13. Sierra
13
SIERRA
That afternoon, after mentally going back and forth several times, I sent emails to both Ronnie and my agent asking if they could get Miranda’s email address. My agent was probably sick of me writing, because I’d already sent her two notes that basically said, “get me the hell out of here.” Unlike mountain rescues, finding out a director’s contact information was something in her domain, so hopefully it would work.
Drew cooked dinner, so he didn’t have to do dishes. After everything was cleared away, we all got in a few hours of work before Carter said, “Screw it.” He went into the kitchen and returned with a bottle of wine and some glasses. After that, we all retired to the sofa. Tristan poured the wine while Carter made a fire.
Tonight, I felt a little more comfortable sitting on the sofa between Drew and Tristan. The heat from the fireplace warmed my feet, which I had propped up on the coffee table, a blanket over my legs. It was pretty relaxing even though the guys wanted to watch some sci-fi movie, which wasn’t really my thing. But first, Tristan wanted to catch up on the latest posts from that tech influencer he liked, Lila James.
“Why is her channel called Battery Operated?” I asked after the second video in which Lila demonstrated how her entire early morning routine, from her alarm, to opening the blinds, the temperature of the shower, and even making coffee could be controlled from her smartphone. “Isn’t most tech rechargeable now?”
“She sometimes reviews sex toys. We told you that, right?” Tristan said, not sounding embarrassed at all.
“So?”
“Sometimes women refer to a favorite sex toy as their battery-operated boyfriend,” Drew elaborated. He didn’t seem embarrassed either, but my cheeks warmed.
“Ever had one?” Carter asked.
“A boyfriend?” I squeaked, hoping that’s what he meant.
But before he could answer, Tristan cut in. “Can it, Carter.”
To my surprise, Carter nodded. “Are we ready for the movie?”
“Somebody else put it on,” Tristan said. “My battery’s almost dead.”
“I’ve got it.” He did something, and then the television above the fireplace displayed his phone screen. Apparently, Drew and Lila James weren’t the only two people good at tech.
He selected the movie, and the television stopped mirroring his screen. A disclaimer popped up, helpfully letting us know that the upcoming preview was suitable for all audiences.
Then the TV filled with an image of a desert canyon, with towers of red rocks in the distance and a dusty road in the foreground. It looked very familiar.
Very familiar.
Oh.
My.
God.
“Stop,” I tried to say, but my breath caught in my throat as a car crested over a hill and raced across the landscape. “Stop,” I said louder, and I got to my feet, my blanket dropping to the ground.
Everyone looked at me in astonishment as I scrambled over Tristan’s legs, my pulse so strong I heard it in my ears. I rounded on Carter. “Give me your phone.”
His dark eyes reflected genuine astonishment as I reached across him to grab it. But all I succeeded in doing was knocking it from his hand.
“Son of a bitch,” he snapped, reaching for it at the same time I scrambled toward it. He got it first and took a cursory glance at the glass to make sure it wasn’t cracked, then took hold of my arm and to keep me away from it. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
When he got no answer from me, he looked to Drew and Tristan. They stared at the television, their mouths open. After glaring at me for a moment longer, Carter’s gaze went there, too. And finally, so did mine.
And there I was. Dancing a sexy salsa with Aiden Hunt. Squealing in fear as he drove his getaway car like a madman down the highway. Ducking behind a rock as he pushed me down during a shootout. And then being pinned roughly against the wall as his lips met mine.
Shit.
The trailer ended, and the opening credits of the sci-fi movie played. No one said anything. Eventually, Carter realized he was still clutching my arm and he let me go. I tried not to meet his eyes, but I still caught the expression on his face.
He looked at me differently. They all were. I could feel it, even though I didn’t turn toward the other two.
Without a word, I walked to the hallway and shut myself in the bathroom. Sitting down on the edge of the tub, I put my head in my hands. Shit.
I tried to talk myself down. It wasn’t the end of the world. Being an actress wasn’t a shameful thing. Most people who acted in movies loved it when people saw them.
But now, they knew I’d lied to them. Tristan, Carter, and Drew. They knew I’d lied—or at least, they knew I’d left a hell of a lot out of my bio. And now they’d treat me differently. It had already started.
The logical part of my brain offered reassurance again. Did it matter? I was here to write, not to make friends. But… it kind of felt like I had made a friend, at least with Drew. Maybe even Tristan, too. I’d enjoyed our talk today. He kind of felt like a coworker, like the person who worked in the next office over, someone I could have a pleasant conversation with or complain to when something went wrong. Of course, I’d never had a job that normal, but I imagined that’s how it would’ve felt.
And Carter—I had no idea how he’d react, but he already felt dangerous to me. Surely this revelation wouldn’t help.
Damn it.
I sank down onto the floor, clutching my knees to my chest. The porcelain of the tub was cold even through my hoodie, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to stay there and never come out.
But, of course, I wasn’t alone here. The first knock came about ten minutes later.
“Sierra?”
It was Drew, of course. I didn’t answer him.
“Why don’t you come watch the movie? I made popcorn.” There was silence for a moment. “Or we could watch whatever you want.”
His voice was gentle, which surprised me. There was really no way he or the others could interpret my behavior as anything other than absurd. Yet, he sounded like somehow, he understood.
Hmm. Maybe I wasn’t the only one with acting abilities around here.
“Please come out when you’re ready,” he said.
Then he left me alone for a good twenty minutes before trying again.
The third time someone knocked, it was a different voice calling my name.
“Sierra?” It was Tristan. He sounded concerned. “Sierra… please come out. I have to pee.”
My jaw dropped open, and I didn’t know whether to roll my eyes or laugh. But I did neither. Instead, I got to my feet, my stiff muscles protesting the act. Then I ran my hands under the shockingly cold water at the sink and splashed some on my face.
I took a deep breath as I prepared to face Tristan, but he slipped in as soon as I opened the door, reminding me of Zeus. I stepped into the hall and closed the door behind me.
Drew looked up when I came back. He patted the sofa next to him. “Come sit with us. We’re not going to talk, we’re just going to watch the movie.” He glared at Carter, as if emphasizing that. “You’re just in time for the space battle.”
Since the alternatives were to take a walk in the freezing cold or to hide away in my bedroom like a coward, I sat down in the middle of the couch, leaving room for Tristan when he returned. Then I carefully watched the television, even though I had no idea what was going on.
I tried, though. Movies were a great way to escape reality, so after a while, after Tristan took his place on the couch next to me, I got caught up in the storyline. The science was so technical that I had a feeling I wouldn’t have understood it even if I’d watched it from the beginning.
It felt like the calm before the storm as we all watched the movie in the dark. But time seemed to speed up—either that, or it was a remarkably short movie—and all too soon, it was over.
Carter did something with his phone and the television winked off. The only light came from the fire. I clutched a throw pillow against my chest and waited for the first question.
It came from Tristan. “Your hair was different. Lighter.”
That wasn’t what I’d expected him to say, but I nodded. “I dyed it afterwards, back to my natural color.” I’d have to either dye it blond or wear a wig during the press tour, but I didn’t tell them that.
“Were you in any of the other movies in the series?” Tristan said, but it was Carter who answered.
“No.”
Either he’d seen them, or he’d looked me up online. It was easy to find information, true or otherwise, on Sierra Sloane. Sierra Brogan—not so much.
Then Drew asked the question I’d dreaded. “Why didn’t you tell us?” His voice was full of curiosity, but I couldn’t quite tell if there was a note of hurt laced into it.
But this time, it was Tristan who answered before I could. “She’s up here to write, not act—unless you think she was shooting a movie in her cabin.”
“Yeah, but?—”
“We asked her what she was doing up here and she told us.” Tristan’s voice was firm, but I’d hate it if I’d hurt Drew.
Then it was Carter’s turn. “Aren’t you supposed to be doing publicity for the movie?”
“The press tour starts in a few weeks.”
“You’re famous,” Drew said, sounding awestruck.
I sighed. “Not really. Had you heard of me before today?”
“No,” Drew said. “But still, you worked with Aiden Hunt.”
“She did more than work with him,” Carter said darkly.
Tristan got to his feet with a speed that made me jump. “I think it’s time for us to retire upstairs.” He looked directly at Carter.
Carter raised his hands in surrender, and then got up as well. “You two kids have fun,” he said, disappearing with Tristan into the hallway.
They left Drew and me on the couch. I gathered up the blanket and repositioned it on my legs, edging toward the side of the sofa that Tristan had just abandoned.
After a few moments of awkward silence, I looked over at him. He was staring at me as if he’d never seen me before.
Crap.