Mads: No. I figured I’d buy it when it releases. Why?
Me: I want to watch it.
Mads: I’m sure he’d be happy to send you a copy.
Mads: Unless something bad happened last night…
No, just an incredible orgasm and a night in his bed.
Alone.
Me: Stop fishing for info, there’s no scoop. I don’t want him to know I’m watching it in case I hate it.
It was a valid concern. If Maddie was entertained by a movie, it didn’t matter how many flaws it had. She gave it a good review. I wasn’t exactly a harsh critic, but it was harder for me to sink in. My brain stayed too active, noticing mistakesand inconsistencies. Suspension of disbelief wasunsuspendablemost of the time.
Mads: Good point. I just texted him to ask.
I checked the time to see it was only three in the afternoon. Tripp had to get up at dawn to take me to get my car, but chances were he’d gone back to bed after and was likely still there. His readthrough had wrapped the day before, and he had the weekend off before more pre-production preparations. Filming itself wouldn’t begin until after the new year. I’d known it wouldn’t be a quick process, but there were so many more logistics than I’d anticipated. It was amazing he’d been able to handle so much with such shitty help.
Me: Thanks.
Mads: Are you doing laundry tonight?
Mads: Or will I see you again at Gilded?
Me: No and no. I have to finish this stupid paper.
Mads: Need help? I can bring smoothies and cheese.
Me: Tempting, but also no. If Tripp sends a copy, we can do movie night, though.
Mads: Uh, pass. I think you’ll want to watch this one alone.
Me: Why?
Mads: You’ll see.
Mads: But at the risk of you changing your mind, I feel it is my BFF duty to remind you that Chase Majors is his co-star.
My stomach instantly soured. Chase Majors was my ex’s boss and, according to Maddie, exactly the kind of spoiled diva we’d encountered countless times at Exquisite Aesthetics. If that wasn’t bad enough, he’d also had a part in launching my father’s pharmaceutical criminal enterprise.
And that was, in fact, nearly enough to make me change my mind. I had no interest in staring at his stupid face for two hours. But I would set my personal grudge aside in the name of professional competency.
Me: I know. I’ll just boo every time he’s on screen.
Mads: A valid response. Now get your work done.
I glared at the phoneandmy work before doing as she said.
Or at leasttryingto. I did manage to knock out all the inconsequential busywork my other professors assigned in a desperate attempt to force us to review the coursework before finals.
I was working to get into an unethical mindset for my Business Ownership paper when my phone buzzed.
And my chest tightened.
And my belly swooped.
And my sex got wet.
