So when she looks at me likethat, I realize she’s telling me more than I’ve understood and it hits me.
Gemma is seeing someone.
And I didn’t know.
“Who—” I clear my throat and try again. “Who is she dating?” Why my voice sounds like gravel and ice, ask me later. No time to ponder that now. She told Kayla no just last night. She lied?
“Spencer Schafer.”
“The prop guy?” My voice definitely just shot up an octave. But what, am I just supposed to beokaywith some random guy who’s probably just using her for sex? Has she even vetted him? What’s his background? What are his skeletons? I harbor serious doubts that he’s good enough for her, and my suspicion must be showing through my single question because the look I get back…it tells me a lot.
“Yes, Aaron. The prop guy.” Her dryness would even be enviable to Roy freaking Kent, but I’m not feeling charitable right now. I’m fucking pissed that everyone has kept this from me. How long has this been going on? Isthisthe guy she thought I was when we were on the couch the other morning?
“Since when?” I think that came out as a screech.
“Their first date is on Saturday, actually, if it’s even your business.”
“Of course it’s my business! She’s my best friend.”
“Is that why you waited almost two months to tell her about Kayla?”
I don’t ask how she knows about Kayla. Gem has obviously been confiding in Alex instead of me lately. And now Alex knows she has me cornered, but she doesn’t wait for me to answer her.
“Look. She’s a good girl, he’s a good guy. She deserves some happiness, to focus on her own life and not just be wrapped up in Aaron’s World twenty-four-seven. Don’t fuck this up for her. Let her try to have a good time for once.”
“A good time? Is that what he thinks she is?” The accusation in my voice rumbles out, clear as day, and I see a couple of stray crew members scurry away from me out of my periphery. I’m surprised I can see anything at all outside of the sheer red taking over my vision right now. I don’t even care what I look like, but it must be a sight with the way they arefleeingthe scene.
She pauses mid-step to roll her eyes and toss her head back, that wavy black hair flowing behind her as she does. She’s not gonna distract me with her beauty right now. Not that she would. I’m beyond positive I’m not her type. But she’s the kind of understated gorgeous that could be any guy’s type. And I’ve seen her use it to her advantage. Not gonna work on me today though. She snaps her gaze back on me, and we resume our walk toward the trailers.
“He’s a good guy, Aaron. Let it be.”
“How the fuck do you know?”
“Do you think I would’ve set her up with him if he wasn’t?”
Wait adamnminute.
“YOU fucking set them up?”
She throws her hands up in the air and then puts them on her hips, popping one out as she stops walking once again to glare at me.
“Make up your mind, Aaron.”
“Huh?”
“Do you want her with a good guy? Some random guy? Or with you?”
My stomach flies into my throat, and I can’t get the denial out fast enough. “Obviously I don’t want her to be with me, or some random schmuck who’s using her. But who is this guy? Beyond props? How do we know he’s going to be good for her? What’s his deal?”
“Have youmetSpencer?”
My defensiveness is fully locked in place, now. “No, but half of this crew was on the last show y’all did together and I’ve definitely heard him mentioned a bunch.”
“You’ve probably heard that he’s insane with prop design, he is as resourceful as it comes and can make anything look realistic on-screen, even with no advance warning. How he’s sincerely every prop director he’s ever worked with’s favorite person. He’s also sweet, genuinely hilarious, and you may even have heard that he’s good in bed.”
The good news is my stomach is no longer in my throat. The bad news is, it’s now in my asshole.
She continues without batting an eyelash. “It’s all true.”
