The muscles in Charlie's jaw twitch. "Anyway, congratulations on the show. Haven't had a chance to watch it yet, but I hear it's a hit."
I'm trying to process their odd exchange when one of the suited security guards approaches, gently brushing his fingers over the patch of skin directly over my ass crack. At first I think it's an honest mistake until he does it again, this time a little more slowly and sensual like someone attempting to seduce a lover.
I suck in a sharp breath, knees trembling with rage and stomach churning over itself. While it's not the first time someone in this business has made an inappropriate move to make my skin crawl, it still doesn't make it right.
He motions for us to leave with his other hand. "Keep moving along, folks. The line is getting congested with your little gathering."
His fingertips lightly drag over my back like they're drawing a figure 8. With an angry flush warming my cheeks, I spin to face him, sneering. "Get your hand off me."
"Whoa!" Charlie quickly nudges between us, moving in close to the guy until they're chest-to-chest. "Hands to yourself, asshole!" Glancing over his shoulder at me, he frowns. "You alright, Ang?"
An involuntary shutter rips right down my center. I only press my lips together in reply.
The guard backs away, palms of his hands held out. "Didn't mean to overstep any boundaries. Only doing my job, Mr. Walker."
Veins in Charlie's reddening neck stick out as he whirls back around to face the man. Even though the man has Charlie by an inch and he's considerably wider, I've seen Charlie go up against my brother, James, in the ring enough times to guess he's a bigger threat when it comes to professional fighting. The guy must sense this because when Charlie shoves him back even more, he seems ready to piss himself by the rapid blinking of his eyes.
"Your job does not involve coping a fucking feel of my sister-in-law!"
In the blink of an eye, Evelyn's at his side, pressing one hand against his back while rubbing his arm. "Babe, everyone's watching. Now's not the time for this." Even though she looks calm and collected, her voice seeps with malice when she adds, "We can have a nice little chat with this man's boss after the premiere."
My brother-in-law's jaw finally relaxes, and his face returns to its normal shade. Brows still knit with irritation, he eyes Theo for standing back and watching without saying a word.
"Let's get you inside," Charlie grumbles, taking my arm.
Before screening the first episode, Theo and I take the stage to address the audience. They break into wild applause when we humor them with an open-mouthed kiss. I slip into a robotic mode, numb to his touch. Putting on a show for our fans can't be mistaken for genuine happiness, although I do my best to sell the lie.
Just before the lights go down, I take the open seat beside Evelyn in the front row. It's oddly painful to watch myself on the large screen-especially when I appear nude in one of the very first scenes involving the morgue. I sink a little further into my chair, wishing I could disappear. They aren't kidding when they say the camera adds ten pounds. I'll have to work harder on getting my flabby ass into prime shape.
My sour mood lightens when I catch Charlie draping a hand over his eyes, and Evelyn giggling at his reaction. I'm grateful when my sister begins firing questions about the filming process a few minutes later, giving me an excuse to tune out.
The studio throws a small afterparty for cast and crew in a bar across the street from the theatre. I suck down a few glasses of champagne, skipping out the minute Charlie and Evelyn head back to their hotel. On the way back to my apartment, I down another pill with a bottle of champagne provided in the private car. Although the rest of the night went by without a hitch, my feet are killing me, and I'm exhausted from so many emotional highs and lows.
After the fiasco on the red carpet, Charlie showed a lot of hostility toward Theo. In fact, at one point I was convinced he was going to throw his fist into Theo's face for failing to defend my honor. I didn't have the courage to set my brother-in-law straight and tell him Theo isn't actually my boyfriend. It would be difficult to explain out loud the reasons why I'm going along with the charade when I don't have many valid excuses.
I hooked up with Theo over Christmas break. He came back to my place after a party for the cast, and walked out naked the next morning, promising a little fun. Becoming involved with my costar felt natural after we spent so many hours making out and simulating sex, so I allowed it to continue. I loved receiving affection for the first time since John walked away.
At some point, I realized what Theo and I have would never be anything more than a meaningless fling, and I became completely detached. It only reminded me why the relationship I had with John was rare, and why I'll fight to win him back. He's the one who should've been at my side tonight. He's the only one who could've made this night special.
I stumble a few times on the way home. Everything's fuzzy and seems abnormally far away. As I'm bracing myself against the wall, trying to focus on the numbers dancing across the keypad, the door to my apartment squeaks on its hinges.
Chills race down my spine. Theo was still at the premiere when I left. With the exception of my publicist and cleaning staff, who wouldn't have any reason to be here this late, no one else knows the code.
"Is someone in there?" I call in a trembling voice. When there's no answer, I reach for my smart phone. "I'm calling the police!"
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," a woman answers from inside. "We need to talk, Angelina."
The walls dance around me as nausea rips through my stomach.
I'm swallowed by darkness.
2
Asher
Wheels skip over the pavement runway, and I lurch into the seat ahead of me as a disembodied voice welcomes us to Miami. Nice fucking welcome.
I brace myself against the armrests, staring out the window. For the hundredth time, I wonder if I made the right decision when accepting Evelyn and Charlie's last-minute invite to come down. I'm sure more than anything it was an offer out of pity, knowing I'm stuck in a dead-end job in a shitty town that won't allow for any kind of real future. But the idea of hanging out on the beach for a few days with one of those umbrella drinks in hand, watching women parade around in skimpy swimsuits was enticing enough to get me down here.
If I'm being completely honest, I wasn't about to pass up the chance to see Angie again. Even though I've seen enough pictures of her with that douche from her new show to get that they're a thing. I spent enough time on the Kendall farm as her younger brother's best friend to genuinely care how she's doing. I caught coverage from her premiere on one of those celebrity shows, and her smiles were plastic as shit. I'd bet money she's secretly miserable.
The dark-skinned woman sitting beside me catches my gaze and smiles warmly. She'd been quiet on the flight, watching a movie on her tablet the entire way, but I noticed she wasn't wearing a wedding ring. This is the first time she's shown any interest in the big burly guy who took up part of her seat. Early twenties, big almond-shaped eyes, and dark springy hair that frames her little round face, she's notably attractive.
Lips parting slightly, her eyes take me in with transparent appreciation. "Coming home, or stopping for a visit?"
"Visiting friends." I return her smile, deciding I'd be down with taking her out for a drink. Especially if seeing Angie with her new boyfriend becomes too overwhelming. "What about you?"
"Coming home. I was in Wisconsin for a conference. Where you staying?"
"Not exactly sure. A buddy set me up somewhere in South Beach near where his sister lives."
She touches my arm. "I'm from South Beach! What's the sister's name?"
I swallow carefully, knowing my answer could have an impact on this woman if she's tuned into Angie's show like the rest of the country. "Angelina Kendall."
Her eyes grow larger. "As in the actress?"
Jaw clenched, I dip my chin. The woman lets out a muffled squeal behind her hands.
Wish I could say I was as thrilled about the situation. It's been well over a year since I had a weird moment with Angelina at her brother's place in New York. I don't think I was imagining that a mutual craving passed between us when she walked in on me sleeping buck-ass naked. Just because I was convinced something was going to happen that long ago doesn't mean she'll be pleased that I'm here. Has Evelyn even told her they invited me down? Shit, this could end up being a colossal mistake.
The woman's eyes shine with excitement. "Oh my god, I love Vampire's Kiss! My roommate and I binged the entire season in one day! I can't believe your friend's sister gets paid to grind naked with Theo Carr! She is one lucky lady!"
Images flash through my head of Angie having on-screen sex with her costar. I tried like hell to avoid watching the show, knowing it was explicit enough that most of her siblings chose not to watch, but then I heard buzz of a scene involving her naked and curiosity won. I flinch and jerk my eyes back over to the window as the memory resurfaces.