Well, not that, dumb ass.
Carol’s judgmental eyes were back, and Chloe hesitated before responding.
“I’m not really sure, ma’am. He asked me to deliver the invitation.”
I stared at her. For way too long. My head was a complete mess, and all my energy was poured into keeping my expression as calm as possible. Apparently, there was no energy left to form words.Say something.
“I can’t,” I finally did.
“It sounded like he had something important to discuss if you don’t mind me saying.” Chloe’s fingers fidgeted as she spoke, betraying her discomfort. Clearly, the last thing she wanted was to return empty-handed.
I glanced down at Liam, who was way too focused on the fact that he could now see Ben Parks to notice me, Chloe, or anyone else, for that matter.
“I’m with my son,” I said quietly, hoping it would be enough to finish the conversation. “We’re?—”
“Nonsense!” Carol interrupted, flashing a no-arguments-allowed smile. Before I could say another word, she turned to Chloe. “She’ll go,” she nudged me forward. “I’ll stay with Liam, and you can call me when you’re done.” She didn’t waitfor me to argue, which I absolutely would have if she weren’t already inching Liam toward the crowd. She glanced over her shoulder. “Just fucking go!”
I stood there watching as they merged into the sea of people. Chloe took my hesitation as permission and smiled in relief. “Great! Follow me, please.”
I didn’t move. Until Chloe almost disappeared into the crowd. Who was I kidding? My whole body was screaming for me to go. So I followed—screaming, but only in my head.
6
CHRIS
Istepped into the too-dark and too-damn cramped for a star of my caliber dressing room, trying to keep a straight face. But my usual swagger—that casual, effortless one I’d perfected over the years—had taken the day off.
Screaming wasn’t an option, but maybe punching a wall? Tempting, sure, but no.
Maybe I should take a jab at myself for letting Chloe, of all people, go back after Jules. She was a good assistant but not the strongest-willed person, and something told me getting Jules to come wouldn’t be the easiest of tasks.
My manager, Vanessa, was already settled on the couch, looking as sharp and unimpressed as ever. Her eyes snapped to me the second I walked in, scanning me like a heat-seeking missile. Of course, she’d notice something was off. She always did.
She was in her fifties now, her face lined with stories of decades in the business and God-knows-what else. Those lines made her seem tougher than she probably was. Not that I’d ever tell her that.
“How was the autograph signing?”
“Normal,” I said with a shrug. “Weird requests, as always.”
She smirked. I knew she was about to say something she thought was amusing.
“Let me guess. Someone wanted you to sign their boobs?”
I sighed and ran a hand over the back of my neck. It happened too many times. I used to be amused by it, I mean,boobs,great. But now it was mostly annoying. Depressing even.
“It’s weird how people assume they have a right to my time and space. Like boundaries don’t apply to me.”
My eyes caught my reflection in the mirror. Tired didn’t even begin to cover. I shouldn’t be surprised. I was drinking until three in the morning, and as hard as it was for me to face, I had to admit my body couldn’t handle the party actor act anymore. I was forty-three, for God’s sake.
Honestly, it was more about numbing myself for what I knew I would have to handle today—boob signing, for example—than having fun, partying with friends.
Of course, I wasn’t about to complain. It was made painfully clear early on in my career that, given my looks, I was expected to indulge, give the people what they wanted, and build an audience. A photo, a wink, a hug. Smiling on cue and acting like Prince Charming with a sprinkle of dangerous edge. In my personal life, I got the dangerous part down, but the Prince Charming? Not so much, as my many exes could attest.
Vanessa’s expression softened a touch, enough to tell me she wasn’t buying the act.
“Is that what’s got you acting so strange?”
“I’m not acting strange,” I replied before busying myself playing with a random bottle on the counter. Anything to avoid her stare.
