Page 32 of The Starlet
“Well, let’s not spoil the fun for him then, huh?” I smile and we get into the waiting car.
We arrive at LAX and make it through private security easily. Elena takes Quinn, and the two of them head off to some shop. Jimmy jumps in the car behind them, and I make my way to the hotel with Kent, my guard. So far, I’ve been able to play him off as a friend, and most people aren’t questioning it.
In the meantime, I have a few hours to kill and decide to call Hunter, my best friend, for a drink. It’s been a few months since I’ve seen him. If I don’t, I’m sure I’ll drive myself crazy texting Elena to make sure she’s safe.
The car pulls up outside my favorite place,Pucker Up,and Hunter is already waiting for me. Kent agrees to take a table close by, to keep an eye out for anything or anyone suspicious. Hunter grins when he sees me and pulls me into a half-hug, cupping his hand on my back before he lets go.
“Damn, kid. You look great,” he says.
“Hey, Hunter, not so bad yourself. Let’s go in. I don’t have a ton of time but wanted to catch up.”
We spend the next hour talking about anything and everything. It’s good to see him, and even better to be away from prying eyes. Everyone thinks I’m still in Vancouver filming, so I don’t feel I have to watch my back for paparazzi here.
“So, tell me what’s going on with Elena? I’ve seen a couple of pictures of you two come up on news feeds. She’s fucking hot, man. You’re a lucky son of a bitch.” He kicks back the rest of his beer and orders another.
I want to tell him everything, but I know now is not the time.“She’s something else, man. Funny as hell and we get along great. She’s my plus one tonight for the premiere.”
“No shit, huh?” He strokes his chin scruff and starts again. “So, you fuck her yet?”
I’ve fucked that girl six ways to Sunday.“None of your business, man,” I say with a laugh. If I’m being honest, the question pisses me off. He doesn’t need to know about any of that. However, if I don’t tell him, he’ll know something is up because I usually tell him. “We keep it professional. She’s a friend.”
“That’s not what I’ve read.”
“Oh, yeah? Tell me what you’ve read, and I’ll tell you if it’s true.”
“I’ve read you two have spent a lot of time with one another, and things are getting serious. Rumor is you two are bunking together.”
“You know what they say about rumors, man. Where are you getting your information?”
“Online.”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t believe everything you read.”
* * *
We arriveon the red carpet, and the horde of people around us screaming hurts my ears. When I help Elena out of the car, the noise gets even louder. I place my hand on her lower back and keep in step with her. She’s wearing a beautiful deep blue, floor-length, strapless ball gown. The material cascades over her petite form, making her look regal.
“You look beautiful tonight, Elena,” I say only loud enough for her to hear. She blushes and looks up at me, smiling.
We watch as Caleb picks Quinn up and spins her around. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look as happy as he does right now. Elena nudges me with her elbow, and we make our way through the photographers and interviews. Everyone keeps asking how filming is going, what viewers can expect from this upcoming movie, and if we are a real couple.
Are we a real couple?It dawns on me we haven’t discussed anything since we started sleeping together. I need to fix that tonight.
The movie is as expected—lots of action, a few steamy scenes, and a happy ending.
The ride to the hotel is short, and when we make it to my room, she kicks off her heels and flops backwards on the bed, placing her arm over her eyes.
“Elena, can we talk?”
She sits up and looks at me. “That sounds serious. Is everything okay?”
“We need to discussus. What are we? Are we friends with benefits, boyfriend and girlfriend...?”
She purses her lips and shrugs. “I don’t know.”
I keep my voice soft. “Well, Ineedto know. I have feelings for you, Elena. Much more than I thought would be possible in such a short time. I know you don’t want to rush things, and I respect that, but I need to know if this is going anywhere.”
“I really like you, Brad. I want this to go somewhere, too. I’m scared though. There’s this crazy person out there, and then there is the matter of the press and how they are going to react. My life is under the watchful eye of the public, and I don’t want to pull you into that. At the same time, for selfish reasons, I don’t want to let you go.”