Em laughed. “Because,” he said. “You’re going to be one of the hottest names in town.”
“You mean, as an actor?” she said. Could he really declare something like that? As if it were a fact?
Em laughed again. “You really are funny.”
AJ tried to picture it, but the image of herself on a red carpet seemed photoshopped even in her own mind. She’d loved playing Ana, but the idea of acting apart from this show, apart from Noah…
“I don’t know,” she said. “I actually always wanted…”
“What?” said Em, and AJ’s stomach twisted. In all their conversations, she’d never worked up the nerve to share her true ambition. She took a breath.
“I want to write.”
Em laughed at her. “No. Sorry. You belong on camera.Sucha breath of fresh air.”
His dismissal was so firm AJ went mute. She now found herself somewhere she never meant to be, caught, a fish in a net. Em seemed to be expecting something. AJ heard herself thank him.
“I’ve helped a lot of breakouts through this moment.” Em went right on with the script in his head, director and ingenue. “And I want you to know that whatever comes up, you have my support.”
As his knee inched toward hers, AJ began to float outside of her body. Was this really happening? This scene she had heard about, seen a thousand times. It seemed so cliché, and yet she was still sitting here, letting him tell her who she was, letting him come closer.
“Thanks,” said AJ again. “That means a lot,” she added when he continued to stare.
He nodded. Was he totally oblivious that he had just coerced the response he wanted from her? Was he really unaware of the power imbalance between them?
“It can be hard out there,” he said, “knowing who to trust. You’re really special, AJ. I would never want to see you get hurt.”
Then he placed his hand on her thigh. AJ’s reaction was immediate revulsion, but to her own horror, she didn’t remove it or get up. She just stared at his fingers undulating on her leg, like a fleshy starfish.
She didn’t know what to do. Now she ran the risk of actually rebuffing him, and she had the acute sense that whatever “fresh air” he saw in her would go up in smoke if she wasn’t as receptive as he clearly expected her to be. Had she somehow unwittingly solicited this?
AJ still hadn’t looked up, but Em was getting closer. She could feel his breath on her collarbone. Was he going to try to kiss her? Should she let him? She didn’t know what scared her more—having to receive his advances or fucking herself over by refusing them.
A knock shook the thick antique door.
“Damn,” said Em quietly. “It’s not a good time,” he called.
“Is AJ in there?”
It was Noah. He didn’t wait for a response before barging in. His eyes flew to AJ, rigid on the couch, Em’s hand still on her thigh, and the channel between them roared open.
Noah wasfurious.AJ had never seen him this mad. He looked wild, but that was nothing to what he felt. His rage was like a black wind howling out from that endless darkness.
“Age,” he said.Come here.
AJ couldn’t move. “Sorry—”
“What is it, Noah?” said Em, fuming.
“This can’t wait,” said Noah, his eyes fixed on hers.
“Hang on just a minute—” said Em.
“AJ,” said Noah. He held out his hand.
The sound of him saying her name unlocked AJ’s legs. As she jolted to her feet, her hip knocked Em’s tumbler askew. Amber liquid sloshed across the leather cushion where she’d been sitting. For a moment, she stared at the darkening stain. “I’m sorry,” she breathed.
Then she crossed the room.
