“What are you doing?” she asks, breathless and fucking beautiful, our faces mere inches apart.
“I just had to make sure.” I kiss her deeply, her lips parting the second she melts into me, a groan escaping the back of her throat.
When I pull away, she whimpers, our foreheads resting together as she brings her fingertips to her lips. “Are we good?” I ask again, my voice gravelly, and she nods once.
“We’re good. How much time do you have?” she asks, her chest rising and falling heavily, her hands at the hem of my t-shirt, ready to pull it over my head.
“Not enough for me to do everything that I want to do to you.” I kiss her lips again.
“Then go. We’ll make up for it when you get back.” She pushes me away with a sly smile, and I head out her door with the taste of her lingering on my lips.
***
“I never thought I’d ever physicallyseea place like that in real life, let alone be inspecting it for me tobuy.” I shake my head in disbelief. The place is huge. Five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a gym, a mini bowling alley, and a luxurious kitchen that I’ll probably never use.
I bet Jenna would love to bake in it, though.
Not to mention the floor to ceiling windows in the main lounge room that overlook the ocean.
“You’re about to amount to big things, brother. Huge things. Live in it, and accept it.” Tate grips my shoulder with a smile.“You should be proud that you’ve been able to accomplish so much in such a short period of time. Especially with next to no experience under your belt.” He and I are side by side as we head out of the foyer, nodding our goodbyes to the doorman, Julius, who seems to not know how to smile.
The crisp, Californian sun is like a breath of fresh air, overwhelming my senses, and I feel suddenly homesick.
“It’s good to be back, even if temporarily,” I tell my brother. He and I head toward the beach.
“Oh, those movies you’re signed on for are all being shot here. You won’t be homesick for much longer,” he assures me, and I sigh with relief.
I like knowing that I’ll always be busy, but I hate knowing I won’t behome. And now it feels as though the universe is finally having my back.
“Have you heard much after the interview went live?” I ask him. It aired last night, and my decision to leave my phone behind was strategic. I tap the empty pockets of my jeans. “I don’t know what type of shit is being said.” I watch as my brother’s face shifts. He’s hesitating. “What?”
“So you haven’t seen all the articles floating around?” he asks, and I shake my head. He hands me his phone. It’s already open on an article.
“What is this?” I ask, seething as I scroll to see images of Mara and me backstage of the Morning Show, her hands on my chest, on my thigh, and in my hand.
It looks way too incriminating for me to deem it anything other than innocent.
“That, Cole, is called publicity. But I don’t imagine your girlfriend will be too pleased with it.”
“She’s not my girlfriend, Tate.” I flinch. “But I need my private life to remain that way.” I log into my social media, and hit thelivefunction before I realize what I’m even doing.
“What’s up, everyone,” I say, my voice enthusiastic as I watch the number of viewers increase by the second. The comments take over my entire screen. “I just wanted to set the record straight. Mara and I are colleagues who happen to get along as friends off screen, too.” I pause and cringe internally before I attempt to continue.
“What the fuck are you doing?” My brother hisses.
“My brother and I are just enjoying the California sun until we head back to the town we’re filming in.” I flip the camera to show the five-hundred-thousand people my view. Turning the camera back to me, I clear my throat. “My private life is for me to enjoy, and I’d like to keep enjoying it without everyone wanting to know who I’m dating.” Tate elbows me in the ribs, and I wince. “Enjoy your day.” I end the live right before Tate whacks me over the back of the head, and I watch as thousands of comments go unanswered.
“What the fuck was that, Cole?” Tate steals his phone back from grip, logging out of my account, and shoving it into his pocket.
“Hey, you said it yourself. Any publicity is good publicity. I’m just giving the people what they want.” Laughter bellows through my chest as my brother follows, hot on my heels, and furious that I’ve done the complete opposite of what he wanted me to do.
Chapter thirty-four
Jenna
“I already told you,I didn’t watch it. It’s none of my business what he does or who he sees,” I lie easily, shrugging my shoulders.
I’ve always prided myself on my ability to be honest, but lately, it’s been easier to lie to everyone around me than to tell the truth.
