Page 72 of Hollywood Undercover
“Yet you’re fine imposing onSebastian?”
“That’sdifferent.”
“Different how,honey?”
“I don’t know. Maybe because he’s become afriend.”
“Friends don’t dress in drag and leave friends in the dark,honey.”
“Fuck. I really screwed this up, didn’tI?”
“What can I say, Lex? Well, maybe it will all work out. I have a funny feeling that it will. Either that, or your conscience will come alive and straighten it all out. There’s no going around it. At this point, the only way out of this problem is through…the direct approach. The hotel would have at least given you a bit of time, but clearly you’re ready to confess you’re a girl. Why else would you go and shack up at his place? Anyhow, at least this way you can do it fast, and find out which way the river really bends with BashSullivan.”
Alexandra rolled her eyes, laughing slightly. “I’m pretty convinced, as far as that’s concerned. I’m not the boy of his dreams. He’s such a sweet guy, but anyone would be livid in his situation. Don’t you see? Having you here will mean I have someone to vouch for my character and show him I didn’t intentionally manipulate him. That was never my plan. That’s not too farfetched, is it? Dressing up the way I did to avoid themedia?”
“Not at all, darling. Haven’t you seen Annette in the brown bag, or Ralph in his famous gas mask? We’ve all done it, honey. Going in disguise was more than reasonable. It’s the part where you kept it up for over a month that’s unusual…and it’s not that I don’t understand, honey, but you like this guy. For the love of God, just tell him. You don’t need me there to dothat.”
“I hear you, Eva. Really I do. I just can’t do it. Maybe if I can convince him I meant to tell him right away, he won’t be so upset. If he’s still mad after that…well, at least you’ll be here…you know, forme.”
“In my experience, a lie for a lie doesn’t solve anything.” Eva stared at her for a moment until Alexandra gave her the hands down, all-out, pouty lipped and puppy dog stare. “Stop that, Lex. Don’t look so bloody stressed. Oh, all right, dammit. I’ll come! Last day on set is a week away. Finally this infernal movie will be finished filming, and if you’re still in Tucson and haven’t made your big reveal yet, I’ll fly to yourrescue.”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Alexandra gushed, hoping that by laying it on thick, Eva wouldn’t change her mind before the week wasout.
“What are friends for?” Eva looked away from the screen for a moment. “Bloody hell, there’s someone at my trailer door. It’s time for me to play badass superspy chick for the cameras, honey. You can rest your pretty nerves until I get there, darling. If you can manage your little charade of the past few weeks, I guess I can handlethis.”
Eva giggled and quickly said goodbye. Alexandra beamed down at the smartphone screen, grateful to have a plan in theworks.
“Talk to you later,Eva.”
She hung up the phone and let out a long, relievedbreath.
For better or worse, Sebastian will know who I am and why I did what I had to do…well, more orless.
The smell of something delicious cooking downstairs wafted into the bedroom a few minutes later. Alexandra heard her stomach growlinsistently.
“I guess I can’t camp out in here indefinitely,” she muttered. “I’llstarve.”
She needed to get ready for Rosa to take her to the hospital, anyway. Rosa was probably on her way from a business meeting. Alexandra quickly made the bed and yanked out something to wear from the two shopping bags of clothes she now owned. After the chaos of the fire at Dad’s house, she had run out in a robe, with very little on underneath. No one would get access to Dad’s house until the fire department eventually cleared it, so she had no way of salvaging any of her clothes yet. Luckily, Rosa lent her some cash, and Bash was gracious enough to stop at a nearby department store to pick up a few otheressentials.
Now, in slacks and a button-down shirt, she looked at herself in the mirror hanging from the back of the guestroom door. Deep down, she knew she couldn’t try this crazy ruse under the same roof with Bash. Not now when she felt this attraction to him. Her torrid midmorning dream was evidenceenough.
I can’t be alone with SebastianSullivan.
Not until I tell him thetruth.
Unfortunately, there was nothing she could do right this minute. Trying to confess to Bash had left her paralyzed at the hospital. She had dug herself deeper by coming to stay with him and for now, she had to live withit.
“Here goes nothing.” She opened the door and tentatively walked down thestairs.
