to kiss me. Story of my life."
"It's that pretty face," I tease. "Girls can't resist."
"Thank god they can't," he says. Then he goes, "Ouch," and gives the hairstylist a dirty look.
She goes, "Sorry!" But it's obvious that she's not. At all.
Knox and I are ready but the lighting isn't, so I grab the script out of his hands and smack him on the butt with it. "I'm serious about practicing."
He wraps an arm around me. "Call it whatever you want. I'm in."
When we get in my dressing room, he plops down on my couch. "They listen and talk. You know that, right?"
"Who does?"
"Hair and makeup. Huge gossips. I'm really not hung over."
"You're not?"
"Nope, just working on that bad boy image. Speaking of that, we should go out."
"Go out where?"
"Anywhere. Dinner. Club. You like to dance?"
"I love to dance. But I'm seeing someone."
"He in this movie?"
"No."
"Even better. I've been hearing a few rumors myself. About you and I. So we need to get to know each other."
"If you tell me that involves going to bed with you, I'll pass."
He sits up, looking very serious. "I've been acting since I was ten and working on the tabloids' image of me since I was fifteen. I let people see what they want to see. When I was on a family show, I was the good
boy. The boy who visited sick kids in hospitals. The boy who took his mom to the Golden Globes. The boy who had a sweet relationship with his on-camera love."
"You two were publicly waiting until you got married, right?"
"I had to be my on-screen character in real life. Well, not real life. Public life."
"I understand what you're saying. I used to date Luke Sander."
"He disappeared for a while. Left as a child star. Came back as an adult. It was a good move. Where was he hiding?"
"Malibu with me for a year and a half. We broke up last spring, but he's still one of my best friends."
"That's cool. Malibu, huh? Do you surf?"
"Yeah, I do. My, um, ex is a professional surfer."
"Your, um, ex? Why does it sound like there's a story there?"
"There isn't, really. He left to go on tour. We broke up. Well, sorta broke up. We weren't actually going out. We'd been dating for a while. It ended. Sort of."
"But sort of not?"
"Sort of not."
"So, who are you dating now?"
"A guy from my school. He's coming by later. You can meet him."
"I'd like that. So what should we practice first? Kissing?" He gives me a naughty grin. "Or should I just take my shirt off again, so we can pretend to fight?"
"I think we should just read through our lines."
"Seriously, though. Have you heard the rumors?"
"What rumors?"
"About us?"
"Us? No, can't say I have."
"And here I thought you were connected."
"Why don't you just tell me what you heard, since you're dying to."
"Tommy doesn't want to make any more Trinity Films."
"That I am aware of."
"But the studio wants more."
"I am aware of that as well."
"Mr. Moran--your Uncle Matty--told me that you're going to make me a rich man."
"I assume, since you don't die now, that they're going to pay you more?"
He looks up at the ceiling and winces. "Shit. I didn't think to ask for more money."
"So how am I going to make you rich?"
"I think they want us. You and me. To take over the series. Like a spin-off franchise. Or the new cast. Whatever. It's going to be us."
"How? You're a bad guy."
"Have you not read the whole script?"
"Uh, not yet," I say, honestly impressed that he has. Tommy said they just finished re-writes a couple days ago.
"I have a change of heart. You change my heart. I fall for you. We have some very touching scenes. You know, in between being shot at and almost getting blown up."