“No worries. Take your time.”
She shuts the door. I grab a bottle of water from the minibar.
“So, she works on set?” Gabe asks.
I unscrew the cap and take a drink. “Who?”
“Charly.”
“Yeah, in wardrobe. She’s assigned to me.”
“You fucking her?”
I feel my chest tighten. “No.”
“Mind if I do?”
I stare at him hard, my insides turning over. I grit my jaw. “No, go ahead.”
I’ve just got to pray that Charly tells him to fuck off, or I’ll be in jail for killing Gabe.
“But you’re probably not her type,” I add.
He laughs, eyes grinning at me. “I’m everyone’s type.”
“You’re not mine,” Julian says.
Julian’s gay. But in the closet. Like a lot of actors in Hollywood. The studio doesn’t want him out because they think it’ll damage the show.
Stupid if you ask me, but what do I know?
I’m currently hiding the girl I’m sleeping with and telling my friend he’s okay to hit on her when he’s most definitely not.
“I’m fucking wounded.” Gabe laughs, slapping a hand to his chest. “And don’t worry, West. I’ll leave your girl alone.” He pats my leg.
“She’s not my girl.”
“Sure she’s not.” He laughs, and so does Julian.
I want to tell them I’m sleeping with her…that she is mine. But, after what Cain did to me, it’s just hard for me to trust anyone.
I’ve known them both for years. But then I knew Cain for ten years, and he shit all over me.
The door opens, and Charly and Logan climb back in.
“She okay?” I ask.
“Yeah. Her boyfriend was home; he put her to bed,” Charly says.
“Not that he didn’t fucking complain about it,” Logan says. “I don’t know what she sees in that jackass.”
Charly pats Logan’s leg with her hand.
I know Logan is gay, but I still feel a spike of jealousy at her touching him, which is so strange to me. I’ve never been a jealous kind of guy.
Maybe it’s because of what happened with Piper and Cain.
Or maybe it’s because I never cared enough about a woman before to be jealous over her.
I’m going with option number one.
We drop off Logan. Then, it’s Charly’s turn.
“Thanks for the ride,” she says to Aiden. Then, she climbs out of the limo. “Thanks for a great night, guys.” She smiles at everyone before her eyes finally connect with mine. “I’ll see you later.”
Yes, you fucking will. Sooner than later, baby.
She shuts the door and is gone.
Right, let me get these bastards home, and then I can get back here.
“Aiden, Julian’s next,” I tell him.
He pulls off, knowing the way to Julian’s, as he’s dropped him off plenty of times.
“Anyone wanna come in for a drink at mine?” Julian asks.
“Nope,” I say.
“Gee, thanks, West. You sure know how to make a guy feel wanted.”
Gabe laughs. “I’ll come for a drink, but don’t be getting me drunk and feeling me up while I’m passed out. I know how bad you want me.”
I laugh, shaking my head at Gabe.
“Fuck you.” Julian laughs.
“I know you want to, but I’m a giver, not a taker.” Gabe grins.
“Why do we hang out with him?” Julian asks me.
“Beats me.” I shrug.
“Because I’m fucking awesome, and you know it.” Gabe spreads his arms out, spilling some of the whiskey in his glass.
We pull up at Julian’s house.
“You coming in then, fuckface?” Julian asks Gabe.
“Nah, I’ll head home.”
For fuck’s sake, I’ve got to drop Gabe off now. It’ll be the fucking morning before I get back to Charly.
“Cool. See you later then. Thanks for the ride, man.”
We do the guy handshake as he passes by before climbing out the limo.
“Later, Julian.”
He shuts the door.
“Aiden, to Gabe’s place now.”
The car pulls off again. It feels like he’s driving at a snail’s pace.
I’m tapping my foot, drumming my fingers on my thigh.
“You look tense, West,” Gabe says, pouring himself another whiskey.
“Not tense, just tired.”
“Sure.” He smirks. “You want one?” He lifts the whiskey bottle.
“Nah. I’m good with water.” I take another drink.
Then, I stare out the window, watching the houses pass by.
How long does it take to get to Gabe’s place from Julian’s? Five minutes normally.
Why does it feel like we’ve been driving for ten fucking minutes then?
Why aren’t we there already?
Then, we finally turn onto his street, and I nearly exhale with relief.
Aiden stops the limo outside Gabe’s apartment building.
I open the door. “Hit the pavement, pretty boy.”
“Hey, I haven’t finished my drink.”
“Take it with you.”
He smirks. “Anyone would think you were eager to get off.”
“I am. I’ve got an early shoot.”
He laughs. “Is that what we’re calling it nowadays?”