Dex shrugs and smiles lazily. “We were having sex in my car. What the hell have you been up to? It looks like Metro whooped your asses.” I’m so used to his crass, it doesn’t even embarrass me. It’s not likeallof these people didn’t witness the first time we ever hooked up, when it was accidently broadcast live online and on high-definition screens atUPCLOSE’sannual masquerade party. But that’s awholeother story.
“Never mind the game. It isn’t a fair competition when one team is full of unathletic dogstalking fools.” She looks me up and down and gives me a wink. “Car sex, yummy. I’d love an in-depth article about that from someone in their late thirties. Did you have to stretch beforehand?”
I’m only thirty-two. She knows this, why does she always say I’m older?
She waves the conversation away and continues on whatever rant we missed. “Metropolitan just got an exclusive interview with Chloe Kimandcontracted to be at the birth of her babyanda bi-weekly column about the first year of the brat’s life.”
That’s pretty impressive. Especially if they finally let out who the baby daddy is. “And you want something bigger?” I ask.
“Want?Want? We need something bigger.We need sex and violence and drugs and the complete defiling of humanity. We need to takeUPCLOSEto the next level.”
Dex slides himself next to me on the bench, listening to Gail. His pant leg touches mine and I feel of the heat of his body against me. “And you came up with something even better?” he asks.
She folds her arms across her chest and smiles like the Cheshire Cat. “I have Julia flying out to Florida to get an interview with the latest professional ball player to hit rehab. What’s his face?” Behind her Julia frowns and mutters the player’s name. I can’t make out what she says or who it is. “And Dex, you’re on a flight tomorrow to shadow the elusive Pippa Grace.”
Pippa Grace? Gail stays silent, letting the name sink in. Pippa Grace was once one of Hollywood’s most celebrated young actors. Beautiful and talented, Hollywood’s most sought-after star, right up until the moment she was accused of killing the costar of her last movie. She got out of prison a few days ago, after only serving a five-year sentence, and has never let anyone interview her. “She’s willing to tell her side of the story, for the magazine, and Dex, she’s willing to have you write her tell-all book.”
I feel the excitement surge through his body next to me. This is huge for him. I want to jump and yell and squeal, but everyone is sitting so still listening I don’t want to look unprofessional.
Gail turns her attention to me next and smiles wider. “You, my little Plain Jane, who has the Midas touch with words. You’re headed to London.”
Say what now?“Lo-London?”
“You are headed out to go behind the scenes with Simply Sinister, focusing on their lead singer.” My heart flutters in my chest erratically. The lead singer to Simply Sinister? Just like Pippa Grace, the mysterious Damian Miles has never before been interviewed. His music tops the charts in every country, and rumors of his wild sexcapades spread like wildfire on social media. A few months ago, he was in a plane crash and miraculously walked away without a scratch. People believe he actually died in the accident, and stories and fabrications have built to extremely creative heights explaining how he is where he is today. “You’re going to follow along with them for a few months and get me all their filthy little secrets. They too want a tell-all. This is their last tour.Their last album. I want to know all about the band, who they are, who Damian really is, all about the crash, how he survived,if he survived. Why they’re ending their career. Jane, I want to know how big his dick is.”
“A few months?” Dex and I exchange glances. “Wait a second, how long do you expect me to stay in London?”
“As long as it takes to get what I need, Jane.”
“How long will I be in California?” Dex asks.
“As long as it takes you.” She looks at all our faces, one by one. “UPCLOSEis on the verge of infinite madness. Everyone will know your names after this. We have the backing and the advances from a Big Five publishing house that will make you both come harder than you just did in the backseat of Dex’s car.”
Both of us know refusing the stories will end our careers. Going will catapult them. I’ve waited years to get a chance to write something like this, and for it to be a book? I’ve been stuck on funny fluff pieces like one-night stands and what romance novels are the steamiest. It’s a no-brainer for both of us. We’re going. We’re going and we’re writing the articles and the fucking books. The only thing I don’t know is how the hell we’re going to stay together through it all without being able to see each other.
Gail looks between the both of us and purses her lips. “If the both of you can’t deal with being physically apart for this teeny-tiny amount of time…well then, I guess you know what sort of relationship you really have. I can give these stories to—”
“We got this,” Dex says, grabbing my hand and bringing it up to his lips to kiss my knuckles. My stomach flutters as he says the words, because looking at the pale color of his face, I see he’s just as worried as me.
Chapter 2
It’s bitch o’clock in the morning and I’m helping Julia stuff handfuls of silk and lace into her suitcase. It looks like she’s packing for a prostitute convention.
“Twenty minutes and the car will be here. I can’t believe Gail put me on a flight this early,” Julia whines as she shoves what looks like thousands of dollars’ worth of cosmetics into another, smaller suitcase.
“Why do you need all this junk? How many suitcases are you taking?” I ask, counting out five in my head as I stand in her living room.
She sighs dramatically. “Please, do you think I look like this naturally?”
Yes, yes I do. I secretly think her parents bought her in a hot pink box with the name Barbie scrawled across the front of it.
“You should live a minute in my shoes and see what it takes to keep up this appearance. I wish I could be more like you and not care.”
I freeze, leveling my eyes with hers. “I care about how I look. What do you mean?”
“Nothing. Don’t listen to me, I’m having morning-rage.” She shakes her head and shrugs. “What’s been going on with you lately, anyway? I haven’t seen much of you since Dex came along.” She sticks out her tongue when she says his name and does this sort of whole-body shiver.
I shove the last pile of lingerie into her bag and zip it closed. “Stop that. I’m seriously going to miss him.”
