Page 3 of Best Supporting Actor

Mason smiled an easy smile. “Sure, why not?”

“Great. See you back here in five, then.”

After dropping off the drinks with theBow Streetcrew, Tag headed back to the bar, where Mason had commandeered a couple of tall stools and ordered two of the hokey Hallowe’en cocktails the hotel had put on for the party. Green lurid stuff they’d mixed up in giant jugs festooned with fake cobwebs.

They chatted easily for a while, and then Mason revealed that he was Lewis Hunter’s most recent ex—Lewis, who in addition to being the writer and creator ofLeeches, was Aaron’s former boss. Tag had encountered him earlier in the evening. He’d been staring at Aaron all night like a total psycho. When Tag had suggested to Aaron that Lewis seemed a tad obsessed with him, Aaron had waved him off as if he was being ridiculous.

But come to think of it, he hadn’t seen Lewis since Aaron had left the party…

“I just can’tbelieveit!” Mason exclaimed, interrupting Tag’s train of thought. “I mean Lewishatesthat kind of thing.”

“Sorry,” Tag said. “I missed that. What is it you can’t believe?”

“It’s bloody loud in here, isn’t it?” Mason said, leaning closer. “I was just saying I can’t believe that Lewis came as Skye bloody Jäger!”

Skye Jäger. Lewis’s fictional creation and Jay Warren’s character inLeeches. It made a sort of sense for Lewis to dress up as Skye, Tag supposed. The two men were quite similar, both tall and dark and very good-looking.

“Well, he’d probably be better at playing Skye than Jay Warren,” Tag quipped. “Christ, that guy’s wooden. Good job he’s hot and has a famous mum, or he’d never have been cast.”

“Oh, that’s not true!” Mason said, and Tag blinked, surprised. Somehow he’d thought Mason would be the bitchy type, but now he was frowning at Tag. “Jay’s fantastic in that role, and he’s won loads of awards for it.”

Which was, annoyingly, true. Not that Tag wanted to admit as much.

Before he could decide how to respond, a voice behind them said smoothly, “Well, I suppose I should at least thank you for saying I’mhot.”

Tag and Mason both turned in their seats to find Jay standing behind them, a small, supercilious smile on his face.

Tag’s cheeks flamed with hot embarrassment.

“You’re wrong about one thing, though,” Jay said, arching a brow at Tag. “I also had a famousfather. Thoughyouprobably wouldn’t know about him.” He smiled thinly. “He was a sculptor.”

It was a subtle insult, and Tag didn’t have time to think of a reply before Jay turned to Mason and said smoothly, “So, what were you two talking about before I arrived and made everythinghorriblyawkward?”

Mason laughed. “Oh, I was just boring the pants off Tag here, going on about Lewis. Just like I was doing to you earlier.”

The fond way Jay smiled at Mason made Tag want to gag. Gritting his teeth, he said belligerently, “And I was trying to persuade him to go out with me.”

Jay’s head whipped back to Tag.Ha! That got his attention!

“Oh, Tag, you know you’re bloody gorgeous,” Mason said, rolling his eyes. “But like I said, I’m really not up for another relationship right now.”

It was an effort, but somehow, Tag managed to drag his gaze away from Jay and plaster a grin on his face for Mason. “That’s okay. It doesn’t have to be serious or even romantic. We could just go out together and have some fun.” It was a spontaneous idea, but even as he suggested it, Tag realised it wasn’t a bad one. Mason had a lot of followers, and Tag needed to raise his profile. Besides, it wouldn’t be a hardship to spend time with Mason, who was easy to talk to and seemed to be a nice guy. “You know what they say about getting back on the horse,” he continued. “Besides, don’t you want to show all your ’gram followers that you’re not heartbroken about Lewis?”

Mason had been smiling up to that point, but at the mention of Lewis, his face fell, then hardened. “You’ve got a point there,” he admitted. “And I do need to keep up my content.” He paused, then shrugged. “Okay, yeah, why not? That is, if you’re fine with going on a sort of fake date? Just for fun?” He put his hand on Tag’s knee. “I know my followers willloveyou.”

Tag beamed at him, delighted by this turn of events—until bloody Jay Warren stuck his oar in.

“You know, Mason,” Jay said, tapping his chin thoughtfully, “if it’s your followers you’re keen to impress, maybe you should be seen out and about with someone who’s… more well-known?”

Tag’s mouth fell open in shock.What the hell?

“In fact,” Jay went on, as though inspiration had just struck, “weren’t you telling me earlier that Lewis won’t be going to the British Fashion Awards with you now? If so… how about I fill in?” His gaze flickered to Tag and back again as he added, almost apologetically, “I’m guessing you need acelebritydate for that kind of event? I’m sure Tag understands.”

“Oh my God,” Mason said, his eyes lighting up. “That would be amazing, Jay! I only got invited because of Lewis and was thinking about pulling out, but if you can come, I won’t have to.” His eyes slid to Tag, his expression awkwardly apologetic.

Well, Tag wasn’t about to roll over and admit defeat so easily. Setting his jaw, he said brightly, determinedly, “You know what? This is perfect. Fake dating for likes! You should go on dates withbothof us and see how your followers respond.” He grinned his friendliest and most confident grin, leaning back on his bar stool. “I’m pretty sure you’ll have way more fun on any date you go on with meandget more likes from your followers.”

Mason laughed again, plainly relieved at Tag’s reaction. And maybe a bit tickled by his and Jay’s competitiveness. “You know, this could actually befun,” he said, his green eyes dancing. “God knows I need a distraction, and my followers will love it. It’ll certainly show them that I’m well and truly over Lewis bloody Hunter.”