Page 20 of Taking Chances in Cedarwood

To a degree, he was right. Mostly, Liam wasn’t. Cain hated to be discounted—just like his parents often did to him. Indignation clouded his reply. “Really? I thought you of all people would understand. I like him and I want to get to know his life,” Cain said. “Why is that bad?”

“It’s not bad,” Liam said. “If it’s research and you’re telling him that from the beginning, then it’s fine.”

“Research?”Damn it.“Who said it was that?”

“You’re a prima donna actor who doesn’t know what he wants out of life. You’re still figuring yourself out. He knows who he is and won’t like being lied to because you’re not sure if you’re gay. You don’t have much life experience that hasn’t been orchestrated. It’s not bad, but it makes you being accepted as honest hard.”

“You’re not helping.” Yes, Liam had a point. Cain’s life experiences had all been gleaned on movie sets and faux dates, but that didn’t mean he didn’t know his soul. He wasn’t attracted to women. Andrew ticked the boxes for what he wanted—kind, caring, handsome and stable. Andrew wasn’t interested in his celebrity, and that appealed to Cain.

“Fine. You’ll need a T-shirt, jeans that aren’t designer and boots,” Liam said. “Do you have those?”

“Boots?”Fuck me.“What about running shoes?” He didn’t have nondescript jeans, but he had an undershirt.

“Running shoes would be okay. Andrew might have a pair of rubber boots you can wear over them,” Liam said. “You’re going to get dirty, sweaty and uncomfortable.”

“I know.” He’d seen the way Andrew glistened at the end of his working day. Cain didn’t mind being sweaty and he would learn to adjust.

“Just be good to him. He’s a decent guy, and you tend to use people,” Liam said. “You…be yourself, but don’t be a dick.”

“I know.” He picked the undershirt out of his bag and paired it with the jeans.Kind of a James Dean look. Not bad.

“I saw you with Jordan Murphy. That poor girl loved you,” Liam said, breaking Cain’s concentration.

“She knew the score. The studio set it up,” Cain said. He unbuttoned his shirt. “She wasn’t upset when we split. She wanted to be with her actual boyfriend, and I hear they got married.”

Liam sighed. “The studio played games with your love life, too?”

“All the way. One whiff of me being gay and I’d get my ass handed to me,” Cain said. He set the phone to speaker and switched shirts. He didn’t bother to fix his hair and instead picked the device up and returned it to the normal setting. “I couldn’t step out of line or the studio and my managers—read mother and father—would fine me.”

“I’m sorry.”

He had no idea. “Everyone thought I was a huge player. I’m gay,” he shouted.Shit.He shouldn’t have been so loud. “Sorry, but they took my money. The cash I made went for whatever they wanted, and if they thought I wasn’t behaving, they took more. Do you know how degrading that is? How degrading it becomes when you realize what you’re being forced to do?”

“I do,” Liam said. “If you’re allowing yourself to be honest and you’re focused on being a better man, then I applaud you. It’s hard to admit the truth and harder to go for what you want. If that’s Andrew, then hey, I’m behind you. If you’re not sure and you’re debating going back to the madness in California, then go before you hurt him.”

Cain sank onto the bed. “It’s scary.” Being on his own petrified him, but he couldn’t stop now.

“I know,” Liam said. “What’s scarier is when the rug gets pulled out from under you and you have to pick up the pieces. You’re kind of there right now, but you’re the one who imploded your life.”

“Yeah.” Every day he felt a little stronger, but he couldn’t help looking over his shoulder for the handlers he expected to nab him.

“Just wear your jeans and a tee to visit Andrew,” Liam said. “But be honest.”

“I can do that.” He nodded. “I will.”

“Tell him everything, even if you’re afraid. He deserves it.”

“He does.” And when he got Andrew alone, he’d spill the rest of his guts.

“Warn him the media circus will come. You can’t stop it or hide from it forever,” Liam said. “Understand? He needs to know what’s in his future if he’s going to be with you.”

“I do.” It was just a matter of time before someone found him. He needed to get in some good moments with Andrew and prove he was worthy. He could do it. “We’ll meet Monday about the movie. I’m looking forward to our read-through.”

“Yes. Keep me posted on Andrew, too. I hope it works out,” Liam said.

“Me, too. Thanks.” He hung up and his heart lightened. He finished changing and pocketed his keys. He stuffed his phone into his back pocket and switched off the lights. Soon, he’d be with the man who made him happy. He locked up and headed out to his car. He’d changed since he’d come to Cedarwood. His life had more focus.

“Cain Ables?” A woman waited at his car. She held a magazine and a marker. “You’re him. You’re really Cain Ables. Oh my God. It’s you.” She offered up the magazine and the marker. “I—oh my God.”

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