Page 77 of Off Script
Trevor laughs and slaps Jordan across the chest. “Stop provoking Ben, man. His eye is doing that weird twitching thing.”
“Boundaries, Jordan, boundaries. They exist for a reason, dickhead,” I add.
“Yeah, to keep people out, but we’re your inner circle. No need to keep us out, so I’m not giving you back your credit card or your gate opener.” Jordan hops up from the couch and strolls into the kitchen, returning quickly with a six-pack of beer under his arm and a bottle of wine. “I wasn’t sure what you’d like, Carlisle, so I grabbed both.” Placing the beverages on the coffee table, he grabs the remote control and asks, “So, what are we watching, Carlisle?”
Her eyes sparkle as her grin expands in victory. “Love Actually.”
“No, we’re not, babe!” I bellow with faux outrage. Pointing at Carlisle, I insist, “I won fair and square. You can’t renege. C’mon, babe.”
“Don’t be a prick. Let your girl pick,” Trevor chides me.
“Oh, nice rhyme.” Jordan chuckles and lifts his fist to Trevor’s for a fist bump. “Yeah, man.Love Actuallyis the best Christmas movie. I’m totally down to watch it.”
I roll my eyes because, of course, Jordan loves it. “It’s not even a Christmas movie,” I grouse. I may have thought that I won the battle against Carlisle, but with the three of them teaming up against me, it’s obvious that I’ve lost the war. “If we’re going to watch a Christmas movie that isn’t really a Christmas movie, let’s at least watchDie Hard.”
“Pfft. Those are both Christmas movies. Takes place at Christmastime; ergo, it is a Christmas movie,” Carlisle argues playfully.
“I likeLove Actuallybecause of the porn storyline. It’s hot,” Jordan adds unhelpfully. “That actress has good tits. Small, but a perfect handful.”
Carlisle scrunches up her nose at Jordan and lets out a grunt of outrage. “Jordan, don’t ruin this movie for me!”
Hmmm, based on the look of disgust on Carlisle’s face maybe there’s still a chance I haven’t lost the war yet.
Brushing her forehead with a kiss, I apologize. “Sorry, babe. Jordan has the emotional maturity of a twelve-year-old boy, but we can totally find a different, non-porn movie to watch.”
“Hey, I will not apologize for openly appreciating the beauty of a woman’s body.”
We’re saved by the gate buzzer alerting us that our food delivery has arrived. Jordan and Trevor run down the driveway to meet the driver, which gives me a minute alone with Carlisle. I grimace. “Sorry about them. Trevor’s great, but Jordan is more an acquired taste.”
“It’s okay. I like them. They’re fun. Plus, I like meeting your friends and getting to know your inner circle,” she jokes, a huge smile lighting up her face. Then she whispers playfully, “But we’re totally watchingLove Actuallytonight.”
Game, set, match.
The following evening, I’m hosting a smallCaptain Commanderparty for the cast and crew at my house to let loose and relax before we begin the promotional tour tomorrow. I hired a catering company to make the food and serve drinks because otherwise, I know Carlisle would have cooked everything herself, which she would have loved. I, however, had other ideas of how I wanted to spend our day, and it involved a lot of sex, not a lot of cooking.
I sit on a chaise lounge next to the pool sipping a beer and chatting with Thad, one of my co-stars, while Carlisle is hanging out with Joanna. I like that she and Jo get along so well, but I hate having Carlisle out of arm’s reach. Even as I make small talk with Thad, my attention keeps straying back toward my girlfriend.
My girlfriend who I am pretending is not my girlfriend tonight because of the stupid showmance.
Following my gaze, Thad looks over his shoulder and whistles quietly. “I can see why she has your attention.” Taking a drink from his Mexican martini, he openly gawks at Carlisle. His eyes rove over her body. “She’s fucking hot. I don’t mind sloppy seconds.”
“Thad, watch yourself,” I warn, my face hardening at his comments. “She’s one of my employees.”
He laughs. “Sure, she is.” Holding up his hands in surrender, Thad smirks. “I’m just glad that the rumor going around the studio is true—that you and Willa aren’t together for any other reason than publicity.”
I’m not surprised that our co-stars doubt the legitimacy of my relationship with Willa. They were present during filming, so they know firsthand that we weren’t dating back then despite what the press is saying now. I’m not putting in much effort to pretend to be Willa’s boyfriend tonight, but to cover my own ass, Carlisle and I aren’t acting like we’re together either. It sucks and it’s selfish, but it’s just the way we have to behave right now.
Obviously, I’m not doing a good job of hiding my feelings for her though since Thad has already figured it out.
I can’t wait for this showmance to be over, and it’s barely even begun.
“You know who else is hot? Willa fucking Radford,” Thad replies, leering at Willa over the top of his glass.
Well, shit.I don’t want Thad anywhere near Willa either.
In his mid-twenties, Thad is a hothead and a favorite Hollywood wild child. This is the first film that Thad and I have worked on together, and while he was professional enough on set, his after-hours antics have been well-documented in the press. Lots of drinking, lots of drugs, and even more women. Knowing that Willa is still reeling from her breakup with Baron and questioning her future, I don’t want her to rush into anything with Thad. She’s looking for a boyfriend while he’s only looking to get laid.
“Stay away from Willa, Thad. Don’t go there.”
