Chapter Twelve
NATE
Whisper’s ju-ju might just be paying off.
Because Ria and I had a busy night, if you know what I mean.
And again this morning.
Honestly, I can’t get enough of her.
But we have had to come up for air because today is the first day of filming for our music video, and we have to get to the studio. I’m a little nervous as I drive us toward the Hollywood film set and tap my fingers.
“You okay?” Ria asks, lacing her fingers through mine on top of the gear stick.
“Yeah. Just trying not to let images of how today is going to go get stuck in my head.”
“This is only day one. You know we’re doing this over a couple of days, right?”
Sighing, I nod. “Yeah, I know. I’m not gonna lie. It’s gonna be hard watching you get it on with my bandmate, you know?”
“Just remember, I’ll be thinking about you the whole time, and I’ll be acting, Nate. This is what I do for a living.”
“Okay.” I pull up at the studio gates, and the security guard leans down to my window. “Passes, please,” he asks, and then he spots Ria. “Oh, hey, Zaria, no need for passes, drive on through,” he says, and Ria smiles.
“Thanks, Doug,” she replies.
I turn to her and raise an eyebrow with a smirk as she shrugs. The boom gate opens, and I chuckle as I drive on through, shaking my head. “Damn celebrities,” I murmur, and she slaps my arm with a smirk.
After a quick drive across the lot and up to the studio, we jump out and head toward the smaller studio. Ria and I walk hand in hand and notice everyone’s already here. They all stop and turn to look at us, all of them raising their eyebrows.
“What? Is it so hard to believe?” I ask.
Matt smiles widely.
Tillie and Lunar both have their mouths open while the other two guys are just standing there smirking.
Oliver steps out of a room off to the side with Ria’s crew, and they look toward us, opening their eyes wide.
“Zaria, have you lost your mind?” her manager chides.
My insecurities instantly settle into my stomach like a ten-tonne weight as she tightens her hand in mine.
“No, Marcus, not at all. Nate’s not like Kade. Don’t worry, I’ve had that talk with him. I trust Nate.”
“Geez, girl, you’ve been down this road already. I was there to pick you up last time, remember? I’ll be here again, but, Zaria, be warned, rockers never change their spots,” Marcus warns before walking off.
Fuck! I’m in the damn room, I think as Ria looks at me sympathetically. “Asshole,” I murmur.
Exhaling deeply, I wrap my arm around her shoulders, bringing her to my side, and lean down, kissing her hair.
“Well, that was intense,” Ryan murmurs.
Tillie rolls her eyes, slapping his now-toned stomach.
“Shut up! Nate and Zaria, do I need to do anything about this?” Tillie asks.
“No, we’re keeping this quiet until the video is launched. I’m sure you will appreciate that. Now, please, I’m parched. Water… sparkling… squeeze of lemon… three cubes of ice, and don’t forget the straw.”
Turning quickly to face Ria, she winces slightly as Tillie looks at me. I frown at Ria as a gesture of apology to Tillie as she walks off to get Ria’s stupid drink.
“So, ah… are you all prepared for what we have to do today?” Danger asks, breaking through some of the tension.
“Of course. I’m a professional actor. Have you acted before, Danger? Are you prepared?”
“I’ve done other music videos, but never anything quite like this.”
“Great! Just what I need. Amateurs!” She throws her hands in the air and storms off toward her dressing room, leaving me completely startled and a tad saddened by her outbursts.
Lunar looks at me while I stand here, my mouth open slightly, and my head shakes. I didn’t think for one second she would have on her Zaria persona in front of everyone. I honestly thought she’d be Ria in front of my friends.
“So… she’s still a sweetheart, I see,” Lunar jabs.
“She’s misunderstood.”
“Really? ’Cause to me, she’s a stuck-up cow, and I have no idea what you could possibly even see in her.”
Smirking, I chuckle. “Why? Jealous?”
She rolls her eyes with a half-laugh while Danger glares at me. “You wish, lover boy. But really, what the hell do you see in her?”
“The Zaria you all see, that’s not the Zaria I know. Trust me, don’t judge a book by its cover. Things are the way they are for a reason. She’s not who you think she is. Somehow, I’ll get her to loosen up around you guys, I promise.”
“I don’t think that woman has a nice bone in her body,” Danger mutters.
“Looks are deceiving, Danger. She’s the kindest, sweetest person I know. Trust me, Zaria isn’t that person on the inside. It’s all a front, and there’s a reason for her actions.”
“Feel like sharing?” Lunar asks.
“Where’s my drink?” Ria calls out obnoxiously from down the hall.
“Yeah, real sweet,” Lunar jokes.
A frown forms on my forehead as Tillie walks quickly with her water.
“Well, even if she is a stuck-up cow, she’s still hot as fuck,” Ryan quips.
A full-on smirk forms on my face while Danger stands there shaking his head.
“It’s so good to have you back to your old self, though. Not that broody, moody fucker you were when you were pining over Tillie,” I say.
Ryan looks to Tillie, who’s walking into Ria’s room, and smiles. “Yeah, so glad I pulled my head out of my ass for a minute to see what was right in front of me.”
“Wow! That’s insightful coming from you,” Matt says.
“I know. Fuck! I need to watch cartoons or something. Dumb myself down a bit. Maybe Zoom with Savvy or something.”
“Did you just imply that Savvy’s dumb?” I tease.
“What? No! Don’t twist my words, dick. That’s not what I meant at all,” Ryan defends.
“Relax… I’m teasing. You really get along well with Tillie’s niece, don’t you?”
Ryan beams. “Yeah, she’s great. It’s pretty neat to be able to teach guitar to someone who genuinely appreciates it. Plus, she’s freaking awesome, so that helps.”
“You and Tillie planning on having kids?” Matt asks.
Ryan tenses up, which is a little strange, seeing as he was literally just gushing about a kid. “Nah, probably not. We’re happy with our animals.”
I figure there must be more to that story. Ryan loves kids, and I know he’d be a great dad. Maybe Tillie can’t have kids or something? Anyway, it’s not my place to discuss it further.
“Animals cost less anyway,” Danger says, smirking at Ryan.
“You’d think so, but Tillie likes to spoil them… a lot! And we seem to be growing. There’s Piper the dog, Hunter the rat, and now we have somehow found ourselves with Arthur, the ferret.” We all laugh as Ryan shakes his head.
“Why Arthur?” Matt asks.
“Was her grandfather’s name. Apparently, the ferret looks like him. I dunno. I say, yes, dear. That’s how relationships work, right?”
We all laugh again, and Lunar nods, patting his back. “Exactly right, Ryan, you’ve got this relationship thing down pat. You guys will be engaged before you know it.”
“You think?”
“Haven’t you thought about it?”
“Well, sure… but we’re still pretty fresh in this relationship.”
“When it’s right, it’s right, Ry,” Danger says, pulling Lunar to him and kissing her head. She wraps her arms around his waist and snuggles into him. Typically, the sight would make me cringe, but seeing it now only makes me wish Ria were here.
Oliver walks up to Danger with a nod. “Okay, they need you in wardrobe.”
“Oh… exciting. You know how much I love fashion,” Lunar says, bouncing up on her toes.
“Ah… sorry, Lunar, you’ll have to stay back here with the rest of us,” Oliver tells her.
Lunar frowns. “Aww, really?”
“C’mon, Oliver, it’s not like she takes up a lot of space,” Danger defends.
“Sorry, guys, studio rules. I had to practically sell my soul to allow everyone to watch filming as it is.”
“Shit, really?” Lunar asks.
“Yes, so please don’t cause trouble.”
“Me? Annalise Sheffield cause trouble? Never!”
Everyone laughs as Oliver shakes his head. “Okay, Danger, off you go. Ryan and the twins will get ready after your shoot with Zaria.”
Danger leans in, kissing Lunar, and she slaps his ass as he turns and walks off with a chuckle, as Tillie comes back down the hall toward us, rolling her eyes.
“God Almighty, she’s a demanding little diva. I’m PR, not a PA, dammit,” Tillie murmurs.
“Where’s her crew? Don’t they get things for her?” Matt asks.
“Oh… they’re getting her things too. She’s being preened and pampered in there like a fucking princess.”
“Ease up, Tillie. Cut her some slack, okay,” I say.
Tillie purses her lips. “Nate, you tell her to stop treating me like her personal fucking slave, and maybe I’ll think about her differently… okay?” She stomps her foot and storms off down the hall.
Ryan looks at me, furrowing his brows. “Sorry, man, she’s stressed. I’ll talk to her.”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll talk to Ria and try and have her loosen up a bit.”
“I appreciate that. But right now, I’d better go, or she’ll buy another fucking pet to make herself feel better.” He turns and rushes off after Tillie, and Matt looks at me, raising his eyebrow.
“What?”
“Why is she such a bitch to us and not to you?”
“Yeah, I wanna know the answer to that question as well,” Lunar asks.
Oliver turns, obviously wanting to hear the answer.
“It’s not my place to say. All I will say is, it’s family pressure. It’s the way she’s been taught. I’ll have her tell you the full story when she’s ready, but honestly, when she does, you’ll understand.”
“Sounds like it’s a sad story?” Lunar asks.
“It is. Her family may look great to outsiders, but it’s not all chocolates, roses, and fucking unicorns.”
“Her dad’s a producer, right?” Matt asks.
“Stepdad,” I correct.
“Where’s her real dad?” Lunar asks.
“He died… when she was young. She’s never really gotten over it.”
“Oh, that is sad,” Lunar says.
“Yeah, there’s so much to Ria you guys haven’t seen. So please, give her a chance, for me?”
They groan and nod. “Only ’cause we like you,” Matt says.
Lunar smiles and nods in agreement. “Yeah, you’re okay, I suppose,” Lunar teases.
Oliver grins at us all.