Chapter 9
With Marcus fully distracted, holed up in Dad’s old office, I make a break for it, sneaking out the front door and making as little noise as possible, though probably too much for my own good. Except if I don’t get out of here, then I’m going to explode.
I’ve already exploded in an utterly different way, and remembering it now brings heat back to my cheeks.
One orgasm hadn’t been enough.I drop down into the driver’s seat of my sweet little convertible. I’d gotten up and somehow managed to put distance between us, making it as far as my bedroom before I collapsed. I splayed my legs open on the bed and touched myself to a second orgasm, and then I had to change my panties because they’d been soaked through.
Damn. I’ve always fantasized about Hot Daddy Marcus, but in a completely untouchable way. He’s been a fixture in my life for as long as I can remember, entirely off limits. What kind of person drools over their dad’s friend? The sick kind, even though he’s a good-looking man. Any normal person would have thoughts about what it would be like to kiss, to touch, to have sex with a man like him. Right?
A lot of women want men who either don’t want them back or aren’t good for them.
Except I’ve memorized the feeling of Marcus fingering me.
I never thought he’d touch me, never thought we’d ever get here, to where every part of me wants every part of him. I knew I’d never be satisfied with a single kiss. His fingers inside me—
I press my foot down harder on the gas, the windows down and the breeze tickling the baby hairs around my face. Everything else is secured in a ponytail at the top of my head.
River has been my bestie for as long as I can remember, a dusky skinned, black-haired beauty who always had a spark of something extra in her personality, the charisma of a girl destined to command attention.
My mother used to make sure the two of us found ourselves in the same circles, telling me when we were alone how much I could use someone like River in my corner, like she is the spark to set me aflame.
Luckily for both of us, we always clicked. The friendship has seen us both through some tough times—and some great ones, too—but I’ve leaned on her hard with my parent’s deaths.
She hasn’t let up on the Hot Daddy Marcus bit, either, pushing and pushing since yesterday for me to tell her exactly what’s going on with him. With us. She means with the audition, but this is the first time I don’t actually want her to know what happened.
I bite my tongue.
Today, River is doing some kind of social media content posting at a local café, and when I texted earlier, she said to meet her there.
It’s hard enough to find time with her busy schedule. I’m the one in a position to accommodate, so I’ve got no choice but to go out. On multiple levels. See River, tell her mostly everything, and get the hell out of the house and away from Marcus for a while.
Support her, I clarify.
She’s consistent in her social media engagement, and it’s paid off for her. She deserves every bit of recognition.
All the bad things have the tendency to evaporate bit by bit behind the wheel of a convertible. With the wind warm on my skin and the California sun bright overhead, it doesn’t matter how busy the streets are. It doesn’t matter what kind of problems I have at home. There is nothing like this place, nothing like Rodeo Drive and the crash of the Pacific Ocean surf nearby. The stars on the walk of fame, the wax museum, the hills and the Griffith observatory…
No better place on Earth.
The cafe offers vegan pastries and pretty good responsibly sourced coffee. River goes apeshit for that kind of thing, and her followers, all one point two million of them, tune in religiously when she spotlights places around the United States where they can follow her lead.
I make it to the cafe at the tail end of her live video, and the crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of River are large enough for me to feel a little awkward.
Once I’m out of the car, they’ll see me, and they’ll know.
There’s no anonymity anywhere.
My reflection screws into a grimace, the dark shades of sunglasses hiding my narrowed eyes.
Knowing the press would be mingled with the crowd and seeing them in the flesh are two different beasts. Not to mention, I’ve let my own social media slide abysmally low over the last few months. No one can blame me, though. Not when I keep getting well wishes from multiple strangers who want to make sure I’m okay after the plane crash.
But River asked me to meet her here, and I’ve got no choice but to go in, even when I know—
I’ve parked on the street down from the cafe, one of the last available spots in the area and a lucky find for me. With a quick breath and a mental pep talk, I force a smile across my lips and step out of the car, pushing my glasses higher up on my nose and wondering if there’s a back way in so I can avoid the paparazzi.
Should have checked before I came.
More like bolted out of the house when I heard Marcus rooting around in the kitchen.
I’ve managed to swivel one foot back the way I came when I hear my name called. “Empire? It’s Empire Stone!”
It’s a wave, a ripple effect across the crowd and one camera shifts in my direction, the shutter going off with a click, then another and another. They’ve got me in their sights, and my stomach settles coldly.
No backing out now.
No escape.
My throat constricts slightly until I latch my gaze on River, and she lifts her hand in a wave.
I don’t wave or speak or anything like I used to do.
I keep my focus ahead and get inside the cafe with my friend, who wraps me up in her loving and overly tan arms.
“I’m glad you made it. The vultures didn’t try to peck the skin off your bones, did they?” I’m sure she’s glaring at them over my shoulder, but most of them are outside of the cafe. Her fans on the inside leave little room for anyone else to get through the door, and the poor people behind the counter are racing to fill orders.
“I’m still in one piece,” I assure her, squeezing her tightly one last time before breaking away.
River leans back and stares at me, her baby blue eyes stripping down the layers of masks I keep in place. “You look like shit, Em.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.”
“That you’re purposely looking like shit and you went out of the house that way? There are bags under your eyes! Have you not been—” She breaks off, shakes her head. “Sorry. Stupid question. I know you’re not sleeping.”
Several onlookers push closer, reaching out to grab the sleeve of my shirt. One of the bolder ones grabs the back of my ponytail and tugs hard enough to have me turn around, wide eyed.
Too close. They’re too close, and suddenly, it’s hard to breathe.
“Is there a place we can go to be alone?” I ask. “I mean, it’s not like I’m going to be able to talk to you with this kind of crowd. Although, congratulations.” A small grin ghosts my features. “I think this is the best turnout you’ve ever gotten.”
River waves her arms at her fans, as though she’s gotten so used to seeing them around, she barely notices them anymore. But it’s not true. She’s always been the type of person who really cares about the people around her. She might have a big head at times, but not when it comes to the support she receives.
Most of the room is open, although there is a row of plants down the center and a couple of small tables on the other side, hidden behind the lush foliage. It’s not really private, but River gestures for me to follow her before she grabs hold of my wrist and physically drags me through the crowd. I hear my name being murmured by a few of the people we pass and do my best to look at them, really look at them, because it won’t reflect well on me to be seen as closed off.
It was a mistake to come out.
Then, River pushes me down in one of the seats closest to the wall and makes a shooing motion to the others.
“Come on! You know we love you, but my girl and I need a little quiet time to talk.” She blows a succession of air kisses toward the people and then waves her hand at someone. A body separates from the crowd, then two, and before I put the pieces together, she’s got two bodyguards standing and blocking off the others.
“There. This is the best I can do.” She grabs the seat across from me and laces her hands on the table. Bubbly, sunny. Everything I used to be and can’t be anymore. “Thanks for coming out today. It means a lot to me.”
“Of course! I’m happy to see you without a screen between us.”
River reaches out and touches her hands to mine. “I’m always here for you and you know it. I’m sorry I’ve been so busy. But!” She laughs. “I’ve got time now, and I want to hear all about this movie you’re doing. Did you decide to do it?”
I blush at the memory of the decision-making process. “I did,” I finally say. “Marcus is handling the contract right now, and I’m super nervous.”
“Why are you nervous? It’s going to be great.”
“Riv, it’s about a sexy teen who uses her assets to seduce the neighbor. Do I look like the type of person who could be in Jennifer’s Body? Because that’s the vibe they’re going for, without the blood and, you know, the monster.”
“You might not be Megan Fox, but you are absolutely stunning and naturally gifted.” River always lets the compliments fly. It’s easy with her. “There is no need for you to be nervous. I know you are going to kill it. Have you read through the script?”
I duck my head and let my hair fall to obscure my face. “I read through one of the scenes with Marcus earlier in the day.
“You did? Hot Daddy Marcus…oh shit, Empire! What happened? Did you read through one of the sexy scenes? Please tell me you did!” Her voice rises with her excitement, and I have to shush her to get her to calm down.
“It was one of the scenes leading up to the seduction, and he…” I trail off, leaning closer to make sure she and I won’t be overheard when I whisper the next part. “He got hard.”
“What do you mean?” River asks in a stage whisper.
“I mean, I was on his lap, and his dick got hard.” Hard and hot, and the things it did to me… “What does it mean?”
“He’s a man and you were on his lap. It probably means nothing! I mean, come on. You’re young and gorgeous and you were on. His. Lap.” River brushes it off.
I’m not sure she’s really listening to me.
“Oh, did you want something? I completely forgot, I’m sorry. I’m such a space cadet today.” River turns in her chair and calls out to one of the girls behind the counter by name. In a few seconds, the girl stands beside the table. “What did you want, Empire?” River asks.
“Ah, can I have an almond milk latte, please?” I offer with a smile before River rattles off her own order before the girl scuttles off to fulfill it.
“Tell me more about this scene. Did you throw yourself on his lap, or was it like, he finally decided he was a man, living with a hot woman, and he hauled you onto him?”
“No, it wasn’t like that. It was all part of the scene, which is why it took me by surprise. I was just doing my reading.” I didn’t want to tell her about the rest of it—the fingering, and how hot it made me to have it be Marcus touching me, Marcus going where no one else has gone on my body before.
“There you go,” River exclaims. “He got erect because of the scene. If it bothers you, then send him my way. I’ll take care of him.”
She winks at me, and I swallow. “I’m sure you’re right.”
“I’m serious. If he’s in a bad mood, you know who to call to take care of it.”
“I don’t need you to fuck my guardian to make him smile.”
“It wouldn’t be a hardship, okay? But I want to hear more about this movie part. I mean, your first actual role! You should be excited,” River continues.
“I’m not a vigorous sinner,” I reply. “I’m still not sure it’s the right thing for me to do.”
“And yet you’re doing it. I’m really proud of you.”
I’m not sure I’m proud of myself at this point. It’s too new, and everything is too raw, but it’s a step in the right direction. It’s what Mom wanted for me, what I always wanted for myself.
The girl from behind the counter delivers both coffees in front of us, and I lift my face in greeting.
“I’ve heard this place is really good,” River says in a low tone.
“Wait a minute. You’re beefing it and you haven’t tried their stuff?”
She shrugs as she lifts her mug to her lips. “The gossip was good. Let’s see if it really lives up to the hype, huh?”
We clink the mugs together, and I wince at my first sip. It’s oat milk instead of the almond I asked for.
“What’s the matter?”
I can’t have oat milk because it upsets my stomach. I’ve always had a slight allergy to it, and I’ve had to be really careful to make sure I’m safe with what I eat.
“It’s the wrong kind of milk,” I mutter.
I can ask for a new one and draw attention from the crowd, who might take it the wrong way or film it…or I can just not drink it.
“It’s not a big deal.” I push the cup to the side, staring at the beautifully done leaf design on the foam. “I’ll be okay.”
“Don’t worry.” River notes my sigh and pushes her own mug closer. “We’ll share.”
Embarrassment colors my insides at the thought of making a big deal about the mistake and, rather than speak up, rather than draw attention, I smile and nod. “Thanks.”