It brings up a certain kind of pain that I can’t process.
Pain for everything I’ve left behind.
And the people who used to be in my life, too.
My phone suddenly buzzes on the tabletop, startling me.
Emily
Don’t gawk for too long, by the way. Remember we have the call-in interview at 4 o’clock. Actually, let me confirm that and get back to you.
Logan
Or we could cancel all of the interviews, and I’ll get a third Scotch from this bartender.
You’re so bad at being famous. Priorities, Logan.
She’s right.
Yard Linewas never predicted to become as popular as it has.
I have nocluehow to be famous.
I take a long draw from my glass, letting my eyes wander toward the back of the bar area. The lounge is dimly lit and the bar top is sleek black marble, with its fixtures all metallic gold.
It’s very glitzy in an Art Deco style. The whole lounge is currently glowing in the afternoon light coming through the black-rimmed windows on the far wall.
The bartender reaches up to the top shelf of liquor.
I hadn’t noticed how broad his shoulders are.
He looks strong, from what I can tell.
My eyes keep getting drawn to them as he moves. I watch him stretch, seeing the edge of a tattoo on his forearm peeking out from under his sleeve.
He never seems to finish any task. While he works, bottles end up scattered all across the back, along with scraps fromcut limes, towels, and bottles of various syrups, like he’s a walking tornado. The urge to go behind him and clean up everything he leaves behind is strong, but I already fucked that up once.
The bartender pulls out a short ladder, stepping up to replace one of the light bulbs above the shelves.
I stare at his ass in his dark denim.
And it looks so good it makes me fuckingache.
It’s been too long since I’ve had someone.
One of my acting teachers once told me that I have “a talent for portraying the emptiness of heartbreak.”
I was pretty sure that just meant I’m good at looking sad.
But ever since I was thrust into fame, I haven’t had the time to be sad. I’m numb.
I auditioned for the role onYard Linewithout knowing anything about football. But since the lead character was a quarterback who was secretly struggling with a bad home life, IknewI could nail that.
But I have the muscle, the frame, the whole look of a football player. I star as Damien Vance, a cocky playboy who has a new woman in his bed anytime he wants and drips confidence and sex appeal. But he has deep inner demons, and secretly struggles with a gambling addiction that ruins his relationships.
On TV I’m a commodity.
A “smoldering sex symbol,” according to one magazine.
