Page 40 of The Starlet

The rest of the day goes by in a mix of sweaty bodies, drenched sheets, and cascades of water. I’m exhausted. Elena came for me six times before she tapped out and made me stop. I would have gotten seven out of her if I’d tied her down like I wanted.

There’s always next time.

Chapter 25

The alcohol is flowing,the food tastes amazing, and the music is full volume. Another successful film has wrapped production. I’m happy and sad it’s come to an end, but I can’t wait to get back to my own room and my own house. I’m sick of hotel living.

The cast and crew parties are always a huge hit, and everyone enjoys getting to relax after working so hard for several months. The studio pays for the liquor, and everyone lives it up for the evening. Filming is complete, but there is a matter of deconstructing the rest of the sets and getting the town back to normal.

I’m sure everyone who lives here will be thrilled we aren’t invading their space anymore so they can get back to their everyday lives.

I’m two glasses of Shiraz in, and I couldn’t be happier. I dance with Chloe, and she spins me around on the floor. I glance at Brad, and he’s watching the two of us, a big smile on his face. I want to have him dance with me, but we are so close to being done, nobody needs to know the two of us are together.

“I’m going to get some water, want some?” Chloe asks.

I shake my head and continue to shake my hips to the dance beat. I look around, now that I’m left alone on the makeshift dance floor, and see most of the crew milling around drinking and talking. I walk up to a few of the men on the crew.

“Excuse me,” I start. Both gentlemen look surprised that I’m talking to them. “I seem to have lost my dance partner in favor of water. Would either of you want to dance with me?”

The older one, probably in his late forties with some greys peppered throughout his hair, answers hesitantly. “Sure. Is your boyfriend okay with that though?”

“I don’t have a boyfriend. Where did you hear that?” I put my hands on my hips and turn my lips down.

“Are you sure Bradley and you aren’t dating? That’s the rumor around set.” He reaches his hand behind him and scratches his head.

I turn red. I guess we didn’t do as good a job of hiding it as we thought. “Oh.”

Chloe returns and has a bottle of water for me anyway. She pulls me back to the dance floor, but I don’t feel much like dancing anymore. That small conversation sobered me, and I need to tell Brad.

I leave Chloe in Cristina’s capable hands, and the two of them bump hips and laugh hysterically together. I stand next to Brad and he smirks.

“Trying to make me jealous? Do I need to remind you what happens when you tease me? I have no problem restraining you. Actually, I might do that anyway, just for fun.”

“If that’s what I have to do to make that happen, I’ll take it.” I smirk and sip some water.

“You know you just have to ask.” He pushes my hair back, exposing my bare shoulder.

“We aren’t very good at hiding.” I look around the crowd and notice some of them looking in our direction. “Rumor around set is we’re dating.”

He smiles, seemingly unfazed by this. “Well, we do spend a lot of time together, and when they were moving Kai out of here, you did find me and ask to speak with me in private. I’m sure most people figured it out then.”

I blush. He’s right; we did spend a lot of time together when that was going down. “Well, since the cat’s out of the bag, want to dance with me?”

He takes my hand in his and leads me to the dance floor. The music is still upbeat, and the lyrics talk about wanting to party until sunrise, but that doesn’t seem to matter. He pulls me into his arms, and we sway to the music as if it’s nothing more than a slow melody. I wrap my hands around the back of his neck and stare into his dark brown eyes.

I play with the small curl of hair at the nape of his neck as he smiles at me and hums his own tune. I get lost in him—the way he feels, the way he smells, and the way he makes my heart skip a beat. He pushes me out and spins me. Instead of pulling me back and continuing the dance, he dips me. His lips hover over mine, and when someone calls out, “kiss her,”he doesn’t disappoint.

This night is perfect.

* * *

I’m packedand ready to go. The car will be here soon to take me and Brad to the airport. I changed my flight around so we could go together. There are already a bunch of gossip magazines and online reports of the two of us dating. It was only a matter of time, especially after the pictures fromFeverishwere plastered all over the internet.

The ride to the airport is short, both of us too tired to do much talking. He holds my hand, and I rest my head on his shoulder. As we pull up to the terminal, I see tons of cameras and people approaching the car.Here we go.

“Don’t let go of my hand, don’t answer any of their questions, and try not to look at them,” I say.

“Nervous?”