Page 118 of Nothing Special X: The Last Stand

He declined shots. Enjoyed the buffet and drank a lot of sparkling water.

The first party was manageable. The second one, he wanted to choke himself.

Astral House had rented out a rooftop space in Beverly Hills. By the time he got there it was a bunch of beautiful drunk people who’d spent the evening losing, winning, pretending not to care, or caring so much they drank through it.

The air smelled like expensive perfume, liquor, and weed.

Xander was so tired of fake smiling as if he was having a good time and Cassidy knew it. He could tell by the way he gravitated closer, and closer.

“You’re done in fifteen,” Cassidy murmured near his ear.

Xander turned his head. “Maribel said an hour.”

“I’m not Maribel.”

“No,” Xander said softly, letting his gaze travel over him. “You are not.”

Cassidy’s eyes heated for a breath, then shifted over Xander’s shoulder and the warmth turned ice cold.

Xander followed his gaze and immediately saw why.

Wyatt Stanis was coming toward him with a drink in one hand and trouble in his unsteady steps.

He was handsome in a careless, glossy way, with dark curls, and a cunning smile. At the Crescent Gala he’d been charming. Now he was loud, drunk and no longer respecting boundaries.

“Xan,” Wyatt called, dragging the name out as he approached. “There he is. Man of the hour.”

Xander smiled stiffly. “Hey, Wyatt.”

Wyatt threw one arm around him before Xander could step back.

Cassidy moved in to intercept but Xander shook his head to stop him.

Wyatt squeezed him, his hand landing low on his waist. “You fucking did it, man. Best Actor. Best Film. They’re gonna have to rename the whole damn night after you.”

Xander tried to shift out from under his arm, but Wyatt didn’t let go. “Thank you.”

“You looked gorgeous on that stage.” Wyatt’s breath smelled like pineapples and tequila…or was it rum. “Seriously. Beautiful. Whole room was going crazy for you.”

Wyatt eased his hand further down, fingers digging into his velvet jacket as he leaned into his side. “I was too.”

Xander’s heart pounded faster at the way Cassidy’s expression had turned to stone as he glared at Wyatt’s hands.

He caught Wyatt’s wrist. “Okay, you’re drunk.”

Wyatt laughed as though Xander wasn’t being serious.

“Come on now, no need to play hard to get,” Wyatt smiled. “I’ve seen the way you look at me on set. How hard you were when we did our scene.”

Oh hell.

That was not because of you.

Behind him, somewhere across the room, Ruxs turned.

Green did too.

Day lifted his head as God pushed off the far wall.