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I stopped.“I thought you said the pictures weren’t out.”

“Did I say that?”

I replayed the conversation as best I could in my still-fuzzy mind.“Are they out?”

“On Tommy’s website, yes.”

As I pulled on socks, underwear, and the pants for my best suit, I considered all I’d need to do.“Has Valentino Langston been in touch?”

“I don’t think so?”

“What do you mean?Has the producer of the movie you’re about to star in called?Maybe to cancel?Or to, I don’t know, praise?”Because some producers loved publicity.Any publicity.That being said, he was starring in a movie with Norah.As a very straight man.

Which I’d believed he was before this phone call.More fool you.

“Jeremy?”

Something in his tone had me stopping—one arm in my shirt and one hanging loose.“Yes?”

“I’m really sorry.Why don’t I sneak out?And meet you somewhere?That bar in West Hollywood?”

“You can get out without being seen?”

“Yeah.”

For reasons I couldn’t explain, I believed him.“Okay.I’ll call Shayna in the car and have her call around for lawyers.”

A long pause ensued as I put on my shirt, buttoned it, then tucked the ends into my pants.A power tie and jacket might be overkill and drive unwanted attention—so I’d leave them in the car.I sighed.“This isn’t as career ending as it might’ve been a few years ago.In some corners…things are changing.”

“My parents…” He cleared his throat.“They won’t understand.”

I wanted to argue that he couldn’t be certain…except they’d attempted to forbid him to go to Stanford—because California was thework of the devil.At the time he’d shared that little tidbit, I’d been part amused and part offended.Amused they believed they could sway their headstrong son into turning down a football scholarship to one of the best schools in the country.Offended because I’d lived in SoCal my entire life and had yet to find a devil.Bad people?Certainly.Someone trying to tempt innocent souls over to the dark side?Hell fucking no.

Not that such people didn’t exist.I just hadn’t met one.

Uh…sounded like Andreas’s former lover might be one.

Phillip’s asshole ex as well.

I shook my head.“All right.If Shayna can come, yes to the bar in West Hollywood.If you’re spotted, go to the parking lot of a fast-food joint and grab a burger.Sit in your car and eat the burger and fries until I get there.”

“With extra pickles?”

“As many as you want.”Sometimes I forgot how young he was.At twenty-five, he had several years of acting and modeling under his belt.Hell, he was Phillip’s age.Yet their worlds were so very different.“I’m on my way.”I slid my feet into my shoes and bent to tie the laces.

“Yeah, thanks.I’ll call Shayna.”

“It’s two hours for me to drive up.A bit less this time of night.”

“Don’t get a speeding ticket.”

I smiled.Very few would be concerned about others while in the midst of their own crisis.“I’ll be careful.”I disconnected the call and frowned.

Phillip.

I didn’t want to wake him.So…I could leave a note in his bathroom where he’d find it first thing and then leave a key on the kitchen counter so he could go out if he needed to.Being back before nine or ten felt impossible.On that thought, I tossed jeans, a T-shirt, and a baseball cap in a bag.Oh, and running shoes.God only knew if I’d actually need them, but I preferred to be prepared.

Double-checking I had everything—which included my wallet and a thankfully fully charged phone—I slipped out of my room.