Calder tipped his head like a curious puppy. “What happens at the end of the year?”
“My contract with the show is up and so is the contract with my publicist. Then I can…reevaluate.”
“Reevaluate?”
“Yeah. I became an actor because it was a way out from underneath my father’s thumb. I don’t know if I want to do it anymore. I don’t know if somebody like me is cut out for Hollywood.”
To Calder’s credit, he didn’t tell Robby he was crazy or try to tell him he was squandering an opportunity most people would kill for. Robby lectured himself about those same things enough for ten people. He lived in a constant spiral of shame and guilt.
“What would you do if you weren’t an actor?”
Robby shifted, uncomfortable with the level of attention Calder now lavished on him. Nobody had ever asked him what he wanted. It was a strange feeling. Not only that Calder asked but that he examined Robby like he actually cared about the answer. “I don’t know. I just always wanted to work with animals.”
“Like a lion tamer or like a vet?” Calder asked, give Robby a half-smile that probably melted the panties off women everywhere.
Robby’s cheeks flushed. “I don’t think I’m smart enough to be a vet or brave enough to be a lion tamer. I would just like to take care of the animals nobody else wants.”
A strange expression crossed Calder’s face. “I think you would be perfect for that.”
Robby wasn’t sure if Calder was making fun of him or not, but it didn’t really matter. Despite Wyatt and Charlie’s scheming, whatever this was with Calder was temporary. They’d fooled around twice, and both times, Calder had looked like he was fighting the urge to run away. Robby tried not to let that hurt, but it twisted his insides anyway.
“Do you show your art anywhere?” Robby asked, hoping to deflect the attention away from himself.
Calder’s head turned towards the dining room. “My paintings? Nah. I just do that for me.”
“But you’re really talented. Don’t you want to share that talent with the world?” Robby asked.
“You’re a really talented actor. Do you really want to stop acting and deprive the world of your talent?”
Robby scoffed. “Thanks, but I’m a mediocre actor on a good day. Most people over the age of ten only know me because I’m Elijah Dunne’s ex-boyfriend.”
“Well, I’m a mediocre painter, but I like that you think I’m not.”
Robby smiled. “I should probably call Jasmine now.” His gaze flicked upward. “Should I tell her you said hi?” he asked, voice deadpan.
Calder snickered. “Uh, that won’t be necessary.”
Robby batted his lashes. “Are you sure? I don’t want to keep you from anything.”
Calder caught Robby’s mouth in a dirty kiss that left him semi-hard. “I’m positive, angel. I’ve got my hands full at the moment, unless you’ve tired of me already?”
Robby’s heart cartwheeled behind his ribcage, but he shrugged, turning his attention to his phone screen. “I suppose not yet.”
“Oh, well that’s good. I have some calls to return of my own. So, I’ll leave you to your planning.”
Once Calder had left the room, Robby called Jasmine who answered on the first ring. “Where have you been?”
“In hiding. In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been accused of murder and my father is all over the news.”
“I’ve noticed. Why do you think I’ve been freaking out? Are you okay? Where are you staying?”
“I hired a security company. I’m staying with the guard who’s looking out for me. Calder Seton.”
Robby took some pleasure in the long silence on the other side of the line and the way Jasmine cleared her throat uncomfortably. “Oh, good. Uh, good plan. I think we need to get out in front of this. The tabloids are all over it and CNN has been running stories about Magnus Dei all day.”
“My attorney says we need to hire a PR team.”
“Okay. That makes sense. I’ll call Marin Bridger. Her team handles murderers all the time…not that you’re a murderer,” she finished lamely.
