“Who is this guy, exactly?” Gretchen scowls at me, standing in the doorframe of my bedroom.

“Cal. Callahan. He’s the bartender at the A-List. And the guy who, um, you know.”

“Fucked your brains out?”

Heat rises to my cheeks. “Basically, yeah.”

“And you don’t even know his last name but you’re going to take a flight with him in his private jet. Doesn’t that sound sorta sketchy? I mean, what bartender has a private jet?”

I grab an extra bra and a few pairs of panties and throw them in my suitcase. “He comes from money. And the last name thing, yeah, I know that sounds kinda bad. I should know that by now. But it’s kind of awkward to text and be all, ‘BTW what’s your last name?’ Right?”

Collette moves Gretchen aside and walks into my room, plopping down on my bed with a bag of raw spinach in her hand. Danny has not so gently reminded us we have to stay slimmer than slim if we want to keep this gig up. Except for my cheat meal at Cal’s earlier. Meatloaf and green bean casserole aren’t exactly diet-approved.

“So, where are you going?” Collette asks, shoving spinach in her mouth like she’s a rabbit.

“She’s going on a rendezvous with her lover-boy.”

“You are going to have so much fun.” Collette groans, tossing the spinach aside. “I’m so jealous. Gah.”

Sighing, Gretchen falls onto the bed next to her. “I know, babe. This whole viral video has been a clusterfuck and so not the way our time in LA should have started.”

“It’s just stupid. The only reason we have the next three days off is because our photo shoot with Glamour was canceled. Apparently, I’m too controversial and I haven’t even started my career.”

I zip my suitcase, trying to figure out what to say to make my friends feel better. The truth is, there is no easy answer. They are now associated with tabloid scandals, and there is no going back once that’s happened. Their faces are no longer their own. They will forever be owned by those magazines.

“I’m glad that photo shoot was canceled. It gives us all a little breathing room... the past few weeks have been so rough. And I know you think I’m flying off to go have fun, but one, I’ll be under my dad’s roof. And two, Cal’s best friend just killed himself. It’s more about him getting a chance to heal than it is about us having sexy times.”

Collette frowns. “Sweetie, no one says sexy times.”

“That’s what you got out of what I just said?” I roll my eyes. These girls are fun and all, but their priorities are seriously whack.

“No, I get it. It is insane what happened. The talk shows haven’t stopped playing clips of Sawyer. And his fake girlfriend keeps getting interviewed, and she’s milking it for all it’s worth.”

“That’s disgusting,” I say, unable to restrain my feelings. “I’m grateful for a paycheck, but God, I really hate this industry. Isn’t anyone worth more than a few good sound bites?”

Gretchen stands, tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “I don’t think so, sweetheart. I think we’re playing a messy game whether we like it or not. And honestly, I’d do the same thing if I were in Sondra’s shoes. Those interviews she’s giving could pay for a villa in the South of France.”

I shake my head. “Maybe this game’s too dirty for my tastes.”

Collette shoves another handful of spinach in her mouth and raises an eyebrow. “Let’s see how you’re feeling after you go home and remember how badly your dad needs this money; until you see how your Gram’s holding up.”

Collette’s right, of course. She isn’t saying any of that to be mean... the truth is we all have a price. We all have a limit to what we’re willing to do in order to get what we want. I would never have believed that I’d pose in string bikinis for Sports Illustrated if you’d asked me a year ago. But then Gram got sick, we nearly lost the farm for the second time and my priorities changed.

Suddenly, I saw the world in a different light.

Facing it is hard, and everyone’s line in the sand is different.

I’m just not sure I want to know where my line is.

Sondra has decided giving bullshit interviews for a paycheck is worth the lies. Sawyer had decided a staged relationship was worth the studio’s favor. As for Gretchen and Collette and me?

Well, I guess we haven’t been pushed to the edge yet, to find out how far we would go to get what we want. But I’m grateful that they are here, that they have my back.

“Maybe when I come back we can have a girl’s night?” I ask.

Gretchen nods. “That sounds perfect. Hopefully, from here on out, only good things will come our way.”

* * *

Later that evening, when I slip into the town car waiting outside my apartment, Cal grins from within. He wears his leather motorcycle jacket and blue jeans and I can’t help but think about sliding them off of him and straddling him here and now. I have no clue where these ideas come from... except that as soon as I scoot in next to Cal, his hand grazes my thigh, pulling me toward him, and I think he must have the same ideas as me.

I raise a brow at him. “Where was this version of yourself when I brought you meatloaf?”

Groaning, Cal says, “That was hours ago. And Jordan was there, totally killing the vibe.”

It’s true. Jordan had acted like he was packing up to go, but once he saw what I had cooked, he wrangled himself a plate of the home cooked meal and sat down at the table with Cal and me.

“He’s actually nicer than I first thought,” I tell Cal as the town car rolls along the highway to the private airport.

“What did you think of him at first?”

“I thought he was a douche-canoe who didn’t know how to paddle.”

Cal snorts. “Nah, Jordan’s a good guy. But Sawyer always wondered about him too. Thought he was a little cocky for his own good.”

“Cocky?” I shake my head. “No way. I see him as a rule-follower more than anything else.”

“Really?” Cal seems surprised by this. “Why do you say that?”

I laugh. “And why are you so interested in your co-worker?”

“I don’t know. Sawyer’s opinion mattered to me is all. I guess I put a lot of stock in it. And after getting to know you... I put stock in what you think too.”

My chest expands, liking the way Cal’s words make me feel. Valuable. “Jordan didn’t mess around with the guest list—he was super strict about it both times I came. Making us show photo ID and everything. He also had a zero-tolerance policy about phones at the club. He knew that his buddy—you—had a thing for me, yet he didn’t pull any punches. That may seem insignificant, but after a few weeks in LA, I’ve come to learn that lots of people will give you special treatment if they think you might return the favor somehow, someway.”

“But not Jordan?”

“Not Jordan. And he’s loyal. He knew you wanted me to join you in a room, so he got your shift covered and made sure I got where I belonged.”

At that, Cal smiles. “In my lap.”

I nod. “And on my knees.”

“Did you want to have a replay of that scenario?”

“Like now?” I look around the town car, unsure of that happening. There’s a divider, but I’m guessing we have less than ten minutes before we’ll be to the plane.

“On the plane,” he adds. “I’m guessing you aren’t a member of the mile high club?”

I laugh. “Considering you took my virginity a few weeks ago, I’m thinking no.”

Cal cups my cheek with his hand, drawing me toward him. “Then it will be my honor to show you the ropes.”

My hand does some cupping of its own, his length is hard under my touch, and I massage him through his jeans. “I don’t want you to show me any ropes,” I say, smiling as I lean closer to him, my lips close enough to kiss. “Just your cock. That’s all you need to show me tonight.”