Chapter 2

Ethan

I couldn't get her out of my mind. Like she'd poisoned me the first time we met and now I was slowly being consumed by the idea of us together. Where was she? Back in L.A. yet? How was she? The drama from the night before left a million questions running through my mind.

Frank had basically pushed me back as he and Deza got Riley out the door and into one of their cars. I understood why I couldn't go with her, but seeing her fucked up, pale as a ghost and shivering uncontrollably broke something inside of me open. I'd spent my whole life not giving two shits about anyone but myself and now... She'd messed that up. My selfishness was at stake.

"That and my sanity." I moved my arms to position my clasped hands below my chin as I laid on my stomach in the darkness of my room. It was near lunchtime, but there was no reason for me to get up and moving just yet.

I'd want to check in with Riley, but the last thing she needed was to hear from me, no doubt. By the sound of things, her mother had been in an accident and hadn't survived. I wasn't sure if there was a father figure in the picture or siblings. If she'd mentioned any to me, I'd forgotten. It wasn't information I needed to get into her panties and so I'd discarded it. I was horrid, but honest with myself at least.

The knock at my bedroom door was ignored as I closed my eyes and let out a long exhale. The pain of losing someone wasn't something I was intimate with, but I only had to imagine the earth opening up and swallowing my older brother, Liam, whole. Terror and anguish danced in tandem in my stomach as I thought about losing him. Or Deza. Or Riley.

"I know you're awake. It's after twelve. Lunch is in the kitchen, and it's a toasted sub. You're going to have to eat yours cold." Deza's voice was both stern and caring. She couldn't be a total rascal to me no matter how much she tried.

"Go away," I whispered and pressed my lips to my hands. I wanted so badly to be the kind of man that would steal the keys to one of the cars, race to the airport and fly back to L.A. I could find Riley at her house and pull her close, kissing away her cares and telling her that I would be beside her no matter what, but it was stupid. I was stupid. My whole fucking life was a movie. I wasn't about to turn the only romantic attraction I'd had in forever into something rehearsed. I couldn't. No matter how much the voices in my head told me to.

"I'm coming in. Cover yourself up." The door behind me opened and I tossed the covers off my lower half, leaving my incredibly white ass on display.

"It's a full moon. Come on in." I stretched out my arms in front of me and humped the bed a little, causing my ass to giggle.

"Ethan!" The door closed and the sound of Deza's curses left a subtle smile on my face.

If nothing else in my life made sense, I could count on my agent and best friend to be easily disgusted by me and my love for nudity.

A combination of muffled voices moved outside my door, both masculine, and I couldn't help but get up. I could hear Riley's name being mixed into the conversation and needed to know how she was. I wouldn't overdo the drama too much, but Frank was more than aware that Riley and I weren't just coming back for a night cap and an evening of telling ghost stories around the fireplace. She'd been wrapped around me when he pulled her back to tell her about her phone.

I got up and pulled a pair of shorts over my hips, buttoned them and walked out into the hall. Paul and Frank were disappearing around the corner into the kitchen. I ran my fingers through my hair as I followed them silently.

"Did you get Ethan up?" Frank.

"Yep. He's awake and showing his ass like he always does first thing in the morning." Deza snorted as I rounded the corner.

"You're lucky I wasn’t laying on my back. I'd have ruined you for that big ugly black man you've got a thing for." I stopped by the counter and picked up a bag of chips, opening it and popping a few into my mouth.

Paul laughed and dropped down into the chair beside me. "When are you going to understand that women like Deza want the full package? Your cock isn't going to win you any favors in present company."

"How about me acting like a cock?" I lifted my eyebrow and smirked at him as Frank snagged my bag of chips from my hand.

"Just so you know, we're going to do a little more filming and get out of here. Most of the movie will be filmed in town when we're back in a month or two, and back at the studio. We have the office and house scene's set up there. We'll be using the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego for a little bit of our filming too."

"And what's going on with Riley? Is she not coming back?" The very thought of her not returning left my heart contracting in my chest, my stomach tying itself in knots. When had she become so damn important?

"We're not sure what's going on yet." Deza grabbed the bag of chips from Frank and tossed it back toward me. Her dark hair was pulled back, and her already tanned skin looked good against her white tank top and shorts. I could see why her ex, Darren, would put up with the rest of her shit. Not that I would, but then again, she'd never give me a chance to if I wanted one. Which I didn't.

"But you guys have confirmed that her mother is dead?" Paul asked, his expression darkening a little.

"Yeah. Unfortunately. We talked to one of our sources this morning, and found out that she was in a head-on collision last night. She didn't die until they got her into the ER, but it was soon after. Brain trauma from the impact." Frank shook his head and let out a shaky sigh. "I feel so bad for Riley. I'm pretty sure her mom was all she had left."

"What? No brothers or sisters?" My voice was a little more emotionally charged than I would have liked it to be.

"Nope. Not that we know of." Frank glanced over at Deza. "Was her mom married?"

"No clue, but I know her father wasn't in the picture anymore either." She wrapped her arms around her middle and shook her head. "It could have been anyone in our families. We need to make sure we give her all the love and warmth we have to give when we get back, okay?"

"What kind of love and warmth are we talking about here? Define it?" I slipped my hands into the pockets of my shorts and gave her a boyish smile. I was being stupid, but it was easier than letting any of them know that I ached for the beautiful blond co-star that had stolen bits and pieces of me since the day we met.

"Really?" Deza rolled her eyes and turned toward the stove. "Your sandwich is over here. You know how we all feel about you giving any kind of love or warmth to Riley."

"And, from what I saw last night... you were ready to offer both." Frank turned his attention onto me. "Have we ever told you who to date?"

"Yep. Since I was twelve." I lifted my eyebrow.

Paul snorted before laughing. "He's got a point, Frank. You guys have always been hovering over the top of him."

Deza whipped around with something like hurt in her eyes. "We've both given up a lot for you. To protect you and help raise you. Don't act like we're a burden because we care what you do in your private time. If you and Riley got together-"

Frank cut her off. "When they get together."

"We're not getting together. We wanted to fuck. All right? What's so bad with two grown-ass adults wanting a little relief?" I threw my hands in the air. "I know what's at stake, but we're not talking about dating or looking at rings. We're talking about sex. Non-committed, a couple times of bodies slapping against each other fucking." I walked around the counter, grabbed my sandwich and walked out. They had no control over me or who I was going to take to my bed, Riley included.

I felt better telling myself that. Even if it was a damn lie.