B.C. stood on the veranda of the back deck, staring into the sunset on the oceanfront property. It was beautiful, but tonight he preferred the desert to the ocean.

He exhaled and thought about how he wished Kira had been here tonight. With him. He thought about how he’d tried to call her and she wouldn’t answer. He didn’t blame her. He shouldn’t have left the way he did back at the ranch. He regretted it now but when he’d seen her kissing Spence his brain had gone completely muddled and all he could think about was every woman he’d had a relationship who’d cheated on him and used him.

The premier had been a success. The movie looked good. Which was a relief. He still didn’t know about getting the part in the other movie. He’d told Jake he needed a break for a bit and where to find him if he needed him.

Looking at the bottle of water in his hand, he thought he should cut out of the party early and not be around the drugs and the drinking. He didn’t need that tonight. Or ever really.

Moonwalker’s face flashed into his mind and he decided he definitely needed to leave this party.

He grinned as he saw his Red Rock Acres group moving toward him.

Gary had his arm laced through Zoe and Tina’s. All of them were dressed to the nines and he could tell they were very happy to be out and about in Hollywood again.

“Hey, B.C. do you remember the episode when Mr. Farley comes in the apartment and stumbles down the stairs.” Gary chugged out a laugh.

B.C. grinned, not wanting to point out that was pretty much every episode. “I think so.”

Zoe rolled her eyes and hushed Gary. “Be quite. We’re here to support B.C.” She put on a frown, but her face wouldn’t really turn down. “Have you heard from her?”

“Yeah?” Tina asked. “Where is she?”

He shook his head, disappointment filling him. “Nope.” He hoped he might. Even though he’d left in such a state of anger. An image of her kissing her old boyfriend made him want to hit something.

“Hey, guys, want to get out of here?” He asked.

Zoe held up her phone. “Look what I just saw.”

B.C. was curious. For a second he couldn’t believe it. The image on the screen was Kira, in the dress he gave her, standing next to his mother at the Premier.

The reporter’s voice came on. “Caught on tape, B.C. Knight’s little rehab hook up showed up at the premiere, only to find him kissing Sheena Turner, his co-star, in the latest Raced and Wrecked Movie.” The camera went to a shot of him kissing Sheena. B.C. thought of the fact he hadn’t known they would be kissing. Sheena had just planted one on him.

B.C. was instantly sickened, then angry at Sheena and his agent. He knew Jake had coordinated that. He clutched a hand into a fist. “Where is Kira?”

Zoe shook her head. “We haven’t seen her?”

His mind raced and he was immediately angry at his mother. She’d done this, too.

Like a wild man, he rushed away from them. “I have to find her.”

He heard a whistle. “B.C.!”

He turned and saw Jake with Mr. SanBrook coming toward him. He didn’t have time for this.

“B.C.” Jake said, waving him to them. “Let’s chat for a minute.”

B.C. contained his anger, shoving it down for later. Focus. Focus. Focus. This could be the biggest break in his career as an actor.

Jake gave him that slimy, agent smile. “B.C., Meet Mr. SanBrook.”

He shook Mr. SanBrook’s hand. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

Mr. SanBrook looked him up and down. “You think you’re ready for the next level? For military, World War II, Nazi’s, a love story, and everything fans die for?”

“Yes, sir.” Heck yeah, he was ready but he had to find Kira. His mind whirled with possibilities of where she could be.

Mr. SanBrook laughed.

Jake laughed, too.

Mr. SanBrook pulled out a bottle of pills and popped them open, turning to Jake and him and holding some out. “I…uh.” He laughed. “Yeah, I heard you just made it through your first round of rehab.” He scoffed. “We all have to go back sometimes.”

Jake eyed him, then put his hand out and took a pill from Mr. SanBrook, gesturing to B.C. to follow suit.

Every part of B.C. was on edge and he felt like he was in high school again and guys on the team were doing steroids and they offered it to him and there was all this pressure. He stared at the pills in Mr. SanBrook’s hand. Reaching out, he picked it up and held it between his thumb and forefinger. He examined it; his nemesis, his relief, his savior, his tormentor. Slowly, he put it down. His heart raced. “Nah, I don’t need that anymore.”

Mr. SanBrook laughed. “Really? You’re cured?”

His words were taunting.

Jake put his hand on B.C.’s shoulder. “Just give him some time, everything will go back to normal.”

B.C. didn’t understand. He glared at Jake. “You want me addicted to pills?”

Jake shrugged. “I didn’t say that.” He let out a skittering laugh and looked between the two men. “I just think you relax more when you have something.” He gestured to the pills. “I think it helps take the edge off so you’re not so stressed.”

B.C. wanted to punch him in the face. Anger exploded inside of him. He glared at Jake and turned to Mr. SanBrook. “If this is a part of the project, then I’m out.” B.C. walked away and glanced back over his shoulder. “Jake, I’m taking some time off.” He walked down the deck stairs and toward the gardens and felt freer then he’d felt for ages because he finally had the freedom to say no. It felt dang good.