Chapter 6 #2
I shake my head. “The guys wouldn’t go that far. Hawk likes Mark. He’s a good guy. And it wouldn’t matter if he were straight. Me and my guys are good. We trust each other.”
Keira smiles. “I couldn’t imagine having more than one guy coming at me.”
“You would if you knew what it was like.” Mia winks. “I’m going to go find me a hockey player of my own.”
She backs away down the hall with a sly smile and a quick wave.
Keira shakes her head. “Is the sex kitten thing an act?”
I release a breath. “Honestly, I don’t know. She definitely comes off like sex is the only thing that holds her interest outside of acting. But if it’s covering up something, I wouldn’t be able to tell you what.”
“Hmm.” Keira turns and we head toward our directing classes. “I don’t know if I trust anyone that’s so one note. Take Chase. He plays the good guy, but he’s a lying snake in the grass.”
“I think Mia just hasn’t really had the chance to be herself.
” We walk in and sit at our table for class.
“She’s been framed in a certain way by everyone around her for years.
Maybe the sex kitten act was a disguise she wore at one point, but it became more comfortable than who she really is.
She might not want anyone to see the real her. ”
It’s easy to put on a mask when people think something of you.
The guys thought I was a whore. How easy was it for me to fall into bed with three guys when I knew they thought that’s who I was?
They didn’t even realize I didn’t have any experience.
I mean, they figured I wasn’t very good at it, but I’m a quick learner.
“I’m just surprised she didn’t try to reinvent herself for a new school. I know I would.” Keira taps her pen on her tablet. “Isn’t that the whole reason people go off to college? To escape who they became in high school?”
I turn her words over in my head as Brandt comes in. He stops at my desk while his assistant director goes to their table. I wait for whatever he needs to say. Neither of us do small talk.
“Heard about the accident on Sunday.” He studies my hand like he can see the wounds through the bandages.
“Shame you missed part of rehearsal for it. You don’t think it might have been your angry ex-boyfriend who you fucked around on?
After all, he would know you’re allergic to roses, right? Or is this a recent allergy?”
For a moment, I’m stunned. We’re not friends. We’re barely classmates. Yes, it could have been Chase for a number of reasons, but why would Brandt point that out? What does he gain by throwing Chase under the bus? Damon’s words about Brandt come back to me. Manipulative.
I school my features, prepared to improvise. I cock my head and study him like he’s something I need to figure out. “Do you know something I don’t?”
Brandt chuckles. “As a director, I’m constantly evaluating other people’s life choices.
Chase thought he had a good thing with you.
After all, he could fuck around and no one let you know.
His reputation with his parents soared. He even got asked by one of his dad’s friends to audition for a film the friend is working on this summer. ”
I didn’t know about the audition, but it doesn’t surprise me.
Chase will always end up on the right side of life.
He has money and connections, and he can be charming when he wants to be.
He has everything he needs. Damon can take away everything right now, but in the end, the universe will just give it right back to Chase.
“He sprained his knee recently.” Brandt rubs his chin. “Funny thing that. No one really knows how. It wasn’t during football practice. He’s been pretty tight-lipped about it. Especially after the glitter incident. You wouldn’t know anything about it, would you?”
“How would she? She’s not his girlfriend anymore.” Keira steps in to defend me, but I kind of like listening to Brandt’s thinking.
Especially since he’s pushing me to believe the lead in my play is trying to hurt me.
Chase was in the hallway when I found the flower.
Hawk said he was flirting with Sophie right before I screamed.
Unless they just started flirting, he wouldn’t have had time to drop the rose, hide the gloves or dispose of whatever he used to carry it in, and then race to the hallway to be found by Hawk.
Unless the rose was there earlier and we didn’t notice it. We don’t have a clear timeline of when the flower appeared.
Brandt gives Keira a fake smile. “Know your place, ant.”
I furrow my brow at Brandt. “We’re all ants.”
Brandt smirks and shakes his head smugly. “Not really. We all know there are some who have what it takes to make it in this industry.” He looks pointedly at Keira. “And those that won’t.”
“That’s enough.” I stand and get in Brandt’s face.
He holds his hands up and laughs as he steps back. “Feeling powerful with the Devil’s trio at your back.” He lowers his hand. “Power is intoxicating, isn’t it?”
He steps away and the instructor calls for our attention. What game is Brandt playing? And why does it feel like he’s at least ten moves ahead of me?
I’ll catch up though. I have to. I’m sick of not controlling my own narrative.