Page 21 of Reckless Storm (San Francisco End Game #3)

Hayley

A ringing wakes me the next morning and I groan as I reach out to stop it. “It’s too early. Go away.” Waving my hand where my bedside table should be, I come up empty, opening my eyes to find I’m not in my room.

My heart seizes until a foggy memory works its way into my mind, instantly relaxing me.

I’m still at Reed’s.

After we decided not to fake date, we watched the rest of the movie while drinking ourselves stupid.

Actually no, I drank myself stupid—since I no longer had something to distract me from my nightmare audition—while Reed supplied the goods, complaining that his head still hurt from his drinking session with Luke. Three days earlier.

My phone rings again and I find it on the floor beside the bed—where a side table should be. Who doesn’t have side tables? Where does he put his water? Or lamp.

Dangling over the edge of the mattress, I stretch out to grab my phone, securing it seconds before it stops ringing.

“Hello. Sorry.”

“Thank God. Hayley, it’s Mel.” My agent. “I’ve called twice already.”

What ? “Sorry. I was asleep. What time is it?” I must have slept in. God, Reed’s probably on his way back from practice already, and—

“It’s seven.”

“ Seven ?” I sit up quickly. “In the morning?” Did they ring her about the audition?

“Yes, Hayley.” She laughs but it holds an edge to it that’s not usually there. “I know it’s early. But I had to call you right away.”

“Oh God. They called you. What did they say?” I fall back onto the bed and grab the pillow, ready to cover my eyes. I was vague on the phone to her on my way to Reed’s yesterday. I should have been honest.

“No, I haven’t heard anything and I want to… Actually, let’s talk about that later. I called for a different reason.”

“Okay.” The urgency in her tone has me sitting up again and running a hand through my hair.

“I had a late dinner with the head of Whitaker Productions last night, and they want you for the part of Cynthia Rose in Reckless Desire .”

“Bullshit.” I sit up straighter, biting back a squeal.

Reckless Desire . Holy shit. Maybe it’s good I didn’t get the other role.

I would die for the part of Cynthia. Sure, it’s more pressure because it’s another movie based on a book.

But this one’s a romance, not a fantasy, so I’d be hitting a whole new audience. “Please tell me you’re not joking.”

“Do you think I’d be calling this early if I was?”

“That would be harsh.”

“It would be, and that's not me. They want you.”

“Oh my God.” I allow myself to squeal this time but move the phone away from my mouth until Mel’s muffled voice permeates the air.

“Sorry, I missed that.”

“I said, there’s a but.”

“A but?”

“Yep. They’re worried you’re too promiscuous for the part.”

“They what?” My jaw drops and I stare into space. “Why?” My shoulders hunch but the second the question is out of my mouth, I know the answer. “The photos.”

“Yep.”

The goddamn photos. It turns out someone was keeping an eye on me after the Storm game the other night and took photos of that dickhead following me into the bathroom.

And another of me walking out with a different guy—the Storm rookie who came to my aid.

Thankfully, you couldn’t really see the rookie’s face, but I’m the first to admit it doesn’t look good.

“This is bullshit. I haven’t slept with anyone for months.” She doesn’t need to know any details, but I feel the need to put it out into the universe, to remind myself more than anything else. I am not promiscuous. But even if I was, it’s nothing to be ashamed of and it shouldn’t rob me of a part.

“Unfortunately, the truth doesn’t matter. The photos make it look like you had sex in a public bathroom. Twice. With different people. Or maybe two at once.”

Jesus Christ. “What it doesn’t show is that the first guy dragged me in there and the second guy saved me. Too bad they didn’t get a photo of me kneeing him in the balls.”

“I’m sorry. I wish I had better news.”

“It’s not your fault. But why are you calling? To tell me I almost got an amazing part?” I’m shitty and taking it out on her, but tough.

“I’m on your side, remember?” Her voice softens. “I’m calling because they’re giving you a chance to change your image and read for the role.”

“What?” I fall back onto the bed, sighing in frustration. “What does that even mean?”

“It means we need to bring back Australia’s sweetheart but with an American twist.”

“Oh-kay. And what does that entail?”

“I’m not sure yet. But for now, fewer bars and less drinking.”

My head chooses that moment to throb as though reminding me about the copious amount of alcohol currently in my system, and on top of that, I’m taking this phone call in someone else’s bed.

This image change is not going to be easy.

Closing my eyes, I force a smile so she won’t hear the annoyance in my voice and reluctantly agree. “No bars. Less drinking. Gotcha.”

“And no bad boys.”

“Bad boys? God, this is ridiculous.” I haven’t been with any boys, let alone bad ones, and now I have to avoid them completely. Is this real life?

“Do you want the part or not?” Mel asks, her voice serious.

“I do.”

“Then no bad boys.”

Dropping the phone to the bed, I throw my arms out and sigh, feeling a piece of paper beneath my hand.

Rolling over, I find a note on Reed’s pillow and smile as I read it.

Hayley, I’m off to practice. There’s food in the fridge and a bottle of water on the floor next to you. Help yourself to anything. I’ll be home around lunchtime, but if you need to leave before then, the door locks by itself. Reed. P.S. I slept on the couch

My heart races as I smile to myself. Of course, he slept on the couch.

Taking a deep breath, I laugh as a memory from last night springs to mind.

“What about good guys?” Since I’m now in the spotlight for the wrong reason, paparazzi are likely to start following me around, and I have no doubt that someone will get evidence of my friendship with Reed.

I refuse to stop spending time with him for a damn role.

I need him too much.

I need one constant in my life. Amelia’s amazing, and Paige and I have become great friends lately.

But they both have a lot going on, and I don’t want to get in the way.

Reed has a life outside of our friendship, and yet, when I call or text, he always makes me feel like I’m his number one priority, even when he’s teasing me, and I’ve never had that.

Not even with my parents.

The last few months have really opened my eyes up to the way I’ve allowed myself to be treated in the past. Yes, I’ve always held my own and stood up for myself and my friends, but there was a lot I accepted as normal that was anything but.

Friends that got pissy when I didn’t have time for them.

Boyfriends that showed me off and paraded me around like a trophy.

I was well-known in Australia. Hell, I am well-known in Australia. But because of that, the high-profile boyfriends I had back home weren’t in the relationship for me. They wanted the recognition it gave them. And I let it happen. Mostly because I was subconsciously doing that same thing to them.

God, I even allowed my last boyfriend to cheat on me, pretending it never happened so that he’d invite me to the US when he was cast in a series over here.

I hold myself in high regard. But I never held anyone else to that same standard. When I’m with Reed, it feels like he sees me the same way. No, screw that, it doesn’t just feel like it. He does. And he treats me as such.

I can’t lose that. And on that note, I get why he didn’t want us to fake a relationship. God, why didn’t I think of this yesterday?

“Hayley?” Mel questions me, bringing me back to the present.

“Sorry, I missed that.”

“I said… What did you mean when you asked, ‘what about good guys’?”

“Oh. What if I’m seen with a good guy? I have a close friend and—”

Mel gasps. “Yes. That’s perfect, Hayley. If you can find someone that’s squeaky clean then I say go for it. It might win you some bonus points in the sweetheart department.”

“Go for what?” I hesitate, not liking where this is going.

“You should pretend to date your friend. The good guy.”

Dammit . “I was worried you’d say that.”

“Why?”

“Never mind. I’ll figure something out. I promise.” What? I have no idea. But fake dating is off the table. I know now that it was a bad idea. I was too busy trying to distract myself yesterday, and I didn’t truly listen to what Reed was saying.

“Great.” Mel’s tone lifts and I can hear the smile in her voice. “I’ll leave it to you then. This is a huge role, Hayley. If you think Jaded Beginnings was big, wait until you see the fanfare around this one.”

“I know. I’ve already been hearing about it.

” Tension works its way into my chest, but I smile through it.

I was a fool to think it was going to be easier after the success of my last movie.

My star may be rising with the general public, but with the people that matter, I’m just another actress looking for her next role. And the joke’s on me.

“Good,” Mel responds, oblivious to my spiral. “Then you know what’s at stake.”

“Yeah. A huge commission.”

Mel laughs out loud and I can almost picture her giving me a slow clap. “I love Australian humor. Let’s talk soon.”

“Okay. Bye.”

She hangs up and I burst out laughing. But it’s not one of those “this is a funny situation” laughs; it’s more of a “what the fuck just happened” laugh and it’s not at all humorous.

My head spins when I try to get up, so I let my eyes glide closed, giving myself another hour since it’s still way too early for my liking.

I swear I’ve just drifted off to sleep when the front door bangs open and I jolt, grabbing my phone to check the time. Midday?! What the hell?

Jumping out of bed, I run my fingers through my messy blonde hair and make my way down the hall, my eyes locking on Reed as he dumps his bag on the floor.

With a sigh, he kicks the door closed and runs a hand down his face.

I’m silent as he checks his phone, but when he turns my way, I finally speak. “Hey.”

“Jesus Christ.” He startles, his fist clenching until he sees that it’s me. “You stayed?” he questions, his face marred with confusion.

“I did.”

He frowns as his eyes bounce around the room. “Is everything okay?”

“Is everything okay with you ?”

“Of course.” He scratches the back of his neck. “Why?”

“Because you were clenching your fist and I didn’t think you had it in you to punch someone.”

That perks him up. “Are you calling me weak?” He raises an eyebrow as some of the stress evaporates from his features, his shoulders dropping.

“With those muscles? Never . But you weren’t your happy self when you walked in.”

“Just more Bria bull…stuff”

“I’m sorry. I really wish that would all work out for you. Want to talk about it?”

“Nah.” He shakes his head. “I want to eat. Do you want to stay for lunch?”

“You’re my ride home, so… I’m at your mercy.”

“Is that why you’re still here?” he questions, hitting me with a smirk that could melt steel.

“No, it’s not actually.” I stand tall, folding my arms across my chest. “If you must know, I was woken up early by a phone call and fell back to sleep after. Your arrival woke me.”

“At twelve?”

“Yes, at twelve. Put that judgy expression away.”

Reed chuckles. “Sorry, it’s been a while since I slept that late. Actually, no, I’ve never slept that late. But you do you, Hayls.” He bites back a smirk and I snort.

“You said something about lunch? Put yourself to use, would ya.”

“Anything for you.”

Anything for me? I grin but my mind drifts back to my conversation with my agent. Would you fake date me for me, Reed? I bet you would. Lucky for you, I’m not going to ask.