The sun was actually shining. After days of rain, it was worthy of a celebration. Or a free breakfast, courtesy of my favorite actor in the world. I walked into Joey’s trailer, all sunshine and happiness and encountered a face that, very clearly, communicated his lack of love toward me.
“What? No love?” I dropped my arms, which had been outstretched in prep for a hug.
“I heard you’re dating Carter.” He all but bared his teeth at me.
News traveled fast. “Yes.” I stole a croissant from a box on his counter. Seriously, I could live in his trailer. Meals and snacks delivered four times a day, a masseuse on call, a giant bed for naps … I’d be set and happy.
“I thought you were getting back with Vic Worth.”
My mouth never made it to the pastry. “What? Who said that?”
“He said that. To me. After our last production meeting.”
“Well, he’s an idiot,” I sputtered. “I have no interest in getting back with him. None.” I took a bite of the croissant and closed my eyes. It was hot. So freaking good. I cracked an eye long enough to reach for the minibar handle and grab a juice. Yes. I could definitely live here. “Aren’t you and Carter friends?” I mumbled the question through a delicious combination of orange juice and flaky sugar.
“Yeah.” He dismissed any history with Carter with one shrug of his shoulder. “But you were with Vic first. You need to reconsider this, Chloe.” He stood from the couch and paced. PACED. Like we were discussing a nuclear agreement and not a nonexistent relationship with my ex.
“Why do you care?” I sat down in the closest chair, the breakfast box in my lap and looked through my other options. Not a lot unless I wanted to go in the cream cheese direction.
“I want you to be happy. Vic is settled, he has a good job, spoils you rotten…”
“Has a dick that finds every blonde in town…” I finished off his list and tossed the box onto the coffee table. “I know you can act better than this. Shut the F up and tell me the truth. What’s in it for you if I date Vic?”
He stopped pacing. “We need more money.”
I about fell out of my chair. “Already? It’s been a month!”
“We have another three weeks left to film, Nicole says she’s tapped, every other investor has bailed, and it’s not much—just another five million.”
Nicole says she’s tapped. I almost snorted at the absurdity of the statement. Clarke had to be the one stopping that financial hemorrhage. I shrugged. “Well, I’m not this film’s hooker. And I’m not yours either. If BLL needs money, make some cuts to the budget. Your afternoon massage, for example.” His eyes narrowed, as I wiped my mouth. “I shouldn’t have to date an asshole just so your movie gets made.”
“Does Carter know?”
I looked up. “Know what?”
“About you and Vic.” He nodded in the general vicinity where Vic had had me.
About you and Vic. The words were so simple, yet so ugly. I looked up at his face, everything in me going still. “Are you going somewhere with this?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Maybe someone should tell him.”
The threat was clear. It was also stupid.
“Wait.” I stood. “You want me to break up with Carter, or else you’ll try and break us up by telling him about Vic?” My voice rose and fell enough times in that question that I hoped Joey saw the stupidity in his logic.
“It’s not about me wanting you to date Vic. It’s about me not wanting my friend to get hurt.” Joey’s bullshit response lit me on FIRE. If he didn’t want Carter to get hurt, he wouldn’t be pushing me to … UGH. I was in a conversation with a crazy person.
“You’re right.” I tried a different tack, Joey raising his eyebrows warily. “I think Carter should know about Vic. About…” I gestured in the direction of the sex and wondered how much Vic had told him. Vic had loved to talk about our sex life, to his friends, to complete strangers…
“She is, she’s absolutely incredible.” His hand ran up my bare thigh and under the hem of my dress. “You are, you know that baby?” I smiled when he nuzzled my neck, his watch heavy and cold on my thigh and I felt his fingers sneak around the edge of my panties.
“Vic,” I whispered. “Stop.”
“We fucked on the way here.” He turned away from my neck and toward the guy at the next stool, some Wall Street yuppie who was staring at us like he wanted to toss aside his martini and wade right in. “You wouldn’t think that, from looking at her, right? All innocence until the car door closes.” He tugged a little on my panties, and I put a hand on his chest and pushed. Hard. When he released me, his hand taking an exploratory route home, and leaned back, he winked at me. I frowned and reached for my drink, wanting a distraction, something to keep my eyes away from the stranger.
Part of it had turned me on. Vic bragging, other men wanting. It was an aphrodisiac that had him ripping off my clothes as soon as we found a bit of privacy. But it was just as often a source of arguments, a breach of trust. And right now, with my mistake shoved in my face, I hated Vic for sharing that with Joey.
I stood and grabbed my purse. “I’ll tell Carter.” I smiled at Joey, and his eyes narrowed. “Tonight. So you won’t have to worry about his precious little heart.”
And just like that, the threat of blackmail was gone.
In its place, my anxiety spiked.