Chapter 4
Sebastian
The Final Girl
“When is the chemistry read? Bring in everyone you’re considering. I want a say in my scene partner,” I said to Dante.
We walked across the studio from the parking lot together, at which time he mentioned my costar was basically chosen. They’d gotten it down to two women, of which I’d yet to meet. I was beginning to feel pushed out of the very franchise I was saving.
“It’s scheduled for next week, but I doubt we’ll need it. We’ve already narrowed down the roles, Sebastian. I think you’ll be fine with our picks.” He sighed.
I stared down at the guy directing the next installment in the franchise I’d been a part of most of my life. Dante was in his early thirties, average build, with a creepy mustache and thick-framed glasses. There wasn’t anything particularly threatening about him.
“You asked me to flash my dick but couldn’t be bothered to ask if I wanted a say in who I’d be doing it in front of?” I shook my head. “You’re out of your fucking mind, Dante.” I was gearing up to rip his ass a new one when my gaze flicked away from him for a fraction of a second and—
Was that—no. Was it?
“Sebastian?” Dante asked, but his voice seemed far away.
“We’ll revisit this,” I mumbled as I started away, toward the woman who looked startlingly familiar. “Hey!” I called, raising my arm to wave. She was heading into a building. “Hey!” I yelled, my tone more urgent, my pace quickening.
She stopped, and so did my lungs.
“Evie?”
I stared, dumbstruck, at the girl I’d given my heart to when I was young.
From a distance, I’d been unsure, but there was no denying it now.
Her dark-brown hair was cut to the tops of her breasts, curling at the ends.
Her face had matured, but her russet-brown eyes remained just as I’d remembered.
Even the clothes she wore had the same casual, grunge style.
I’d been thrown back in time.
“Sebastian.”
Her maroon-painted lips curled into a small smile.
I rushed to close the gap between us, tossing my arms around her. “Holy shit. How—why—when?” My brain was short-circuiting. I didn’t know where to start. Evie was back.
She stood stiff as I hugged her. I pulled back, running my hand through my hair. “How have you been?” I sputtered finally.
She laughed, and it was music to my ears, like a wind chime in a light breeze.
“I’ve been good. What about you, Mr. Movie Star?”
I ran my tongue over my lips and rolled my eyes. Suddenly, I wasn’t so proud of the hottest man in horror title.
“I’ve been doing good too.” I looked around the lot. People were moving all around us, going from sound stages to offices, not paying any attention. I returned my focus to her. “Actually, things have been kind of great. I don’t know if you’ve seen everything.”
She leaned against a railing in front of a building and crossed her arms over her chest, tightening her leather jacket around herself.
I ran my gaze down her body. Under the jacket, she had on a tight minidress that was a faded reddish-purple.
Underneath were fishnets and black boots.
Tattoos littered her skin, making me curious about the ones I couldn’t see.
It was as if someone had taken my wet dreams and crafted my ideal woman from them.
My ideal woman had always been Evie Reyes.
“I’ve seen a bit. Congrats, Sebastian. You’ve worked so hard for all of this.”
“I have.” I nodded. “I fired Heather ages ago. It was the best decision I ever made. I was able to take control of my career. Step-Devil was a hit. Did you get a chance to see it?”
“I heard about it.” She blushed and looked away. “I didn’t go see it.”
I brushed my bruised ego off with a wave and a chuckle. “Aw, well, you should. It’s a good movie. It got nominated.”
“That’s the one with the...”
“Sex scene?” I wiggled my eyebrows. “Oh yeah. I had to go twice as hard at the gym to make sure I looked good for it.”
“I bet. Well...that’s kind of why I avoided watching it. It’s a little awkward to see.” She rolled her shoulders and tugged on her jacket uncomfortably. Her gaze shifted around, as if looking for an escape. I knew that look, but panic set in. I couldn’t let her go so fast.
I just got her back.
“What? My ass? It’s nothing you haven’t seen before.
” I laughed loudly, overcompensating for the awkwardness I was creating.
“And that’s nothing compared to what they have me doing in the next Simon Says.
They are going to pay me big fucking money—we’re talking blockbuster money—to go full-frontal in a sex scene with some chick I haven’t even met.
I’m sure she’s a crazy fangirl or something.
” I smirked and moved closer, trying to force the old familiarity.
She visibly cringed and gave me wild eyes.
Heat flooded my face, and I stepped back.
My heart began to race. This wasn’t right.
Since when was I this cocky asshole? I took a breath.
I needed to back the fuck up and try again.
“You look great.”
My mind, body, and soul were responding to her presence as if I’d been thrown back in time. I was a sixteen-year-old in love. Those three small words seemed to break the tension between us. Her lips slowly curved upward into a smile.
She laughed again, and my cock hardened. Oh God, I really was acting like a teenage boy.
She brushed her hair behind her ear, revealing stretched lobes with white, heart tunnels. I shook my head, still in disbelief that she was really here, a foot away from me. Her eyes drifted behind me, and her expression perked up. She waved.
“Dante!”
I turned and saw Dante heading toward us.
Jealousy rolled through me in dark waves as I stared him down.
I’d seen the type of women Dante dated before.
They were Evie look-alikes. I wasn’t going to give him the chance to steal what was mine.
My hand twitched with the desire to pull Evie into my side like I would have years ago, but I forced myself to stand still and feign nonchalance.
“Evie! I see you’ve found Sebastian. Seb, Evie has agreed to come on as Ronny’s love interest.”
My eyes widened, and I looked back at Evie. My stomach tightened with mortification as I realized what I’d just said moments before. I’d called her a fangirl.
The woman who’d been cast wasn’t someone who wanted to fuck me—she was one who already had.
“One of them, anyway,” Dante said, interrupting my thoughts. “We’ve cast two women in a love triangle situation. Have you read the updated script yet?” he asked me.
I shook my head.
“No, I haven’t. Sorry.” I turned to Evie, my face still warm. “I didn’t realize.”
“It’s okay,” she said, offering me a small smile.
“Here’s Johnny.” I looked to Evie, hoping she’d remember our code. A flicker of recognition hit her eyes as she took in that I didn’t want Dante here. He was an intruder in our conversation.
“Ugh. I forgot you two used to do that. What does that mean? It’s from The Shining, I know that,” Dante muttered. I stared blankly at him. Why would I tell him our code? Sensing the awkward tension, he chuckled nervously. When I continued to glare, his focus went behind us, and his eyes lit up.
“And there’s the other girl now. This is perfect. Skye! Over here!” He waved.
I opened my mouth to protest another uninvited guest into this conversation, but a quick glance at Evie stopped me short. Her eyes were lit up, as if relieved. Was talking to me that bad?
I swore inwardly, realizing how hard I’d come on just now. I’d been so excited to see her, and she looked ready to run for the hills.
Reluctantly, I tore my eyes from Evie to catch a blonde with no bra bouncing toward us. My eyes rolled into the back of my head as she skipped over.
“Oh my gosh, what a surprise!” she squealed, thrusting her hand out. “I’m Skye.”
“Yes, we haven’t finalized the script yet, but one of you”—Dante pointed between Evie and Skye—“will be Sebastian’s scene partner for the set piece. I tried explaining this earlier, but you kept interrupting,” he said to me.
“Why didn’t you tell me who was cast?” I demanded. How could he not have mentioned my ex was one of the leads? He had to have known Evie and I dated before...she left.
He had said I wouldn’t need a chemistry test…
“Because we haven’t officially—”
Skye inserted herself between Dante and me, cutting him off. “I’m so excited to work with you, Sebastian. I’m a huge fan of the Simon Says franchise, and I loved you in Step-Devil. I can only hope our scenes are half as hot as that movie.”
“It’s bold of you to assume it’ll be you in bed with me,” I said to Skye but was staring directly behind her at Evie. She looked down, which satisfied me greatly. “Considering—”
“Beep beep, Ritchie,” Evie said the words so fast they blended together, but I understood.
I cocked an eyebrow. Was I not allowed to say that we once dated? Why didn’t she want them to know about our history?
“I was actually thinking that maybe it was better for me not to be the main love interest,” Evie said to Dante.
The cocky grin slid off my face.
“You think?” Dante turned to her. “I’m assuming you’ve read both versions of the script, then?”
She nodded. “I did. I just think, with my ties to the series, the rewrite might be smarter.”
“That’s the version where you and I hook up and then murder her character,” Skye said excitedly.
I ignored her and spoke over her head. “I want a say in this. No decisions get made on the script until I give it a pass,” I demanded. “I will not accept a life I do not deserve.”
Evie and Dante turned to me. Evie’s brown eyes widened, and the familiar spark of passion and rage lit up her face. I was adding to our code, using a line from MaXXXine, but it fit, and Evie understood what I was trying to tell her. She was pissed. Good.
“Sebastian, come on. This is a stretch. What’s next, a producer credit?” Dante threw his hands up.
I stared him down. “My agent said I could have whatever I wanted, so long as my hard cock was front and center when needed. Evie is my final girl,” I said, keeping my eyes on the woman who broke me five years ago.
“Well, I think both scripts are great, and if I got the chance—” Skye started but was quickly interrupted by Dante.
“Fine. But I want your opinion at the table read tomorrow. We’ll be going through both scripts. Don’t fuck around. If you want a say in who your final girl is, actually come prepared to defend your choice.” He stormed off.
Just as I was turning back to Evie to explain that I wasn’t always this big of a dick, my phone rang.
Anderson was calling.
I scrunched up my nose. “I’ve got to take this. Maybe we can go through the scripts together at dinner?” I said, bringing the phone to my ear. I glanced back at the girls and gave Evie a wink. “I’ll catch you later, Final Girl,” I said before turning away to take my agent’s call.