Page 15 of #Starstruck

“Zoe, where’s my ball?”

The bowling ball. I had left it. “Sorry, it’s over there on the floor.” I pointed at it.

She ran over to retrieve it and went back to her mark. She gave me a confused look. I knew I was acting weird. I couldn’t help it.

Maybe Chase was chatting me up to get to Lexi. It wouldn’t be the first time a guy had used me to get close to her. He totally didn’t have to, though. Lexi was more than willing. All he had to do was say the word. Any word. I knew she wouldn’t be picky.

We did the scene over and over again as they got different angles for Chase and Lexi. After what felt like a hundred times, the director was finally satisfied. Chase shook Lexi’s hand and thanked her. He smiled at me as he left the set.

I thought that was it. Instead, we had to stay and film the scene with the stunt double being thrown through the wall into the bowling alley. It took a while for the stunt guy and special effects people to get set up. When they were finally ready, there were a lot of wires attached to the double, and fake debris was strewn about everywhere (which was good, as I didn’t want to see anyone else get bones broken today). The first couple of times my reaction was real because it did surprise me. But it just went on and on, and I felt totally worn out even though all I’d done was sit there and pretend to look shocked. They gave us breaks and pointed us toward the craft services table (which was awesome), but it was still so boring.

It went on for so long that I missed both of my Monday classes, which I hadn’t been planning on. I knew I could go in on Wednesday, come out of my introvert shell, and ask some classmates if I could borrow their notes. I’d been asked on more than one occasion; I hoped they wouldn’t mind returning the favor.

The DA finally announced that it was a wrap, and a woman with a headset approached Lexi. “We need you to come to the production offices so we can have you sign some paperwork and releases,” she said.

I told Lexi I’d meet her at the car, which is where I intended to go next no matter what Chase Covington had said. If he wanted to go out with Lexi, he could pursue her without my help. She hugged me and said she would pick up our paychecks and see me in a few.

I hadn’t gone far when I was stopped by a man with a beard. “Hey, I’m Brett. I’m Chase’s on-set PA. He asked me to walk you to his trailer when you were done.”

“Oh, I was actually just going to leave ...”

“Come on, he said it was important. You don’t want to get me in trouble, do you?”

Having just lost my own job, I certainly didn’t want to be the cause of someone else losing theirs. It surprised me when we went outside and I realized it was dark. Brett whistled as he led me past the buildings and into a pack of trailers. “Chase’s is right here,” he said, opening the door for me.

I stepped inside, not sure what I was supposed to do. I was about to ask Brett, but he had already shut the door behind me and left. The lights were on, and I realized this trailer was nicer than my apartment. Probably bigger, too. It had a full living room and a kitchen. There were some shut doors that I had to assume led to a bedroom and bathroom. I wasn’t brave enough to investigate. Especially because I didn’t want to catch Chase in a possibly compromising situation. “Hello?” I called out.

No response.

The trailer felt like a generic man cave. Black leather sofa, big-screen TV with video game systems. A couple of vintage movie posters on the wall. Stainless-steel appliances in a kitchen that looked like it had never been used. I sank down onto the couch, surprised at how comfy it was.

And then I nearly jumped out of my skin when a half-naked Chase walked through the front door and said, “I’m glad you’re here.”

CHAPTER SIX

He had peeled off the top part of his costume, and I got to witness firsthand that the molded muscles on his rubber suit had nothing on what was happening underneath. My mouth went completely dry, and all the hairs on my arms stood straight up. Totally unfair. The governor should pass some kind of law saying that movie stars were not allowed to be shirtless in front of mere mortals.

It was like somebody had drawn the perfect man. I had the urge to run my fingers over his abs because I wondered what they felt like. Purely out of scientific curiosity, of course. He must work out constantly to look so—

“Want something to drink?” He interrupted my train of thought as he moved into his kitchen and opened the minifridge.

“No.” I hadn’t intended it, but my reply came out in a raspy whisper. I cleared my throat. “No, I’m good.” So good. So very, very good.

Chase took out a glass bottle of water, twisted off the cap, and took a big drink. I could not stop watching his lips. His blond hair was still wet, and when he pushed it back off his forehead, it took everything inside me not to sigh. He was so effortlessly sexy. Like he had majored in it in college and then graduated with honors.

“About that assistant job ...”

“You were serious about that?” Why did my voice sound so high?

“I do need the help,” he said almost apologetically. He came over and sat next to me on the sofa, and I almost jumped out of my skin.

His eyes really were super blue. Ice blue. Like the sky over a Scandinavian fjord on a summer day—

“I’m operating under the assumption that you’re not crazy,” he said with a smile to take some of the sting out of his words.

“I’m not crazy.” I paused. “Although I acknowledge that is what a crazy person would say. And you don’t need to do all this to get to Lexi. Just so you know.”

Confusion made his eyes go a shade darker. “Who’s Lexi?”

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