Chapter 17
Sebastian
The Sound Bite
One Month Later
“I can’t believe it took this long, honestly,” Bryce said as we watched Glenn’s car get towed. “They checked the car weeks ago.”
“And still nothing?” Skye asked, chewing her nails.
“Not a peep, from what I heard.” I snickered.
Evie elbowed me, and I laughed. “What? He tried to get me pulled from the franchise that I’ve been tied to most of my life.
Sorry if I don’t feel bad the bastard’s mouth finally got him in trouble.
” I made eye contact with Evie and added, “Someone probably plucked his eyes out and smashed his face in.”
She paled as her eyes widened. An odd sensation of satisfaction swelled in my chest. It was almost like our chemistry test, exposing Evie and me in front of unaware people.
Was I developing a new kink?
“How oddly specific,” Evie muttered through clenched teeth. “Is that a confession?”
“Like I have the time,” I quipped, then rolled my eyes for effect. “It was probably the mob.”
“You think it was the mob?” Skye squeaked.
Skye was na?ve. Too na?ve for a career in this town.
She was slowly growing on me, only because Evie had taken a liking to her.
They hung out often after work, making it hard to get alone time with Evie.
How were we supposed to develop chemistry when we were never alone?
Bryce, too, was starting to piss me off with his company, which normally I enjoyed.
We had two days off filming while they reset the stages, but we were still required to report for PR stuff. I’d told myself these two days were my shot at getting some alone time with Evie. But the first moment I got, Glenn’s car started getting towed and people came to watch.
Fuck me.
“It was not the mob,” Bryce said. “Well, I don’t actually know that.
It could be. Who knows how the other half lives?
He was a cocky asshole, you’re right.” He nodded at me.
“If he’s dead or on the run, it was his own fault, I’m sure.
Let’s go. We’ve got interviews to rock.” He kicked off the wall we’d all been leaning against and motioned for us to follow him into the next building.
“Yay!” Skye squealed.
I glanced at Evie and smirked as we followed a few steps behind. We abandoned the sight of Glenn’s car, and I forced the darkness of that night back to the recesses of my mind. I put on a smile, gripped Evie’s shoulders, and then jumped into the air.
“Groovy!”
I wrapped my arms around her from behind and nuzzled my face into her neck. I inhaled, reveling in the smell of her sweet perfume. She giggled as my stubble tickled her neck, but the moment she caught Skye and Bryce looking, she shoved me away and mumbled for me to stop.
I huffed but dropped my arms.
This showmance was going at a turtle’s pace.
Filming had been going on for a month, and all we’d done was some light flirting and hugs for her YouTube channel.
She’d given the PR team control over it, with her getting the final say over content.
She was very protective of The Body Count Bimbo brand.
I watched the videos after they were posted and read the comments.
I had to admit, Stacey and her team were good at their jobs.
The videos really looked like we were trying to fight the attraction, playing it off as just friendly banter.
There was no fighting on my part. I’d fuck her right here if she’d let me.
My gaze drifted to her ass, bouncing as she walked. I squeezed my hands at my sides, wishing she’d stop pushing me away.
We spent the next hour in hair and makeup, getting ready for a group interview led by JoJo Perkins for some horror talk show.
She was like every other gossip journalist. I’d been taught how to deal with these types of people, so she didn’t faze me, but Evie looked like she was going to be sick from the nerves.
“I saw your interview before we started filming. She was kind of pushy. I’m not going to let her bully you,” Skye told her protectively.
Jealousy flared within me. I wanted to be the one to protect her from the world.
Maybe in another life.
We were directed to the stage, and when Evie tried to sit by Skye, she was redirected by an assistant to sit on the loveseat with me. I plopped down and pulled her in, causing her to fall onto me and creating a silly moment of her scrambling off my lap. All of which was caught on the cameras.
Groovy.
JoJo came out a moment later. “Welcome back, Ms. Reyes. I am so excited to get another chance to talk. And Sebastian, a pleasure.” She grinned and shook all our hands.
I put my arm around the back of the couch, and JoJo’s dark-brown eyes shot right to it.
A slow grin slid over her face as she took her seat across from us.
You’re welcome. I snickered. I just gave her a story.
The cameras, which I knew had gotten all of this, counted her down, and then she started her greeting.
“Hello, and welcome to Featured Creatures, the only show where we keep the female gaze at the forefront as we explore all things horror. I’m your host, JoJo Perkins. Today we have in the studio the cast of Simon Says Six—”
“Six Six,” Evie and I blurted in sync. She remained stiff beside me, wringing her hands in her lap.
JoJo paused and corrected herself with a laugh.
“Simon Says Six: Six Six. Simon Says is one of the few best-selling, long-running franchises in horror history. Known for its iconic killer clown, Simon Says, played by Bryce Oliver, and its tasteful transition from a Final Girl to a Final Boy after they lost a main cast member five years ago. The franchise has five, soon to be six, movies in the series, spanning almost fifteen years and millions of fans worldwide. Let’s welcome Bryce Oliver, Sebastian Shaw, Skye Stevens, and Evie Reyes to the set. Hi guys!”
We all said various greetings, and she started in on her interview.
“Let’s start with the old guard. Bryce, what’s it like to be back in the famous disgraced ringmaster suit?” JoJo asked.
I glanced over. Today, Bryce wore a short-sleeved button-up, opened to reveal a clean, crisp white undershirt, distressed designer jeans, brown boots, and a cowboy hat he brought from his own wardrobe.
“Well, I had to shave my mustache and grow my hair back out for the role. At this point, I should just keep it this length, considering how many times they keep bringing me back.” He laughed, and we joined in on autopilot.
“But putting the face paint back on and sliding into the suit, it’s like greeting an old friend. ”
“I bet. That costume is so popular with fans. I see it all the time at cons or during Halloween. What about you, Sebastian? Are you glad to be back?”
This went on for a good hour or so. JoJo kept to questions that were on her cards. She made sure to toss us questions evenly, and the longer the interview went, the more comfortable we all grew and the sillier our responses became.
“Now, Evie, I know you’re going to hate me, but it’s on my cards.” JoJo hid behind the papers, concealing her grin, but her brown eyes shone with glee.
Evie stiffened beside me.
“I have to talk about the spicy stuff.”
Evie whipped her head toward me, and I inwardly swore. The cameras caught that. The world just caught that.
“Yes! See, okay, here we go. I’ve been dying to talk about this. Evie, your debut film features an on-screen sex scene with Hollywood’s hottest man in horror. How do you feel about it?” JoJo squealed.
“Oh jeez. Well, uh—Intimate scenes are so awkward for actors, but umm… we’re professionals. I—I mean we—know it’ll be handled with care,” Evie said, stumbling over her response.
“Yes, but I’m sure having a good-looking scene partner must make it easier,” JoJo pushed.
“It does for me,” I interjected.
JoJo grinned, her eyes lighting up. I grinned back at her. This was probably a bad idea, but I was trying to save Evie.
“Have you started filming those scenes yet?” JoJo turned her attention to me since Evie wasn’t giving her anything good.
“Not yet. Those are the last scenes scheduled, for obvious reasons.” I smiled reassuringly at Evie, but her face had paled, and her eyes had gone glossy. She looked like she was going to vomit.
“Well, it’s not obvious to me,” JoJo replied with a smirk.
“Usually, those are filmed last because the actors don’t have chemistry.
You two have it in droves. The heat coming off that couch is making me sweat.
” She fanned herself then leaned forward, as if trying to talk to Evie one on one.
“Girl, be real right now. How much time have you guys spent practicing for that scene?”
“Hey now—”
Skye began, but the jealous ass in me flared to life. I’d be damned if her bestie came to her rescue. I blurted the first thing that came to mind, forgetting all my years of PR training.
“We don’t need to rehearse what’s already been done. We’re good.” I put my arm around her and squeezed, and then it hit me.
I just told the entire world that we’d had sex.