Hollywood & Vine (39 page)

A
nders stared across the set as a makeup artist worked to cover the large bruise on his face. The director stood next to him, clearly annoyed as he yelled at Anders for messing up the schedule.

Anders kept quiet. He could’ve smoothed things over, but he didn’t feel like bothering. All he needed to do was tell the director it happened while sparring at the gym to stay in shape for the film. While the part about how he got the bruise would at least be true, it wasn’t the real reason why. No, the reason why Anders ended up with a right hook to his face had nothing to do with staying in shape and everything to do with the girl who had just walked out of his life.

“Are we done?” Anders lifted his arm and pushed the makeup artist’s hand out of his face.

“It’s
―
”

“You’re done,” the director cut in.

Without a word, Anders stood from the chair and walked to his place on set. The scowl slipped from his face and his shoulders relaxed as he transformed into his character. All traces of the moody jerk from moments before vanished. He tucked his thoughts away in the recesses of his mind, where they’d fester and grow until he released them to torture him once more.

And torture him they would. It was all they’d done since Josie called him an asshole and slammed his front door. That evening after she drove away for good, one beer turned into two and eventually led him to a lounge chair by the pool with a bottle of gin. His body sagged from exhaustion, but no matter how much he drank, he couldn’t extinguish the gnawing feeling burning inside his chest that refused to let him slip into oblivion.

Trapped somewhere between regret and acceptance, Anders lost all concept of time. The sky faded into darkness, but Anders remained unmoving. It wasn’t until the first traces of dawn shimmered across the horizon that he finally stumbled inside. Pain radiated through his stiff muscles and his stomach churned with nausea, but his mind remained a deadened wasteland of nothingness.

He tripped around his bedroom in a daze before falling face first on his mattress. Flashes of memories, both new and old, played out like a movie in his head. He thought of nothing and everything. Before he could grasp the fringes around a single thought, it slipped away, replaced with another until sleep finally pulled him under. When he woke hours later, it was to the shrill ring of his cell phone.

Looming on the edge of consciousness, the only thought that registered was the possibility it might be Josie. When he looked at the screen and saw Nathan’s name, he tossed the phone on the floor and pulled a pillow over his face. He didn’t want to talk to anyone who wasn’t Josie.

After several failed attempts to fall asleep again, he dragged himself into the shower. Dressing in jeans and a shirt, he moved into the kitchen. He was physically and emotionally drained. Bracing his arms on the counter, he let his head fall forward as he closed his eyes and pulled in slow, deep breaths. Even though there was no logical explanation, his chest ached with each inhale.

Cursing, he shoved away from the counter. He needed to hit something, anything to distract his thoughts from Josie and how her absence had caused his mind to tailspin into the past. Grabbing his workout bag, he took off for the gym. He hated exercising, but the physical abuse he wanted to inflict and receive would be a welcome relief from the emotional war pummeling him from within.

Just as he’d hoped, the physical pain diverted his thoughts as he punished his body. When he left the gym hours later, it was with an ice pack on his side, a throbbing ache in his jaw, and the taste of blood lingering in his mouth. However, as soon as he stepped through the foyer of his house, his moment of reprieve ended. As the day slipped into night, and Saturday bled into Sunday, Anders’ mood only darkened. Anger twisted and burned as bitterness consumed his every thought—bitterness for Josie, himself, the paparazzi, but most of all for Aubrey.

The director clapped and the lights flashed on set causing Anders to blink in confusion. He looked at the director, who was smiling with both his thumbs in the air, all traces of his previous anger gone. Anders realized he was done for the day. No retakes. No tweaking. His performance had been flawless, his steps on cue, and his lines delivered with acute precision.

He nodded at the director and moved toward his trailer. As soon as the door shut, he breathed a sigh of relief. His character-coated exterior melted away, leaving him raw and exposed. Which was why, when Aubrey’s fingers brushed up his forearm and wrapped around his bicep, his reaction was uncensored and full of hate.

“I tried to call you several times this weekend.” Her wide smile and soft eyes did nothing to curb Anders’ rage.

“Get the fuck away from me,” he hissed between clenched teeth.

Aubrey’s eyes widened in surprise and her hands covered her mouth in an attempt to ward off the venom in his voice. “What’s wrong with you?”

He shifted toward her, his towering frame intimidating, his expression full of rage. Aubrey stumbled back. Her hands shot out behind her, softening the impact as her body collided with the wall. Ignoring her question, he asked one of his own. With dark, angry eyes and a menacing sneer, his words sent a shot of fear down Aubrey’s spine. “How did I get papped leaving your house?”

Aubrey’s mind spun as she tried to slow her racing heart. With pursed lips and slumped shoulders, she shook her head. To anyone watching, she appeared disheartened and hurt. “How would I know?”

Anders sucked on his teeth and shook his head in mock disappointment. “Don’t pretend to be innocent. We both know you had something to do with it.”

Aubrey bristled. “Right, Anders. I just let random people into my neighborhood to snap pictures of me in my robe with no makeup. That makes perfect sense.”

“This isn’t the first time someone has hidden on your property. Are you telling me both times were accidents?”

Aubrey laughed and pushed on Anders’ chest until he took a couple steps back. “Accidents? Of course not. Paps were probably hiding outside the gates the moment we stepped foot into that restaurant for our date and again when we went to the club. Those pictures no doubt were worth a lot of money. I’m surprised there weren’t more. Besides, I don’t have the exclusivity you enjoy in your neighborhood. If I remember correctly, something similar happened to you before you moved, did it not?”

Anders stiffened and his fists tightened. “You don’t know a fucking thing about what happened.”

“No one ever does,” she interrupted, her tone sharp. “That doesn’t mean people won’t stab you in the back and twist your words for their own agenda. I’m not new here, Anders. I know how this town works. What I can’t figure out is why it matters so damn much to you. We should have called them ourselves. This is what we wanted. It’s why we did it in the first place. So man the hell up and enjoy the ride. Look at all the attention we’re getting. It’s perfect.”

Her words delivered the blow she intended. He had no argument. They should have tipped off the paparazzi. They should have hung all over each other and played up every bit of attention they received. But they hadn’t, and his relationship with Josie was to blame. His throat tightened when her face came, unbidden, to his mind. Man up. That’s what he should have done. He should have told Aubrey and Clarence no. While he knew it wouldn’t make a bit of difference, he wouldn’t deny himself the opportunity to do it now. “I don’t want this kind of attention. I won’t put on a dog and pony show for another fucking second.”

“What are you saying?”

“What the fuck does it sound like I’m saying? I’m out. Done. I’ve already told you this once. Did you think I was joking?”

“Honestly, I thought you were just being an asshole. What’s your problem? Can’t you see how beneficial this can be for your career?”

Anders laughed. It was abrupt, loud, and caused his entire body to shake. As he regained his composure, he shook his head. With a demeaning expression and eyes full of insincere pity, he spat, “I don’t need this petty bullshit. I don’t need those gutter rat assholes chasing me around to make money. I’m Anders fucking Ellis. They need me. You need me. Not the other way around. Or did you forget I moved up from your pay grade a long time ago, baby. Ride somebody else’s coattails. I’m fucking done.”

“What if I don’t agree? What are you going to do?” The stubborn set of her chin and the challenge in her voice did nothing to dissuade Anders.

“You won’t fight me on this. You know why? Because if you do…” He leaned in closer and cupped her chin in his palm. Tilting her head until they were eye level, he smirked. “I’ll fuck my way through LA and make sure I’m papped every single time. I’ll make you the laughingstock of Hollywood and not give a single fuck.”

Angry tears filled Aubrey’s eyes as Anders sauntered out of the room, his shoulders squared and his hands thrust inside his pockets. He was exactly like she remembered when she first saw him at the beginning of filming: full of swagger and confidence. It incensed her that he was able to regain his footing by trampling all over her. Aubrey was never one to admit defeat, though, not when she had so much riding on their sham of a relationship.

She stormed out of his trailer and over to her own. Her cell phone beeped, the sound drawing her eyes to the screen. The display showed a text from her agent, Valerie. Licking her lips, she unlocked the screen and read the message.

Nice job on making the papers again. We might save your career after all. Sending you two scripts this afternoon. Whatever you’re doing, keep it up.

Backing away from the counter in a daze, she paced the length of the room. There had to be another angle, a way to stay in the spotlight without Anders casting her as a doormat. A smile broke across her face as she devised a plan. She had to expose Anders’ relationship with the stripper. She would be seen as the victim and, as a bonus, get the retribution she craved. She wasn’t the type of woman who accepted defeat. She wanted Anders, and he had pushed her aside like yesterday’s trash. She would come out on top one way or another. Picking up her phone, she called the one person who could help.

“Well, hello, love. What wicked things are we up to today?” Levi asked.

Aubrey giggled and straightened her hair in the mirror. “Oh, more of the same. Torturing your favorite celebrity.”

“What did he do this time? Any word on who the girl is?”

“He thinks he’s done, that he’s walking away from our arrangement, but I’m not ready for our game to end. I want you to print the story about Ivy, flush her out. I want the world to know the tramp Anders cheated on me with, and I want to be the supportive, brokenhearted girlfriend. Make me the story.”

Levi hummed into the phone. “You sure you want to go there, Aubrey? Wouldn’t it be better to walk away? Why make everyone think he cheated on you? I know all publicity is good publicity, but this is going a little far, even for you.”

Aubrey rolled her eyes. “I don’t pay you to think,” she spat. “I pay you to do as I say. Anders has made a mockery of me from the day I stepped on set. I’m done letting him think he has the upper hand, and I won’t play second fiddle to some two-bit whore. It’s not about getting rid of her anymore. It’s about showing him, showing them all, I will not be fucked with.”

“You got it, sunshine. You’ll have all their hearts bleeding at your feet.”

“Oh, and Levi? You’re going to make a handsome paycheck from the mags on this one. Consider what I owe for taking the pictures paid in full.”

The next morning while Aubrey, full of sick satisfaction and anticipation, readied herself for the day, Josie sat across from Madison in her living room sipping coffee.

“What are you going to do?” Madison asked, her voice gentle.

Josie shook her head. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she fought back the hot tears burning her eyes. “There’s nothing to do. It’s over.”

Madison shifted and looked at her hands. She hated seeing her best friend in pain and not be able to do anything about it. “You don’t believe him?”

“I don’t,” she whispered, her voice full of regret. “How can I? My God, he slept with her and never even told me. The thing is I’m not even mad about that part. It happened before we met and I’m under no illusions when it comes to Anders. I’m angry because he never told me. I’m angry because I can’t bring myself to believe him. Obviously his no repeat rule is complete bullshit. I’m proof of that.”

“I still can’t believe he slept with her and didn’t tell you. What if you had found out through Aubrey?”

“Exactly. How can I put any faith in someone who’s never been willing to do the same for me?”

“What do you mean?”

“He doesn’t trust me.” Her tone was matter of fact and left no room for argument. “He never let me past the surface. He gave what he had to and nothing more. Maybe if he’d been a little more forthcoming, maybe
―
well, it doesn’t matter now. It’s for the best.”

“So that’s it?”

“That’s it.” Josie nodded. Even though it hurt to admit, she had to stick to her guns. Her relationship with Anders had run its course.

“What if
―
”

“I can’t do what ifs, Maddie. I have to get my shit together and move on. It sucks, and it hurts, but I’m not broken.” Just brokenhearted, she added silently.

“Okay. No what ifs. Just don’t forget that I’m here for anything you need, and I’m still willing to be an alibi.” She tried to laugh, to lighten the mood, but the joke fell flat. Josie didn’t want to joke about alibis, lies, or anything to do with deceitfulness.

Clearing her throat, Josie stood from her couch and straightened her shirt. “Holden is going to kill us if we don’t leave now.”

Madison rolled her eyes but nodded in agreement. “I still can’t believe this is happening. I can’t believe he’s opening his own restaurant.”

“It’s a big risk, but he’s done the research. He knows what he’s getting into. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s able to cut costs with free labor,” Josie deadpanned, a wry smile twisting her lips. The truth was she didn’t mind helping Holden paint the building he leased. If things went well, he’d buy the place in a year. It was an excellent distraction from anything to do with Anders.