Love Unscripted (78 page)

“
Let me think about it,” Ryan replied. “I want to talk it over with Taryn.”

Marla, his Publicist, was already at the studio waiting when we arrived. Ryan was scheduled to give a brief interview after the photo shoot; Marla was there to mind his tongue and make sure his image was captured correctly.

I was under the impression that this shoot was just a magazine spread and an interview of Ryan, however that assumption was quickly bashed when I saw Suzanne in the makeup chair. For the next seven hours I watched Ryan and Suzanne make numerous wardrobe changes as they posed together over and over again.

Suzanne, of course, played up her most fortunate position. She was relishing in the fact that it was she in these photos with Ryan and not me. In between shots, a team of makeup artists tended to her and made her smoky eyes even more alluring.

I was able to take a few relaxing breaths when Ryan posed alone. He looked uncomfortable from time to time, cracking jokes and occasionally making funny faces to help pass the time.

I remembered the last time I had my picture taken professionally; it was when I graduated from Brown. It was one of my memories that I tried to suppress in the darkest corners of my brain.

I winced, recalling that fateful day when I was waiting for my mother to come home from grocery shopping so we could go pick up my photos from the photographer. That was the day she died. If only I had gone shopping with her instead of giving her a hard time, I could have prevented it.

“
Are you okay?” Ryan asked during a break.

“
Yeah.” I nodded. “Just deep in thought.”

“
David wants an answer.” He looked unsure.

“
What are you going to tell him?”

“
What should I tell him?” he countered.

“
It’s your decision, Honey. I’ll support any choice you make.”

He gave me a disgusted look. “I want your opinion!”

I took a deep breath. “Ryan, all of your idols have done a wide variety of films. Some were memorable, some were a paycheck, and some were a disaster. But you said it yourself… it’s those decisions that could make or break a career.

“
You have three projects coming up, all films destined to be box office hits, but they could be your stepping stones to even greater things. You know as well as I do that
you
are in a unique position to really direct your career. But you choose! Don’t let them choose it for you.

“
You’re signed on for
Thousand Miles
with
Slipknot
scheduled right after that. Then you have the press tour, junkets, and premiers for
Reparation
in the beginning of April and
Seaside Two
in July. Rehearsals for the third
Seaside
start in September. You have nothing on the docket after that, and if Universal is willing to wait…”

Ryan nodded.

“
But Honey, it’s not a matter of schedule and whether you’re available or not. Is
Sacred Mountain
the type of film you want to be associated to? My opinion is that it’s not a story line that will make you shine and stand out as a powerful leading man. I mean, would Leonardo DeCaprio do it?”

Ryan shook his head quickly. “I don’t think so.”

“
Well then? You and UFOs will make money. You and UFOs will not garner awards or make you a well-respected, well-rounded actor. Dreams only come true if you point yourself in their direction.”

I watched his expression change when he comprehended.

I was surprised that his manager and his agent were pushing the sci-fi movie on him. Ryan had never taken a role like that before, and although I could see the importance of showing his acting range by portraying different characters, the lead in
Sacred Mountain
seemed to be a huge deviation from what he had been doing.

While we dressed in our evening wear for the wrap party, I couldn’t help but bring the subject up again. Ryan was very open to discussing the pros and cons of the role. I wanted to make sure that the decision he made was well thought out and that my influence didn’t hinder him from accepting a worthwhile role.

“
Wait to be escorted,” Marla informed Ryan when we pulled up to the grand hotel where the
Seaside
wrap party would be taking place. Her authoritative tone snapped me out of my private thoughts.

“
I know,” Ryan mumbled, clearly knowing what was expected of him.

Marla edged her body closer to Ryan so she would be able to exit the car right behind him. Ryan’s door opened and several formidable security men surrounded him immediately. Four men quickly escorted him across the street where the paparazzi and hundreds of fans were waiting.

The camera lights and photoflashes lit up the nighttime sky. I sat there completely helpless, watching Ryan become blinded as the volume of excited screams became deafening.

I slid across the leather seat to exit the car at the curb but Marla was blocking my way. Once Ryan was safely across the street I was allowed to get out of the car. “This way Miss,” some man in a suit ordered.

I was removed from the car and was allowed to watch the mayhem unfold across the street from a discrete spot near the hotel entrance. People were screaming and shouting at Ryan for his autograph and for pictures. “Ryan, Ryan, over here, Ryan,” the crowd screamed for him over and over again. Hundreds of cameras flashed like strobe lights in his eyes while he willingly subjected himself to the call of fame. He signed autograph after autograph and posed with every person who had a camera.

Marla and David, his “handlers,” hovered dutifully behind Ryan while he played his part. I wanted so badly to run across the street and drag him away from all of that insanity. He was a person, but he was treated like public property. Everyone wanted a piece of him and I doubted there were enough pieces of him left to go around.

After almost ten minutes, Ryan was finally escorted back across the street by his security team. He was immediately ushered to a carpeted area where the press was waiting.

Ryan wasn’t alone on the carpet; several of his cast mates were also giving interviews. Ben and Cal both tapped Ryan in the arm when he passed by. I stood off to the side while Ryan posed and spoke to reporters; he appeared to be in his uncomfortable business mode again. I didn’t know whether to be proud or concerned for him.

“
You look gorgeous!” Kelly whispered in my ear. I turned around to see her standing behind me.

“
Oh, Kelly!” I hugged her, relieved that I wasn’t standing alone anymore. “You look fabulous too!”

Suzanne’s limo pulled up to the curb and she was immediately escorted to the carpet where Ryan and the guys were standing. She didn’t hesitate stepping over to Ryan’s side.

“
I’ll see you inside.” Kelly patted my arm as Cal whisked her away. I watched as they both posed as a couple for the paparazzi.

I stood there by myself again, placed off to the side and out of the way by one of Ryan’s handlers. They had me hiding inconspicuously next to some topiary in the dark, where I could feel like an idiot privately in my three thousand-dollar outfit. I definitely felt out of place.

“
Good evening, Taryn,” David greeted me in the shadows.

I was momentarily stunned by his sudden friendliness. He was a lot more standoffish towards me yesterday. His wandering eyes glanced over my body and his creepy demeanor sent a twinge of revulsion through me.

“
Good evening, David,” I said politely, even though his eyes were stuck at viewing my cleavage.

“
So…
you’re
the one giving Ryan bad career advice,” David surmised, laughing every so slightly. “I was wondering who was filling his head with nonsense. Now I know.”

I glared at him; his moment of niceties was blatantly over.

“
Well, we obviously have a difference of opinion of what’s considered bad career advice, David.”

“
You could say that again!” he said arrogantly. “And you certainly are imposing your opinions freely on him.”

Great, another confrontation
. Apparently he was still bitter that I infringed on his territory.

“
He and I talked about the scripts, that’s all. Ryan is a grown man.
He
makes his own career decisions,” I retorted. I was watching Ryan from a distance while he spoke to a reporter.

“
He used to make his own decisions, but that doesn't seem to be the case lately,” David stated curtly. “Oh, by the way, that was a real risky move you made at dinner the other night - speaking to Follweiler like that! Perhaps you should consider leaving the career management activities to those of us whose job it is to do so. Okay, sweetheart? Your job is to just look pretty on his arm.”

What nerve this jerk had!
I didn't know if I wanted to slap him in the face or knee him in the crotch. Instead, words flew out of my mouth.

“
You know, David, you are so far away from having a clue that I’m surprised there’s even air for you to breath there. You did nothing to prep Ryan for that meeting and then you left him hang out to dry when Jonathan asked him about seeing his film!

“
The way I see it, I kept that meeting going and saved Ryan from being embarrassed and humiliated. So instead of bashing me, perhaps you should consider thanking me.”

I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. Ryan was walking towards us.

“
We can go in now, Honey. I’m done out here.” Ryan took me by the waist.

“
David, I’ve made my final decision. No aliens,” Ryan said firmly. “I’ve read both scripts and I agree with Taryn. She’s got great instincts and she feels
Isletin
is going to be a hit and a high point in my career. I agree with her. You’re
my
manager. I want you to push Aaron for the sleeper.”

“
Ryan! There’s no money there!” David defended. “You’re making a huge mistake!”

“
Then that’s my problem. By next fall I’ll have over fifty million in the bank. Maybe I’ll get involved in producing the film, or I can retire and grow grapes, but it will be my decision. Please, just do what I ask.”

“
Ryan!” David tried to stop him. “You’re going to take advice from your bartender girlfriend?”

Ryan turned and glared at him. “Just do what I ask David, or I’ll find someone else who will.”

“
It’s so good to be home,” Ryan
sighed, dropping his duffel bag and suitcase on the floor. He flopped backward onto our bed and smiled.

“
Mmm,” he moaned, shoving his nose into his pillow. I crawled on all fours to join him, glowing in the fact that he felt my apartment was his home too. It was certainly a home with him in it.

“
I know we just got off of two planes, but what are we doing for Christmas? Do you want to fly out to Pittsburgh and see your mom and dad or not?” I wanted him to make a final decision so I could make travel arrangements. Christmas was just five days away.

Ryan groaned loudly. “As much as I love my mom and dad, I don’t want to fly anywhere. I only have two weeks off.”

“
Well, you could always put your family on a plane and have them come out here,” I suggested.

He wrinkled his nose. “No. We have to go or I’ll never hear the end of it. You know what I really want to do for Christmas?” He wrapped me in his arms, pulling me close. “I want to go cut down a big evergreen and have my first real Christmas tree,” he stated. “My parents put up the same fake tree every year. I’ve never had a real tree, even when I lived on my own.”

I smiled and softly kissed his lips. Being normal sounded wonderful.

The next morning we borrowed Pete’s pickup truck to go get a tree.

“
Here’s the directions Pete wrote down.” Ryan handed me a piece of paper. “After I get on the highway, where do I go from there?”

I flipped the paper around, noting that we just passed a place that had cut trees for sale. But Ryan wanted the experience of cutting his own Christmas tree down.

“
Go five more traffic lights and then turn left. We need to get lights and a tree stand too. There’s a store there.”

Ryan put the truck into park and I saw the panic attack start to well up on his face. “I can’t go in there,” he whispered.

“
Sure you can,” I softly replied. “It’s a small mom and pop hardware shop. See? They have Christmas lights and stuff.”

He shook his head, indicating that he was staying put.

“
It will be okay. Not everyone on the planet knows who you are.” I tried to ease his worry. “Besides, you haven’t shaved in a couple of days… it’s almost like a disguise. If anything happens, we’ll run for it. I promise.” I held out my hand.

Hardly anyone was in the store except for two older gentlemen who worked there and a nice older lady who wrapped each of the glass ornaments I picked out. The gentleman with the dark gray hair spent over ten minutes telling us which tree stand would be better for a live tree and how Ryan should brace it so the tree doesn’t fall over. The man had no idea who Ryan was; in his book we were just ordinary customers.