Chapter 35

 

Jayce

 

 

DAY TURNED INTO night and more people showed up from other chapters. Several Tiki torches were lit and then the band took the stage. This kicked the party up a few notches, and soon, everyone was dancing, drinking, and having one hell of a good time.

“Can I get you another beer?” I asked Candi as one of the songs ended. We were standing close to the stage and she seemed to be enjoying herself, dancing and singing to some of the songs.

“Sure,” she replied, turning her cup over to show it was empty. “I could use a refill.”

“Let’s go.”

She bit her lower lip. “Maybe I should meet you back here? I have to go to the bathroom.”

I looked around. Some of the guys were getting pretty hammered and there was no way in hell I was letting her out of my sight.

“We’ll do that first,” I said, touching her elbow. I began guiding her toward the porta-potties. Unfortunately, there were only two and the lines were long.

“I’ll be fine here by myself,” she said as we waited. “Go grab us a couple of beers.”

Needing to relieve myself too, I glanced toward the barn and then back.

“Seriously. Just go,” she prodded.

“Okay. Watch out for the wolves,” I said, smiling. “They’re everywhere tonight.”

She laughed. “So, what does that make you?”

“A lucky dog who has what everyone else wants,” I murmured near her ear, making her shiver.

Candi smiled and I leaned over and kissed her before heading over to the barn. At the last minute, I took a detour around the side to take a much needed piss. As I was zipping up, I heard someone gasp behind me.

“Sorry. I didn’t know anyone was back here.”

I turned around and saw Magpie, a chick I almost banged after the club’s Christmas party last year. We’d both been drunk and things had started getting hot and heavy, but then something had come over me at the last minute. Maybe it was the fact that she’d been with several of my club brothers, which wasn’t exactly an aphrodisiac. Whatever the case, I’d made up some excuse about not feeling well and we’d gone our separate ways.

“No problem,” I replied. “How’ve you been?”

“Okay.” Magpie took a step closer to me and lowered her voice. “So, how long have you been seeing Candi?”

“Just a few days,” I replied. “Why?”

“I’ve seen her before and… her name isn’t Candi.”

I frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“When you first walked up with her, I thought she’d looked familiar. Then Eve mentioned that Candi was from Vegas. I was out there last month and pretty sure that I saw her on the set of a movie being filmed,” she replied.

Magpie’s sister was a set designer and sometimes she’d pay for her to fly out to watch some of the movies being filmed.

“I think you have her confused with someone else,” I said, smiling. “Candi is definitely not an actress.”

“No, you’re right. She’s a stuntwoman.”

I laughed.

“I’m serious,” Magpie said. “I saw her, or someone who looked exactly like Candi, on the set of a movie last month. I mean exactly.”

I could tell by the look on her face that she truly believed that Candi was someone else and wouldn’t rest until I was convinced.

“Who’s this stuntwoman? You have a name?”

“I’ll ask my sister if she can find out her last name,” she said, pulling out her phone. “I know her first name is Ava.”

“I’m telling you, it’s not her,” I said, shaking my head. “Why would a stuntwoman drive all the way out here, in a shitty car, and lie about her identity?”

It wasn’t to get a tattoo… that was for certain.

Magpie shrugged and then began typing out a message on her phone. “I don’t know. But, I’m telling you… Candi is Ava. They even have the same mannerisms.” She looked up from her cell. “Plus, they both have really toned arms, like they work out a lot. Obviously, stunt people need to be super fit.”

Candi obviously spent time at the gym. Even I could see that. But it didn’t mean anything.

“Hold on, my sister is typing back,” Magpie said, staring down at her phone. After a few seconds, her face lit up. She looked at me. “She remembers who I’m talking about. The stuntwoman’s name is Ava Rhodes. I bet if you Google her, you’ll find out more information.”

Sighing, I pulled out my phone and did what she suggested. Images and information pulled up about Ava Rhodes, who was a stuntwoman from Florida. She’d been in numerous commercials and a couple of independent movies.  

As I looked at one of the close-up shots, my heart skipped a beat. The resemblance was definitely a little unnerving. They even had the same left-side dimple.

Fuck.

That definitely seemed like too much of a coincidence.

“See,” said Magpie, who was also looking at my phone. “It’s her.”

Tarot’s warning rang in my ears. If Candi really was Ava Rhodes, why was she lying? I could see if she wanted to protect her identity, especially since she was somewhat of a celebrity. But, we’d spent hours talking about her life, including the shitty abuse she’d received in the foster homes. It made me wonder if she’d lied about that as well.

“What are you going to do?” Magpie asked.

“Figure this shit out,” I growled, putting my phone away. “Have you mentioned it to anyone else here?”

“No.”

“Keep it that way for now. Okay?”

She flinched. “Yes.”

“I’m serious,” I said, knowing how much she liked to gossip. I pinned her eyes with mine. “Not a fucking word.”

Magpie nodded. “I promise, Hollywood. You can trust me.”