“Why can’t it be? A boat ride in the moonlight?” We got a decent distance from shore, and I cut the motor. Regretfully, I let go of her hand and went to the back of the boat, where I started to tie the bricks to the bags of Heather.
“Most dates have fewer chainsaws and less vomit.” She laughed dryly.
“Less, but not none.” I smirked and raised a bag over my shoulder. “You know, maybe I am a psycho,” I mused, tossing it over the side of the boat. “I should feel guilt, or sadness, or disgust over what happened tonight. I don’t.”
Evie came and helped me unload a second bag.
“I wrestled with my feelings for a long time before I came back. Why didn’t I feel bad? They were humans, with people who loved them. Some have kids. Pets too. I just...don’t care.” She watched me toss another bag over. “They didn’t care about me. And I may not be the only one they’ve hurt like this. How many suicides were actually murders in Hollywood?”
She wasn’t wrong.
Together, we finished disposing of Heather’s body and then dropped to the floor of the boat. She cuddled against me, and I pulled her close, enjoying every second of intimacy she offered. I knew that in a moment, it could be ripped from me, never to be felt again, so I had to savor it.
“I’m sorry she did all that to you,” Evie said. “She deserved to die.”
“You think?”
“I do.”
Evie was just as cold as I was, and I liked it.
“I’ve always felt conflicted about what she did to me. She didn’tforceme into being with those men and women—but she had me convinced that if I didn’t sleep with them, then all the people who relied on my money would lose their jobs. That I’d never be rich and famous, and so many people were depending on me. It was so much guilt, and she made it seem like I was the bad guy.”
“Well, you’re not. At least not for that.” Evie smirked. She stretched up and gave me a peck on the lips.
My chest tightened, and my belly warmed. That was the first kiss she’d offered me willingly, not out of lust or because we were working. What did this mean?
“Do you…like bad guys?” I wiggled my eyebrows suggestively.
She laughed and fell back against my chest.
“Anthony C. Hopkins, Sebastian.”
I held her tighter and placed my chin on her head. If we only had tonight, I’d die a happy man.
“I’ve enjoyed a lot of people’s bodies, but I’ve only enjoyed one person’s soul. Evie, I know you’re still hellbent on this suicide mission, but I just need you to know—I’m going to do everything in my power to not only keep you alive, but to get you to stay here with me when this is all over.” The words started slow, then, as I kept talking, all at once.
“I see. And what if none of that happens?” she asked. “Even if I don’t die, which is unlikely, what if I want to leave Hollywood? Heather said it herself, I’m not really the look this town wants.”
“Fuck this town,” I snarled. “You want to leave, give me a day to pack my bags. We’ll take Precious and Cujo with us. We can get one of those motor homes and travel the country if you want. Or just live a quiet life in the woods, or on a beach, or in the fucking Arctic. I don’t care, as long as it’s with you. I mean it, Evie,” I said when she started to snicker.
I straightened, causing her to sit up and look at me. “I’m sorry Heather tricked you with that voicemail. If I had received it, I would have left this town with no hesitation. This place chews you up and spits you out. If I have to choose between the world loving me for my face or you loving me for who I am underneath it, I’ll choose you every time.”
“You say that now...” Evie shook her head, a small smile curling up one side of her face. She rose to her feet and went to the side of the boat where we’d dropped Heather off. She gripped the edge and spit into the water.
“Wait until this is all over. You might decide I’m the psycho, not you.”
I joined her, wrapping my arms around her from behind. I brushed her hair back and kissed her neck.
“I think that’d only make me want you more, Final Girl.”
Chapter 62
Sebastian
The New Deal
“Another rewrite?” I slapped the new script onto the table and leaped up. “This is bullshit. They are purposely prolonging this movie, and for what? There’s no way the sixth movie in a franchise needs this.”
