Heat blossoms across my cheeks. “After my boyfriend—”
He laughs loudly. “How long are you going to keep that bullshit up?”
His question stuns me speechless.
Daire snorts, tugging me toward the bed and yanking the dress I managed to collect out of my hands and sending it sailing back behind him onto the floor. “He told me. How long are you and Noah planning on lying to everybody? To my parents? Letting the world believe you two are dating when you’re not?”
I try answering but can’t come up with a good enough response. He wouldn’t understand our reasoning because I’m not sure I even do. “I don’t get why you sound so mad about it.”
His nostrils flare. “You don’t?” The sarcasm isn’t lost on me.
I slowly shake my head, toying with the huge pocket of his hoodie. “No. I mean, shouldn’t this be a good thing? Or are you pissed off because you can’t really get back at him since we’re not together in the first place? That’s what this was about, wasn’t it? Revenge. Well, I’m sorry to break it to you, Dairen—” I stand, leveling him with a narrowed stare. “—but it won’t work. Noah isn’t going to give a shit if we slept together. Obviously.”
Another dry laugh bubbles from him as he watches me storm toward my phone and collect the half-dead device from the stand it was resting on all night. “If that’s true, why the fuck did he throw a punch?”
I turn on my heel and hiss, “Because we’re friends! And that’s what friends do.”
“Attempt to punch people?”
“If they’re using them, yes.”
He steps toward me with pinched lips. “I seem to recall you using me just the same, princess. And you didn’t mind one fucking second. While we’re on this little topic, how about you explain to me why you’re so angry over me being upset that our revenge fuck wasn’t more when you’re supposedly dating my brother? Before you judge me for my morals and reasons, take a good goddamn look in the mirror.”
I’m silent.
Because he’s right.
There’s no way I can deny it without being a hypocrite. I have no reason being mad at him when the world thinks I’m dating his brother.
He nods once. “Yeah. That’s what I thought.”
Staring down at the floor, I wiggle my toes into the carpet and feel an onslaught of heavy emotions rise up my throat. I knew what I was walking into when I agreed to come here, so I shouldn’t be surprised that something bad happened. It’s karma in its finest form.
“I’ll leave,” I croak, clearing my throat and avoiding his pointed stare.
He doesn’t tell me to stay.
He doesn’t tell me to go.
But when I pick up my dress and heels, he doesn’t stop me either. Not this time.
I stop at the door, hand wrapped around the handle in a daze. Then I say, “Merry Christmas Eve, Daire. I’m…I’m sorry.”
Chapter 7
Adelaide
* * *
My agent’s name flashes across the screen as I finish blow drying my hair. Sighing, I set down my hairdryer and pick up the cell to answer even though it’s the last thing I want to do.
“You answered,” Jill starts with, surprise in her tone. I can’t help but crack a grin as I examine my reflection in the mirror. “I just got the date for your first table read.”
My eyes widen. “Already?”
Her soft sigh is one of exasperation that I’ve heard many times before. “This isn’t Elemental High anymore, Adelaide. You scored the lead role in a blockbuster film. They’re not going to drag their feet on this project.”
Standing taller as I nibble my lip, I think to myself, No pressure. Except, obviously there is. I still have no idea how I got this part, not that I’m unhappy about it. Playing Elisa Carpenter is a dream come true. Noah helped me practice for my audition for weeks leading up to the big day. I’d like to think my blood relations aren’t part of the reason why the director and his affiliates chose me, but I’d be stupid not to think it was at least part of the influence I had on them.
“I know.” I grab my foundation and play with the top of the bottle. “When do the reads start?”
“A week from tomorrow.”
My eyes about bulge out of my head.
“Like I said,” she cuts in before I have time to freak out, “they want to get the ball rolling. Ever since production was announced, it’s been a whirlwind with the press. The world wants to see their favorite celebrities brought to life, and it’s going to be huge. ABC is talking about doing a documentary and interviewing the models that worked closely with Elisa to bring light to the biopic.”
Nausea rises in my stomach. Does that mean Mom will be asked to speak about her experiences in the industry? She hasn’t wanted to talk about it before, least of all with me. She’s done everything possible to separate herself from that life. “Okay…” I take a deep breath and nod. “So, the main cast will be there. Cool.”
Cool. The understatement of the century. Some of the biggest names are starring alongside me. People I’ve admired for a long time and looked up to for years. The person playing Elisa’s father is none other than Braxton Malone.
Grandma Rose used to say he’s the one man who would make her break the no-man pact that she made with herself after Grandpa died.
Creepy but understandable. He’s a total silver fox. A stud.
“I’m emailing you over a few things now that way you’re prepared. The director has a reputation for being tough, so you’re going to need to bring you’re A-game. They can replace you at any point.”
I frown. “Thanks,” I murmur.
“You know I’m right, Adelaide.”
She is. It’s happened before with actors far more famous than me. The only real project I have under my belt is Elemental High. But if Daniel Radcliff could do Harry Potter than I could do this.
Easily.
Probably…
I feign confidence. “I know what I’m doing. You know how badly I wanted this and I’m not going to screw it up now that I have it.”
Truthfully, I don’t think Jill would have agreed to help me get this role if she didn’t think I could handle it. It’d reflect just as badly on her as it would me if I messed it up. Neither of us wants that.
“Good. I’ve added a new appointment into your schedule for two days from now to fix your hair. They want a serious actress, not a girl playing dress up.” I wince as I hear her typing something on her end. My fingers play with my colorful hair and feel my shoulders drop knowing it’ll go back to boring blonde soon. “You’re also going to need to do something about your wardrobe. I saw the photos of you in that Valentino dress from last night.”
When I searched online for pictures lingering of me and Daire from last night, I saw none. I’d checked three times before realizing there wasn’t any evidence of who I was with that could stir up rumors. It took a few hours, and a long bubble bath, before I could breathe a little easier knowing I’d be okay.
I’d like to think it’s a Christmas miracle.