Page 25 of The Publicist

“Tait told me.”

The way she responds is so nonchalant, I can’t help but get jealous. A small growl leaves my throat. “Why the fuck are you talking to Tait?”

She squints her eyes at me. “I can talk to whomever the hell I want. We’re friends, Caleb, nothing more. Nothing is going on between us.” Her face suddenly lights up. “You’re jealous.”

I want to lie to her, but I’m sure she will see through it. She has a good bullshit detector. “I don’t like the way he was speaking about you the other night, and I don’t think it’s a good idea to be friends with him.”

“I’ll make up my own mind as to who I want to be friends with. Besides, it might be good for his image, too, if I‘m seen with both of you guys. The normal girl who can charm both handsome heartthrobs. Think of the headlines.”

“I’m not paying you to hang out with him,” I deadpan.

“Caleb, you aren’t paying me at all. The money is coming fromReel Studios,and if I can help another one of their stars, I’m sure there will be a bigger bonus in it for me.” She takes a deep breath, stands, and closes the door behind me. I assume she doesn’t want to be heard. She takes her seat again. “Why are you fighting me on this? We aren’t actually dating. It’s all pretend.”

“You can’t tell me you haven’t felt something between us in the past few days.”

“I can’t tell you anything, Caleb. You’re a great kisser, and you were good in bed, but I don’t know you. As far as I’m concerned, I don’t have any attachments to you. You’re my job. I am going along with this fake relationship because I was asked to do it. What we did last night, it goes against everything I normally do. It was fun, and I don’t regret it, but that doesn’t mean any of this is real.”

“That’s all bullshit and you know it!” I stand, seething, and she relaxes back into her seat. “I don’t know what I have to do to prove it to you, but I am going to make you see that we belong together. I haven’t felt this way since Cassandra.”

“Oh, is that her name? Your ex? Why did you cheat on her anyway?”

I’ve only ever told Elena I cheated on her. I’ve never mentioned that to anyone else.I feel the color drain from my face. “Who told you that?”

“I’m not an idiot. Shortly after your break-up, you became Hollywood’s party boy with random hook-ups. I’ve also been studying pictures I’ve seen. The light from your eyes faded after she wasn’t in the picture. No one told me. I figured it out.”

“It was a mistake. It’s not something I willeverdo again.”

“I don’t know, Caleb. Once a cheater, always a cheater.”

I raise my voice. “That’s suchshit,Quinn, and you know it. I made a mistake, so I have to be condemned by it for my entire life?” I ball my hands into fists by my side, my short nails digging into my palm. “That’s like me saying because you’re fat, you’re ugly.” I snap my mouth shut and look at her. I see the hurt behind her eyes and try to take it back. I reach out toward her, but she pulls back. “Quinn, that came out wrong. That’s not what I meant. I didn’t—”

She cuts me off and points to the door. “Caleb, get thefuckout of my office. I will see you in a week on set. I don’t want to see you prior to that.”

“Quinn, I’m sorry. Please.” I take a step toward her, and she stands her ground, her eyes boring into mine.

“Get. Out!”

I kick the chair and open the door, storming out of her office and out of the building. I get back into my car and slam my hand down on the steering wheel. “Fuck!” I yell to no one. The small bouquet of flowers I picked up for Quinn taunts me from the passenger seat. When I spot her car in the parking lot, I get out with the bouquet and place it on the windshield, taking special care to gently place the wiper down over the stems. I’m tempted to hang out in my car and watch for when she gets into hers, but I know if she sees me lurking, she’ll be more pissed off than anything.

Begrudgingly, I get back into my car. I send a text to Elena before I head out.

Me:Guess I fucked it up.

I contemplate going home, but I can’t stand the thought of not having anyone around me. Winding up outsideSurrender,I give my keys to the valet and make my way inside.At least, this way I have people around me.It is still early and the crowd is small, but I can at least get a drink and be out of the way of prying eyes. I take a seat on the semi-hard couch and order a scotch from the waitress. She smiles brightly at me, and I roll my eyes.Not gonna happen, lady.

She returns and all but shoves her breasts in my face as she hands me my drink. I smile sweetly and take it as I unlock my phone to text Elena. She responded to my latest text.

Elena:That didn’t take long. What did you do?

I sigh heavily, close my eyes, and press my thumb to the bridge of my nose, trying to stop my impending headache.

Me:She knows about Cassandra and I called her fat. I didn’t mean it the way it came out though.

Elena:YOU DID WHAT?! Are you a FUCKING idiot!?

Yes, I am.

Me:She told me she couldn’t date me. Once a cheater, always a cheater. So, I gave her a piss poor analogy. I told her that’s like me saying because she’s fat she’s ugly. She doesn’t want to see me.