Chapter 48
Back in LA, they were bombarded with tabloids and reporters. Luke kept his arm around Leona, trying to keep her calm, but some of the questions even irked him, and he’d been ignoring the asshole questions for years.
Frank Slant asked, “Leona, how do you feel about a man who was stupid enough to let himself be drugged and nearly raped?”
Before Luke could open his mouth, Leona took a step forward, shaking him off as she glared at the slimeball. “Luke was a victim. Oftentimes when anyone is drugged in a club, a party, a bar, or anywhere else, there are no signs until it’s too late. And you’re sitting here calling him stupid? Sure, it may happen more often to women, but it can happen to anyone. He’s lucky he had friends nearby. He could have died. So, I’ll stand by him, support him, and love him like I would anyone who suffered the same thing.”
“Yet you left, hid from him and everyone else.”
“Yeah, because some asshole, like you, videotaped the whole thing and never offered help when he was dying on the floor thanks to an allergy to the drug. And I’m not saying all reporters are the scum of the earth, but there certainly are those of you who care more about a story than the truth. You make me sick.”
The reporter, the same man who videotaped what happened in the bathroom, stood there, slack-jawed as he watched her walk away.
Luke shook his head. “Actually, you’re the asshole who would have let me die, so you could make me look like a cheating bastard. I’m sure you’ll serve your time.” He followed Leona to Carrie’s Mercedes.
His sister glared over the hood at the reporters and shook her head. “They just can’t leave you alone, can they?”
“Yeah, well the asshole who pissed off Leona is the same bastard who put me in this situation.”
Leona tried to duck past him, but he hauled her closer. “Don’t. It’s not worth it. He’s an accessory to sexual assault. My lawyers are confident he’ll do time.”
“Oh, I want to beat the hell out of him.”
“Yeah, but that would only land you in jail.”
“How do you deal with them constantly?”
“Usually, what Raven does. Ignore most of it. But thank you for standing up for me.”
“I’m still the bitch who walked away because I watched a few seconds of video.”
“No, you were the woman who saw what they wanted you to see and left because you didn’t want to hurt me even if I had hurt you.”
“Yeah, well, all of it is his fault. Okay, most of it. Without that video, I wouldn’t have left.”
“Mentioned I love you, right?”
“Mmm, and I love you, Luke.”
Carrie laughed. “Get in the car. Let’s get you two home.”
* * * *
After dropping her backpack in Luke’s room, she pulled her buzzing phone out and frowned at the number. “Let me take this.” She walked back to the room with all the comics and sat down in the chair. “Hey?”
“This is Mathew Rodgers. I’ve been trying to contact you. Is this a good time?”
“You’re the producer, for the movie, right?”
“Yes. Have you learned the truth about what happened to Luke? Are you two good?”
She let out a nervous laugh. “Yeah, he found me, told me everything. We’re very good now. Do you want to cast him?”
“As Zack, yes. If it’s not going to cause a problem with you two.”
“No problem. Do I let you, or one of your people tell him?”
“Is he there with you now?”
“We just got back to his place. I went to another room.”
“Why don’t you let me talk to him? Maybe put it on speaker?”
“Sure. Hang on.” She hurried back to the bedroom, doing as Mathew suggested. “Luke, someone wants to talk to you.”
“Who?” he asked.
“Mathew Rodgers. Hope you don’t mind I called Leona first. Last thing I want to do is make her hesitant about the movie.”
His shoulders slumped and he looked away. “That’s okay, I understand.”
Mathew laughed. “Clearly, you don’t. This is your callback. You got the part of Zack. Filming starts in six months. Should give you time for the thriller you start filming next month. You still want the part, right?”
Luke crossed the distance, watching Leona. “You’re sure about this, dreamer?”
“Very. I think you should take it.”
“Yes, I’m in, Mathew. Thank you.”
“Just make sure the public knows you two have worked things out.”
“Oh, I think Leona did that earlier. Shouldn’t be long before someone posts it. And if she’s up for it, we have a fundraiser to go to tomorrow.”
Smiling, she nodded.
“Then I should go. I’ll send you the contract in the morning,” Mathew promised.
“Thanks. I’ll talk to you soon.”
“I’m glad you two are back together.” Mathew clicked the phone off.
Luke lifted Leona off her feet. “You want me to have the part? Honestly?”
“Yes, definitely.” Her mouth crashed over his.