Page 6 of Taking Chances in Cedarwood

“Good. Did you eat? Do you have money?”

“I’m not ignorant.” But his agent had a point. He tended to get wrapped up in his projects and sometimes did forget to eat. He also didn’t have a lot of funds left. In his attempt to stay out of sight, he hadn’t bothered to use his credit card. Hell, he might not have any credit on the damn thing. He might not have a whole lot of idea how to live on his own, but he wasn’t so far gone that he couldn’t start figuring it out.

“Make sure you’re eating—all organic and none of that fast-food shit—and working out. You can’t get soft. America doesn’t want to see a pudgy Cain Ables. You have an image to uphold,” Dixon said. “You know what? I don’t trust you to do this on your own. You’re clueless. I’m going to send Penn to keep an eye on you.”

“No,” Cain snapped. The last thing he needed was to be holed up with Penn. The man made his stomach churn and his skin crawl. “I’ll let you go so I can call Liam.” He’d lived in trailers on movie sets and remembered to work out then. What was different now? He didn’t have the fancy equipment or running shoes, but those could be procured in some manner. Maybe Andrew would have some suggestions? It’d give him a reason to talk to Andrew again.

“Are you sure you don’t need me or Penn to babysit you? How about your parents?” Dixon asked. “I can send them.”

“I’m good, and they need a break from me.” He was tired of being treated like a child. “I have to go.” He hung up before his agent could get another word in.Damn.He didn’t appreciate that everyone thought he wasn’t smart. How hard was it manage his own life?Jesus.

He’d partied and drunk a little bit, but never enough to lose control or act out. His parents insisted he toe the line.Don’t make waves and don’t get yourself into trouble. You can build a reputation, but if you destroy it, the damage is permanent.Most days, he followed directions, but he’d begun to wonder if his parents’ mandates were impossible. Other people in the media managed comebacks. Hell, the country rooted for people to bring themselves up again when they fell.

Cain slumped back on the couch and stared at the ceiling. In his thirty years, he’d acted in plenty of movies, four television shows and countless commercials. He’d never dated anyone not approved by his management or parents.Never broke the law. Never really acted out.He embodied everything his parents claimed were the perfect attributes of an actor—good looks, good behavior, drive and determination. Plus, he played by the rules. He’d been sheltered, pampered and needed a goddamn life.

His parents would die when they found out he was gay. Nausea swept over him. The moment they learned he wasn’t perfect… He wasn’t sure how they’d handle the news, but they’d probably insist he changed. His mother claimed gays needed therapy. They weren’t right. Was he right? Who was? Nuances were good. They made his performances better.

Speaking of performances, he needed to get going on prep for the coming movie.

He slapped at the side table and picked up a piece of paper. Cain dialed the number written on the note and waited for the call to connect. “Hi. May I speak to Liam Blackwell?”

“Liam? This is Andrew Meadows. Can I help you?” Andrew asked.

Oh shit. He’d mixed up the numbers. “I’m sorry. This is Cain. We met at the farmers’ market. We were supposed to do dinner, but I had to take care of other business.” He couldn’t put on the mask of famous actor with Andrew. The man deserved authenticity.

“Hi, Cain. How are you getting along?” Andrew asked.

“It’s been interesting.” He appreciated Andrew’s smooth voice and the way he didn’t sound angry that Cain had interrupted his life. Cain sighed. “I’m supposed to call Liam.”

“No problem. I misdial often,” Andrew said. “My stepsister says I have meaty hands and can’t work the buttons. It happens.”

“I guess so, but I wouldn’t call your hands meaty or think you’d have problems with phones.” He’d liked Andrew’s hands—strong and tough, but still pretty. He pinched his forehead again. The ache to spend time with someone overwhelmed him. “Andrew?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you busy tonight?” He didn’t have a ton of money left, but he wanted to meet for coffee or something.

“I’m heading into town to drop a load of straw at the community garden for the production in the park. I have no idea what the local theater group is putting on, but they wanted straw for walls,” Andrew said. “Do you need something?”

“A friend?” A companion, a buddy, someone to see Cain as anything but a celebrity? He wanted to hang out with Andrew again and not feel so solitary. Plus, Andrew was easy on the eyes.

“Sure. I can stop by after I drop off the straw. What’s your address?” Andrew asked.

He hadn’t missed a beat. Cain’s heart thundered. This was happening. “Uh, I’m at twenty-three Cook Court.”

“Oh, the Cook Court apartments. I know where that is. Give me an hour.” Andrew laughed. “And call Liam in the meantime. Then you won’t forget.”

“Thanks.” Where his agent or parents would’ve spoken out of malice or irritation, Andrew sounded more jovial and offering a happy prod. “I will.”

“See you soon.”

Cain hung up and clasped the phone to his chest. Happiness overwhelmed him. He’d done something without any help, and so far, things were working out. He wasn’t being dragged back to Beverly Hills nor being castigated too much for his behavior.

He picked up the pen and added Andrew’s name to his number, then located the second phone number and dialed Liam’s digits. “Hello?”

“This is Liam Blackwell, and you are?” Liam asked.

His voice faded for a moment.Fuck.Cain thumped his thigh with his fist.Get yourself together.“This is Cain Ables. We’re going to work on a movie together.”

---