Chapter 10

Ethan

The movie night was fun, but a complete bust for my original intent for having it. Deza passed out beside Riley, and she was soon to follow. Where I would normally have finished up the movie and woken up the pretty girl in my bed... there were two, and Deza wouldn't have appreciated being jostled away. I had it in mind to get her back good for dicking up the night.

She'd done that shit on purpose. I just knew it.

I'd gone back to my room sometime in the early morning after trying to get comfortable on a third of the bed. Having Riley's sweet ass pressed up against me wasn't exactly conducive to sleep. She'd hopefully understand and not look at it as if it were another dick move on my part.

After a quick shower, I wrapped a towel around my waist and sat down on the bed with my phone in hand. Seemed like Liam and I were set for the weekend. He'd be happy.

"What's up, Brosky?" His voice filled the line. The guy was perpetually happy. I'd have to dig a little and figure out the secret to his success to always be on the up and up.

"I'm in San Diego for a few days filming."

"I think you told me that. I can't remember. Your ass is always somewhere, on some beach, living the life."

"You think?" I stood up and tugged my towel off. "I almost got Riley naked last night and D showed up with some sob story about her ex. Captain cock-dar was officially successful in blocking another chance at fucking my future wife."

He snorted. "She did that shit on purpose."

"Duh."

"Because she wants that hunk of meat in your pants all to herself. I heard Latin girls are super naughty in the sheets. Something about wanting to sow their wild oats."

"And you just made that shit up." I rolled my eyes.

"That obvious?"

"Horrible. Only use things that work. You're not a creator. More of a reinventor."

"Now that you've crushed my dreams by being a giant cock..."

"Had to bring it up, didn't you?"

"Hell yes. I'm your big brother and you're sensitive about it." He sniffled.

"Asshole." I walked to the dresser in my room and pulled out a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. I wasn't sure of the filming schedule for the day, but I'd have to find an hour to myself sometime to go over some lines. I'd memorized everything over the weekend, but it was slowly fading from memory thanks to all the other stuff I was dealing with.

"You know it. Hey, what's going on with that cunt that says she has your bebe in her belleeeee?"

"No clue. I'll talk to D today about it. I guess I'll end up taking the paternity test. No fucking way I'm settling outside of court."

"Why not? You have more money than most men will ever see."

"It's the principal of the matter. I'm not settling and letting the world think I knocked some random chick up and then paid her to keep my baby. Fuck that." I walked to the door and slipped my feet into a pair of sandals sitting there. Someone had unpacked my stuff and put everything just where I liked it. Deza.

"I hear that." He cleared his throat. "So, what's up? You call for a pep talk before your big filming day or you got something juicy to share?"

"Riley is going to be my date for mom and dad's thing this weekend. You want her friend Charlotte to be yours or did you already find someone?"

"Oh yeah." He groaned. "Is that really this weekend?"

"Yeah. It's called a calendar. Get one."

"Shut it."

"You want the girl to be your date or no?"

"Yeah. She's cute. I bet she's sucked a dick once or twice in her life."

"Nope, sorry, buddy."

"She hasn't?" He sounded incredulous.

I smiled. "I don't know, you idiot. I'm telling you that you're not going to know either. She's Riley's best friend, and she's off limits."

"What? No fucking at mom's house? Forget it then. I'll find someone else. The only way to get through that horrid event is to have someone petting my dick every time mom turns her head the other way. Feels so naughty."

"You need counseling." I opened the door and walked out into the hallway as my stomach grumbled.

"Give me her number and I'll call and talk to her. We'll come to some agreement that Riley doesn't need to know about."

"No fucking way, man. I'm trying to win this chick over. It's been hard enough as it is. I'm not adding your bullshit to the platter."

"You have the weirdest sayings, man."

"I get them from you." I pressed the button and moved into the elevator as a group of women let out various squeals.

"What was that?" My brother laughed. "Oh dear God. Please tell me an unruly group of girls are tearing at your clothes."

"You wish. Jealous?" I glanced back and smiled.

"Are you Ethan Lewis? Holy shit. You are."

"No such thing as holy shit, ma'am." I winked at her and turned back around as they giggled.

"You're such a cock." My brother was green with jealousy. I'd happily have let him pinch hit for me with the hordes of adoring fans. It was overrated - big time.

"Best part about me, right?" I snorted and got off the elevator in search of a familiar face.

Frank motioned that I join him from inside a cafe near the front of the hotel. It was nice to see that it was just him and Paul. Where I wanted to see my girl, I didn't wanna put on my nice guy front just yet. I was weary and starving.

"The only good part about you."

"Fuck you very much. I'm out." I hung up the phone and tucked it in my pocket. Charlotte and Riley would come with us to mom's for the weekend and Liam would pop the poor girl's cherry. Where Riley wouldn't approve, Charlotte would probably fall in love. Then we'd really have a stalker on our hands. Something about the idea of the girl stalking my brother left me giddy. He deserved another problem in his life. I'd make sure it happened.

"You look like you had a long night." Frank glanced up and smiled at me.

"Every night is a long night when you're not in your own bed, right buddy?" Paul tried to save me. He was good like that.

"Movie night with the girls, but when I realized neither of them were up for a post-movie make out session, I was out." I sat down and reached for Frank's orange juice. "You touched this yet?"

"Nope. Have at it." He handed me his menu as well.

"Hey man, Frank told me some of the shit you're dealing with right now. You know better than to let the world get you down, right?" Paul leaned back in his chair and gave me the big brother look he was known for sharing when I showed up on the scene.

"Yeah. The club thing is balls, but whatever. It's the girl that's supposedly carrying around my kid. That's fucked up." I glanced up as the server walked up, grateful that it was a dude. One less thing to deal with.

"Can I get you guys something to eat?"

We ordered, and I waited until he walked away to pick the conversation back up.

"I'm not settling outside of court, Frank. I can't." I leaned back in my chair and nursed the glass of orange juice.

"I understand where you're coming from, but I don't think you realize how much time, money and energy this is going to take up." Frank leaned forward and studied me.

"I don't care. I'm tired of everyone making me out to be a prick that lives high on the hog and treats women like trash."

Paul smirked. "You know if Liam was here, he'd tell you that's exactly who you are."

I laughed. "You're right, but I'm tired of being that guy."

"So take the paternity test. We'll work through it together. You're not alone in this or anything else. You know that." Frank patted the table as my phone buzzed in my pocket.

I pulled it out, expecting Liam again. It was Jeffery Patterson, my attorney. Did the fucker have the room bugged?

"I need to take this. I'll be right back." I got up.

"Don't be too long or I'll eat your pancakes." Paul shrugged and reached for my orange juice.

"Mooch." I smiled.

"Slut." He finished the glass in two gulps.

I turned and walked toward the elaborate glass doors at the back of the hotel. The beach could be seen from almost any place in the hotel - it was breathtaking. I walked outside and answered the phone, praying like hell he had good news for me.

"Jeff." I found a wrought-iron chair and sat down on the edge of it.

"Hey buddy. You down in San Diego?"

"Yeah. Tell me what's up. My breakfast is waiting for me, and we're filming today."

"Amber says she'll settle out of court for 1.2 big ones, but I think that's a great-"

"Fuck that." Anger blistered my insides. "I'm not settling for something I didn't do. We do the paternity test and then we can talk."

"Doesn't work like that, Ethan. We settle and this goes away. We do the test, and we're taking a chance."

"I don't give a shit. Set up the test."

"Fine, but I'm advising against this."

"Noted. Set it up."

"We'll get it set up today. The press is releasing the story tomorrow on the possible litigation, so be prepared."

"For what? Living the life I've been living for the last twenty-four years. Yeah... I got it. I'm an old hat at this slander shit by now."

"Well, I'm here for you, man. We'll work it out, but please... please consider settling. I get what you're up to, but this thing could really-"

"No. Call Deza with the date and time for the piss test." I hung up the phone and let out a long sigh. My mood was headed back to the dumpsters.

Why couldn't something fucking work out in my favor?

I walked back into the hotel and picked up my plate from the table. "I'm gonna go out to the dock and eat. I need some time to myself."

Concern covered Frank and Paul's faces, but it was Frank who spoke up, forever playing the father I didn't have.

"You want me to go with you?"

"No. I just need to chew on the situation with this Amber chick."

Paul lifted his eyebrow. "Something new come to light?"

"Nope. Unless you consider the press releasing their fucked up lies tomorrow in the papers as being new."

Frank shook his head. "I'll see what we can do."

I stole the syrup from the table and shrugged before turning. "Who cares? If not this... something else, right?"