“No,” I snap walking into the bathroom. “I didn’t want to the first time. I certainly don’t want to now. And to be honest, the break is better than the old nose job. Not to mention, a bit rakish. Devil may care.” I turn my head side to side admiring the broader bridge of my nose in the mirror.
If I had to get my nose broken, I’d choose Blake to do it every time. He really did a bang-up job. Pun totally intended. I really should thank him. If I’m ever able to leave my apartment again, that will be my first order of business.
“Nose job is off the table,” she agrees. “But you have to get back here for filming. The director is not happy about you missing the read-through.”
“I pay you to keep him happy. If he’s not, that’s your fault, not mine.”
She grumbles incoherently. Pretty sure my name is cursed up and down a couple of times.
“I’ll make a call to clear you a way out,” she says.
“Make the call but don’t get your hopes up about seeing me too soon.”
She hangs up without another word.
I swear, if she wasn’t the only other person in the world, besides my family, that knew the truth about my past, I’d fire her in a heartbeat. But I’m pretty sure she’s only as loyal as she is because she knows she has me on that leash. I’ve given some thought to leaking the juicy details myself. I’m keeping it in my back pocket for when I retire. Burn that bridge so she can’t.
Who knows? If Lily shows up tonight, I may just take it as the sign I’ve been looking for to make my retirement official.
Even with the stitches and broken nose, and the occasional cabin fever, this last year has been heaven. A year without those vultures breathing down my neck. Cameras in my face at every turn. As sick as I am of only having my hand to please me, I don’t miss the shallow, sex-only encounters anymore. All this time without them has been a real eye-opener. Never realized it before but… I’m an asshole.
It’s probably a good thing I didn’t meet Lily when Oliver invited me to that party. Even better Oliver never gave in to me begging him to hook me up with her all summer. Hell, it’s probably still a bad idea to invite her over here now. I’m still an asshole. The only difference is, I can admit it.
I’m fully aware I’m just as desperate to get laid now as I was then. I’m just as willing to risk Oliver kicking my ass if he finds out Lily accepted my invitation.
Maybe it’s because I’m finally aware of how big of an asshole I am. Or maybe it’s because she’s the only woman in the world who doesn’t know me and doesn’t want to use me, but I’m not so sure I want just one time with her. And even though that kind of scares the shit out of me, it excites me in a way that makes me want to risk it all just to see her again.
The front of my pants gets tight when I flop into bed and I catch her scent lingering on my shirt from when I leaned into her.
Please let her stop by tonight.
When there’s a knock on my door, I think my prayers have been answered.
My heart races. You’d think I’ve never had a woman come over before. I’ve never had a woman wait so long to show up. I forgot how much fun the chase can be. The anticipation. Not knowing if she’ll show up or not.
I step back for a second. Let my excitement cool a bit before I answer and make an idiot of myself. It’s a good thing too. Because the person on the other side gets impatient and saves me from a worse fate than embarrassment.
“Come on, Mr. Christiansen. We know you’re in there. Just give us five minutes. Tell us why you went into hiding and we’ll let you get back to it.”
Fuck. How?
They must have spotted me after I left the cafe. Drew straws to see which one of them got the first crack at me. This asshole won.
I back up until the back of my legs hit the sofa and I use it to support my body as I slump down. Defeated.
It’s over. I can’t stay here anymore. I either have to go back to Hollywood and the work I’m not sure I want to do anymore or find a new hideout. Either way, I have to leave Towering Pines. But I really don’t want to. Especially if I have a chance to see Lily again.
Oh, shit. If she shows up now, those fucking sharks will eat her alive. I need to warn her. And find a way out of here without being followed.
I bring up the ongoing text conversation between Oliver and me that has sat dormant for the last couple of weeks.
Me: Need your help, O.
A couple of excruciatingly long minutes later, he answers.
O: What’s up?
Me: Razzi found me.
