Page 43 of The Model

“Of course, we’re friends so you can tell me anything.” He pretended to zip his lips and threw away the key. I didn’t even know people did that in real life. I’d only seen it on TV a handful of times.

“When my contract with Angie runs out at the end of the year, I don’t think I’m going to sign with her again. I want to have more control over what jobs I pick. She has the mentality that I should take every job that’s offered and while that’s been great…”

“You need a break. I hear ya, man. I don’t think I could handle the schedule you’ve kept this year. I fly out maybe once every month or two for a shoot, and that’s all I can handle. You’re constantly on the go.”

“I am, and I know I’ve been lucky with Angie. She normally makes it so I can stay an extra day or two to sightsee before I move on to the next place, but damn, I’m tired. She threatened to cut my gym access if I didn’t go on this casting call. Can you believe that?”

“What a fucking bitch. She’s using your niceness to her advantage. I would love to be a fly on the wall when she finds out you won’t be signing with her again.”

Yeah, me too. Angie was going to blow her lid and would be relentless for me to sign with her again.

“Do you know who you’re going to go with?”

I shook my head. “Not really. Lexie said she had some contacts for me, but…”

“But,” Parker’s eyes went wide, “what happened with that hottie photographer? You didn’t fuck it up, did you? Because, seriously, when we were in Rio, I was so damn jealous of you. You’re one lucky son of a bitch.”

“I don’t feel so lucky now. When I was in Sydney with Lana, my phone somehow got busted. I swear she did it on purpose.”

“Your brand new iPhone? Dude, what the hell? And better yet, why were you with Lana?”

“Unfortunately, we were on a job together. If there was a way for me to make it so I never have to work with her, I would, but you know I can’t.”

“Not yet, but once you’re the most famous male supermodel there is, you’ll be able to,” Parker cracked up beside me at his joke, making me laugh right along with him. If I ever did become a supermodel, I wouldn’t become a diva like some models out there. “So, what happened?”

“She asked if she could borrow my phone because there was something wrong with hers and she needed to call her agent with some urgent matter. When she came back with my phone, it no longer worked. Instead of going off on her, I left the club for a little while to cool down.”

“Wow, hold up there. Why were you in a club?”

“For the shoot. It was pretty awesome except for Lana being there.”

“She ruins everything.” His jaw ticked.

“It took a few days for me to get a new phone and phone number; when I called Lexie, she didn’t answer or call me back. I didn’t get a chance to call her again for a few days, and when I did finally get the time to call her, it said her phone was disconnected or was no longer in service. I don’t know what I did to make her so pissed off at me. Before that, we were good and talking every few days and then nothing.” I clenched my hands into fists at the thought.

Parker looked at me like I was crazy. “Why did you get a new phone number?”

“Because I’m stupid. I don’t know. It made sense at the time with what the guy told me. Now it probably fucked me with Lexie.”

“Are you sure it didn’t have anything to do with the picture Lana posted on Instagram?”

My stomach sank.

“What picture?” I had a feeling what I was about to see wasn’t going to be good.

“You’re kidding me, right? Lana posted a picture of you guys all up close and personal and made it seem like you two were together.”

“Together?” I tried to gulp down the rock that had formed in my throat, but it wouldn’t go down.

“Yeah, you don’t follow her?”

“Why the hell would I follow Lana? I can’t stand her and now…” And now I wanted to pull my hair out. Did Lexie seriously think I was with Lana now? I didn’t think there was a person on the planet that she hated more and if she thought I’d fucked Lana or was with her…

She couldn’t.

Parker pulled out his phone and scrolled with furrowed brows. “You only follow four people. What’s wrong with you?”

“I only go on to post.” And to try and stalk Lexie until she blocked me. “Angie didn’t say I had to follow people, and who would I follow, anyway?”

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