Chapter 38

 

 

Ryan sat in a restaurant across town with most of the cast. Dinner had been served, and all Ryan could do was think of Shannon.

The conversation had left him behind long ago.

Alexa shook his arm. “Hey, Ryan. You okay?”

“Hmm? Yeah, fine. Why?”

“What was your argument with Max Snyder about?”

“What argument?” Ryan asked.

“When you left us at the club, and he grabbed your arm. You were pissed.”

Ryan let out a breath. “Used to be friends. We don’t see eye to eye on anything now.” More than friends once. He thought he was in love. Fuck, why did he screw around with the bastard after learning he was a cheat?

“Shame. I love Emerald Horizon. I was hoping we could catch their show tomorrow night if we’re done early enough.”

“Not interested,” Ryan answered.

“You can come with me, Alexa,” Raven said. “I have backstage passes.”

“There you go. You don’t need me,” Ryan said.

“It’s just a show. Why not come out? I could stay at the bar with you.” Keenan offered.

“Nope. I’m staying in. You should all have fun,” Ryan said.

“Fine, fine, be a party pooper,” Alexa whined.

Keenan rolled his eyes. “Ryan said they had a differing of opinions. Leave him be.”

Raven winked at Ryan. “Yeah, we don’t need Ryan to have a good time. Besides, Max can be an ass. Why put him through that?”

“All right.” Alexa turned to Luke. “What about you two?”

Luke shrugged. “We’ll see.”

Leona grinned. “I’d go backstage for research purposes.”

Alexa grinned. “Perfect. Besides, if this movie does well, we’re all going to be stuck together for a few movies.”

Luke shook his head. Ryan knew Alexa and Keenan died off in the second book, but he wasn’t going to tell them that. He wouldn’t be the bearer of bad news if they hadn’t read the source material.

“There will be other things for us all to do as a group,” Ryan said. He sat back, looking around the restaurant. Man, he wanted to go back to the hotel and call Shannon. But he was probably busy with his sister. Which was good. He didn’t like the idea of him not getting along with her, especially if they used to be close.

“What has you so distracted?” Keenan asked.

“Sorry. I’m missing someone bad.”

“Who?” Alexa blurted out.

“The one who holds my heart,” Ryan answered, pulling his drink closer, staring into the amber liquid.

“Ah, unrequited love?” She leaned closer.

“No, but we decided to keep it quiet for now,” Ryan explained.

Alexa’s eyes got wide. “Tell me it’s not someone committed to someone else.”

“Nope. We just didn’t want to be under the spotlight.”

“I see.” Alexa shook her head. “Actually, I don’t. Why wouldn’t she want to be attached to you?”

“It’s complicated. I’ll leave it at that.” Ryan waved down the waiter and ordered a Long Island Iced Tea. He wanted to drown his brain in alcohol and forget everything for a while. Watching Luke and Leona be all cozy and happy was depressing. Even Keenan and Alexa’s strange relationship was too much to witness for the moment.

Raven leaned her head on his shoulder. He placed his head on hers. At least she got it. Only, she was in a worse position. She’d have empty fucking before going to bed alone. And he would go back to the hotel and call Shannon.

“I still don’t see why you two aren’t together,” Keenan said.

Luke almost snorted his drink out his nose. “Sorry, that’s funny. I’ve known them long enough to know it will never happen.”

Leona nodded. “I can’t see them together either.”

The waiter brought his drink and he slurped half of it down without a thought. Something had him on edge, and he wasn’t sure what.

He talked to Shannon just an hour before, and they were good. And still, he couldn’t help worrying.

So damned stupid.

 

* * * *

 

Shannon went up to Shelley’s room to get her bags and take her back to his place. That’s what she thought. But she spent the whole day going on and on about Joel.

Joel had called him that morning, begging him for help. And after dinner that first night, he knew she just needed a little extra romance.

They stepped off the elevator and Shelley froze, a smile spreading on her face. Joel sat against the wall next to her door. The second he made eye contact with her, he climbed to his feet with a massive bouquet of roses. He even wore a tuxedo.

“Joel. What are you doing here?”

“I needed to see you. I can’t sleep without you. I’m a mess. Please come home. I love you.”

Tears rolled down her face as she moved to him, then wrapped her arms around him. “Joel, I love you.”

Shannon shoved his hands in his pockets and leaned against the wall near them, but out of the way.

“Can we go back tomorrow?” she asked.

“Sure. Anything. As long as you come with me,” he promised.

Shelley stepped back, turning to Shannon. “What do I do?”

“Have you figured out if he’s the man you want for the rest of your life?”

“He is. Of course, he is.” She hugged Shannon.

“If you need a ride to the airport, give me a call, but I think you two need some time alone.”

“What about you?” she asked.

“Going home to call my man.” He squeezed her, then stepped back. “Love ya, little sis.”

“You too.” Shannon walked back to the elevator and stepped inside. It felt good to know she was happy, and not listening to a dead bitter man.

 

* * * *

 

Once they were done eating, Ryan caught a cab back to the hotel. The rest of them were going out. He just wanted to lie there and imagine anything but being alone.

How damned depressing.

He made his way to the room and sat down on the bed, closing his eyes. He thought about calling, but Shannon was with his sister. Instead, he dialed Manny.

The jerk rushed him off the phone in favor of Aubrey. He couldn’t blame him. Then he called his mom, who wanted to play twenty questions about the man in his life, but that was better than hoping he wound up with a chick.

He flopped back on the bed and thought about sending Shannon a message, but he did during the cab ride.

Ryan stared at his phone, wishing his guy would call.

The phone rang. It didn’t take Ryan a second to answer. “Hey, miss you. God, I hate this distance.”

Shannon sighed. “Yeah, same here. But good news.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Joel came out and swept Shelley off her feet. She’s spending the night with him, and I’m probably taking them to the airport tomorrow.”

“That’s great.”

“Yeah, I’m happy for them.”

“How are you?”

“Other than lonely for you, fine. I’ve been working a lot. I have some ideas that will bring in more business and will allow me some more free time while you’re in LA.”

“Oh yeah?” He lay back, smiling.

“I know, you spend a lot of time away.”

“I’m in LA more often than you may think. Usually.”

“Either way, we’ll work it out.”

“So tell me about your day and how you convinced Shelley you’re happy.” He wanted to listen to Shannon’s voice for as long as he could.