Falling Stars (Starstruck Series Book 2) (16 page)

“Sure.  Movie, show, etc., there’s so much for us to work on, there’s always something to discuss.”  

She wasn’t lying.  When they were first developing the plans for
Gateway
, she and Logan met several times to talk things through.  Of course, he was also filming
Family Insurance
, so meetings were moved around and pushed back or cut short, (thanks to the pain in the neck director, Roman) but the meetings were fairly productive.  

“How about the bistro downtown around 11:00 a.m.?”

“That new place over by the studio?”

“Yeah.”

“Great. It’s a date.”  He winked.  “See you there.  Enjoy your bath, princess.”

The video call ended, and Alisa’s heart rate finally came down.  She rested her head back on the lip of the tub, phone in hand.  

“Hey girl, we picked up some more pinot and rented
Letting Go
like you asked
  
wait…”  Alex stood in the doorway of the bathroom.  “Were you just talking to someone?”

Alisa was close enough with her pals that she didn’t freak out when he walked in. She did, however, look down to make sure the bubble placement was still good to leave some of her dignity intact, and luckily for her, everything was covered.  “No, I wasn’t talking to anyone.”

“Hmm.” Alex narrowed his eyes, clearly not believing her. He waved his hand in servant like fashion. “Well hurry up, your majesty.  We’ll be waiting for you in the living room.”

***

“Are you sure you’re all right?” Evan asked, “ever since the other day, you haven’t seemed like your normal self.”

“What’s my normal self?”

“Yeah, I’d like to know too…” Ray chimed in.

“Since that night, you haven’t said anything to me.”

“Wait, what night?” Ray looked between them.

Alisa ignored Ray and kept her eyes fixed on Evan. “I figured after you didn’t call me, you were just done.”

“Didn’t call? Alisa, I left you seven messages.”

After a second, the trio laughed.

“Cut!” Logan yelled from his chair behind the camera.  A loud bell rang out behind that.

Ray shook his head.  “Alisa? Really?”

“EVERY single time, Evan.” Alisa laughed.

“Dammit! I was doing so well too.” Evan laughed and turned to the cameras with a cheesy grin, “There ya go, kids. One for the bloopers.”

Alisa snickered, “We were just talking about that at lunch today too.”

“Lunch?” Ray gave her that sideways glance, squinting inquisitively. She didn’t have to guess what he was thinking; they were so close it was as if they shared a telepathic connection.

Winnie, Alisa’s stylist and the show’s makeup girl, swooped in and blotted her face with a sponge to reset her makeup. She made her rounds to the boys as well, and they restarted the scene. A couple more flubs happened, one to Ray and one to Alisa, but after the third round, they nailed it.

“That’s good for today, guys. Let’s go for an early shoot tomorrow, and we’ll be done with this ep. That’s five down, and as of yesterday, fifteen more to go for the rest of season. Thanks for your hard work, people. Good night!”  Logan said something to that extent to everyone every single night.

The bell rang in the studio, signifying the dismissal of everyone on-site. Logan jumped down from his chair to meet Alisa over by the refreshments where she was grabbing a cup of water.  A couple of items fell out of her purse.

“Hey.” He said quietly, dropping to his knee to retrieve them.

“Hey,” she responded just as softly, matching his tone. “How was that?”

Logan looked up as she gestured back towards the stage, “You’re doing fine. I tell you that all the time.”

“I’m just making sure. I don’t want to be on the wrong markers or pissing off the fans.”

Logan shook his head, “I’m sure you know our first few episodes got rave reviews, and it’s only gotten better. You’re doing great.”

“Well, thanks.”

Alisa turned to head back to her shared trailer (she shared one with Dawn) and felt a grip on her wrist. She turned, and it was Logan, reaching down to hold her back.

“Alisa.” As he said her name, she knew exactly where this was going.  The last chat they had was civil but cold. The time before that, not exactly.

She pulled out of his grasp and turned to face him, properly poised to speak with him on his terms.  He’d taken this approach a couple of times before, and even advanced into steamy foreplay, but she gave up just before sleeping with him.  Alisa was furious, and she wasn’t going to give in so easily.  He hurt her badly.

“I wish you’d talk to me.”

She sighed.

“Come home tonight, please?”

“Logan …”

“Please. Or ... at least let me take you to dinner?”

As if he’d been running for a few minutes, a semi-winded Ray came to sweep Alisa away from her husband.

“Hey! We’re going out to Luke’s in a bit. Megan and her band are playing again tonight. Wanna come with us?”

After a quick glance at her husband, she looked back at Ray with a nod. “Sure, why the hell not. I’ll call Alex.”

“Good, I haven’t seen him or John since you told me the news. He owes me a night out!”

“Bring David too.” Alisa reminded him.

“Full season order! Time to celebrate!” Ray waggled his eyebrows then turned to Logan.  “You coming with us, old man?” It was only humorous because Ray was older than Logan. Not by much, but since Ray got married they had joked about him being the old one.

“I dunno. I might just get some takeout and get home.” He scratched at the back of his head.

Alisa took note of that. That was his signature move when he didn’t feel comfortable or wasn’t entirely sure about his answer.

That night, the gang reunited once again at Luke’s Tavern, downtown, this time with Alex and John included. This was the bar they frequented so often, most of them were known by name, and it was also the place where she’d met Megan a couple weeks ago.

It was a night for couples; Ray and David, Alex and John, and Dawn had wrangled Jean in for the night.  Evan, Alisa, and Evie were teamed up together and had fun as a trio, Evan taking turns partnering up with the ladies on the dance floor as the gang engaged in some dancing. Eventually, Evie peeled away and left the pair alone.

Evan and Alisa were dancing together, laughing and swaying with one another. He was joking about something that was said on set when she felt his hand on her hip. For just a few measures in the song, she let go of her worries and woes and decided she was going to be fine.

“Ahem.”

Alisa looked up. It was Logan.  She and Evan must have been wearing the same look, because Logan looked partly amused, partly ready to tear Evan apart.

“Logan?”

“Hey, man, you decided to crawl out of the cave?” Evan asked, trying to keep the situation light.

Alisa made note of Logan’s tensed muscles and looked down at his fist.  Sure enough, it was clenched tightly and ready to swing.  She reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Logan.”

“Can I borrow my wife for a moment?” Logan didn’t look at Evan, but his question was directed at him.

Evan cast a glance at her, and she nodded. Logan wouldn’t hurt her. There was no way he would be physically harmful to her, especially in public. Alisa let him know she would be safe.

Raising his hands in surrender, Evan turned and headed back towards the table, where Ray and the gang were already seated. Alisa took off towards the restrooms, which was surprisingly one of the quieter areas, where they could talk.

“What is it?”

“What is it?” Logan repeated, sounding aggravated as he did. “Alisa, I am your husband.”

Is he being serious right now?

Alisa rolled her eyes, “Yes, Logan. I’m well aware of that. Not sure that point came across to others, though.”

The harsh words seemed to make contact based on the look Logan was giving her. He shook his head, “Were you aware of it when Jersey boy over there had his tongue down your throat?”

“Is this really why you came all the way out of the house? To antagonize me while I’m out having fun?”

“Having fun? You mean grinding your ass on some punk—”

“Logan.”

“What, Alisa? I’m over this cold shoulder treatment.”  He snapped at her.  The way he spoke to her made her hesitate. He wasn’t himself.

“Did Christian put you up to this?” Alisa asked, folding her arms.

“To what?”

“The whole thing.  London, Kirsten, his parties, using again?”

Christian Neel was one of Hollywood’s “hottest playboys”. It would be a surprise if he
didn’t
pressure Logan back into that life.  There were times she and Christian got along, but they were few and far between. 

He looked offended and annoyed she’d mentioned Christian, but he still said nothing.

“I’m serious.”  She held her ground.

“So am I. How can you tell me I need to clean up and figure myself out when you’re out here dancing with some other guy?”

“My business has nothing to do with the fact that you got yourself into a mess, and you need to clean up.  So I’m out here having fun with friends and … you know what? I’m not having this conversation now.”  Alisa started to turn away.

“Oh, yeah? When are we going to talk? Break this stupid ... silence?”

“
Stupid
silence?”

He froze.

“
Stupid
?” she repeated.

Logan stood like a statue. He didn’t even blink or breathe in her direction.

“You hurt me, Logan.”

He let out a sigh, “I know I did
  
”

“You know now.  Now that it’s out in the open.  Whatever it was you did with her … but the pills…those don’t lie. They change you; they change everything. Have you thrown them out?”

“I didn’t do anything with her.”

“And the drugs?  Stop trying to avoid discussing that.”

Logan zipped his lips again, and a couple of women excused themselves as they walked between the arguing couple.  Knowing that cue, the two of them stood quietly, staring off beyond one another to make sure this wouldn’t disrupt the fun everyone else was having.  Alisa peeked around the corner to see her friends still having a great time, including Evan who was chit chatting with Evie.  Oh, how she longed to be there instead of arguing with Logan.

“When you clean up, then maybe ... this
stupid
silence will be over.  You need help, Logan.  I wish there was more I could do, but it’s all up to you now.”  Alisa didn’t like being so blunt with him, but she had to be.  She had to get through to him. There was no rearview mirror, but she knew he was watching her walk away. It hurt just looking at him, a pain she never thought she would feel in connection with him.

“Alisa—”

“Logan Rider?” Girls flocked to him quickly, like vultures to a fresh batch of road kill.

“Looks like you have your hands full.”  Spite filled her tone, and she continued to walk away. 

She excused herself politely to her friends (who were disappointed she had to take off so soon) and made it back to her car safely.  Evan tried to walk her out but in the end, it was Evie who had the pleasure of escorting her to her car.  Alisa explained everything to her, and Evie offered to drive her home. She gave her friend a huge hug, hoping to comfort her a little.

“No, it’s all right. Get back in there and have fun.”

“Are you sure?”  Evie’s eyebrows creased together, worry etched on her face.

Alisa nodded.  “Yes, please.  Stop looking at me like that, and go. Have fun. Be … fun.”

Evie kissed her cheek and shut the door after Alisa hopped in.  “I’ll text you later, sweetie. Please be safe.”

“I will.”

“And fuck that guy.”  Evie balled her hand into a fist.  “You don’t need his shit in your life.”

Drunk Evie was always aggressive Evie, though Alisa knew exactly who she meant, and it made her smile slightly.

“Bye, Eves.”

Once her friend took off, it was a few more minutes before Alisa was able to start the car.  She’d been buckled up but once the silence settled in to the confines of her vehicle, it hit her.  She broke down. She didn’t have any tissues, so she used the back of her hands to dry her face and smeared her makeup in the process. 

The drive home was quiet, and long. She thought to turn on the radio, but it wasn’t until she was about a block from their house that she figured it was too late.  It would just be noise anyhow. When she arrived at her safe haven, Alex and John’s, she found a note on her bedroom door.

This came for you in the mail. - John

It was secured to another letter that had come postmarked the day before.  The address was one she recognized, along with the handwriting on the envelope.  She knew exactly who it was from.