I rolled my eyes.
“It’s the best we’ve got.” I sighed.
I reached for the phone and tossed it into the hot tub. As it hit the charged water, there was a quick flash, telling me it was fried. I went to the bar and watched as Sebastian and Bryce carefully unplugged the toaster and fished it out. Fred’s body floated lazily in the tub, his head still underwater.
Good.
Skye joined me behind the bar and pulled out the blender. Humming a tune, she ducked down and popped back up with a bottle of tequila and a nearly empty jug of margarita mix. She gathered everything and took it over to the men, who plugged in the appliance. Sebastian held it while she poured the cocktail into the blender. Bryce then took it from her and warned us to stand back as he tossed it into the water. Another pop and zap of lightning came upon impact with the water.
We stared in silence as the cord ripped from the extension and slipped beneath the water, disappearing under the bubbles. No one said anything until some time later, when Skye cocked her head.
“Which do you think Fred would have preferred? Sugar or salt on the rim?”
Chapter 36
Evie
The On-Screen Kiss
Fire crackled in the background from burn barrels and an overturned car. I hauled myself to my feet, limping as I did. My hair hung down, wild and untamed, making me even hotter than I already was. Reflex made me want to shove it back, but they liked my hair like this, so I forced myself not to reach up and adjust it. I clutched the jagged breakaway glass in my hand and narrowed my gaze into slits.
“Looking for me?” Skye called from behind me.
I spun around. She looked just as beaten as I did. Her clothes were torn, her skin covered in grease.
She clicked her tongue. “Tsk, tsk. Simon didn’t say turn around, bitch.” With a scream, she raised her arm, wielding Simon Says’s signature axe. She charged toward me, ready to kill.
“Cut!” Dante shouted. “Reset!”
Skye stopped inches from me, and we stared at each other before bursting into giggles. We ran the scene again and then a third time. Then we started the close-up fight. She tore my shirt, exposing my low-cut bra. I was less than impressed by wardrobe, but this movie was intentionally sexy and built for the male gaze.
Although, I’d argue that Sebastian’s full-frontal scene was for the girls, the gays, and the theys. Even if I hadn’t experienced him firsthand, I wouldn’t have denied that Sebastian Shaw’s naked form was otherworldly. My mind drifted to the last time I’d experienced that form, and my heart sank. Our bodies had betrayed us both. We’d been forced into a position where we had to perform for people. It was degrading and made me rethink the excitement from the chemistry test. I wasn’t even sure I’d be able to do the sex scenes for the movie now.
I wiped the sweat from my brow and put my hair up in a ponytail as I walked off set in the direction of my trailer.
“Popcorn for your thoughts?”
Sebastian seemed to come from nowhere. I shoved my sad thoughts back when I caught sight of his smile. He felt the same as me about it all, and that was helping me work through my feelings. He was holding a brown bag of popcorn from craft services. He tilted the top to me—there were M&M’s in it.
“Nothing. Just that today has been super fun. I love the days Skye and I film together.”
He leaned against my trailer next to me and popped a few pieces into his mouth. “That’s how I feel with Bryce. You know it’s gonna be a good day when we’re both called. What are you up to tonight?”
“I’m starting with a shower to get this off.” I lifted my greasy arms. “Then a hot bath to soothe my muscles. Pretending to fight is exhausting!” I laughed.
Skye walked past, looking like hell, and waved eagerly, wiggling her fingers as she went to her trailer.
“She’s been shockingly cool about it all,” Sebastian said. “I really thought we fucked up, her being there with Fred...”
“Yeah, me too. Bryce must have known something we didn’t. I never thought I’d have a friend other than you to help, but...now I have three of you?” I shook my head in disbelief. I hated that I kind of liked it.
How did this even happen? Friendship wasn’t part of the plan.
After my mom died, I closed myself off from everyone—even my aunt Yvonne, who’d taken me in. Thankfully, she wasn’t around much, so it didn’t seem to bother her. I had a feeling that when I was eventually gunned down in front of the Hollywood sign, she wouldn’t even come for the funeral. But these three? They would be the ones carrying my casket.
“Friend?” Sebastian frowned. “Is that what you’re calling me?”
I looked up at him in confusion. “What else would I call you?”
