Chapter 20
20
MARCUS
“ S o, what’s going on with you and Ryan?” Logan asks.
I glance over and almost laugh. One of my oldest friends is kicked back around the fire, and instead of drinking a beer, he’s got a little pink bundle cradled in his arms. It suits him though. Both him and Gabe. Fatherhood looks good on them.
My, how things have changed.
From sitting around, drinking beers, to babysitting and waiting for their women to call for a ride.
“Nothing,” I reply, keeping my focus on the dancing bonfire in front of me.
TD snorts. “Definitely didn’t look like nothing from my point of view.”
Logan’s eyebrows shoot toward the heaven. “And what point of view is that exactly?”
I snort. “You’re acting more like gossiping women right now, you realize that, right?”
Logan shrugs. “You think she’s not over at Blair and Gabe’s talking about it with the rest of the women?”
Is she? I wonder why I never really thought about what the women are all sitting around and chatting about. I mean, I’ve never cared, because I’ve never had a woman as part of the group. Well, not that she’s my woman. Ryan’s just my…what? We have an arrangement, and it’s fun. That’s exactly what it is. It’s also temporary. Something we both agreed on. So why does the thought of her hanging with my friends’ wives and girlfriends make me…content?
“I’m guessing they’re on the second pitcher of margaritas by now, and the conversation has turned to sex,” Gabe states, holding a bottle and feeding his daughter.
“Really? They sit around and talk about that?” I ask, completely flabbergasted by this revelation.
“Of course they do. Women share everything, man,” TD says.
Logan nods. “Everything.”
“Everything?”
Gavin nods in agreement, smiling. “It’s true.”
“Huh,” I reply, staring into the fire.
“Yep. Women overshare. By now, they’re probably comparing the sizes of…you know.”
My mouth drops open. “Seriously?”
All four of them nod.
“I don’t…I, uh, I don’t need to know about…that. I mean, let’s not discuss the sizes of our…” I take off my hat and run my hands through my hair.
“Agreed,” they all insist in unison.
“But that does bring us back to the original question. What’s going on with you and Ryan?”
I shrug, wishing I were drinking a beer. Or a shot of Jack. Something. “We’re hanging out. She’s pretty cool.”
“Cool,” Logan says, as if that’s the understatement of the year. “She’s fucking famous, dude.”
I lift my shoulders, recalling all the stuff I found online about her. I haven’t searched her name since, so I’m sure I didn’t even scratch the surface of information on the internet. “She’s just…Ryan.”
TD laughs. “Just Ryan. My friend, she’s way more than Just Ryan . She’s got her own TV show. And makeup line. And whatever else Ellie mentioned.”
“Her parents are a movie producer and a former model,” Logan adds.
“No shit?” Gavin asks, though it’s not really a question.
“You’ve heard of Douglas Marcotte, right? He produced that big action movie last summer. It won the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Supporting Actress,” Logan informs Gavin.
“How do you know that?” Gabe asks, his eyes dancing with humor.
Logan shrugs. “Hallie. She watches all that reality TV bullshit and entertainment shows. Plus, when she met Ryan she went all Magnum P.I. on the internet and read everything she could about her.”
“ Magnum P.I.? ” TD asks with a chuckle.
“You know what I mean. We watched that damn finale of her show everyone’s talking about the other night. I can’t believe what that fucker did to her,” Logan says, shaking his head as he adjusts his daughter in his arms.
“You watch her show?” Gabe asks his brother-in-law with wide eyes.
“I watch it with Hallie,” Logan insists.
“Wait, go back to the first part. What happened on the show?” I ask, suddenly very interested.
“You don’t know?” There’s no masking the shock on his face.
“No.”
“She’s never talked about it?” Gabe asks, shifting his daughter to his shoulder so he can burp her. When he sees my eyes narrow, he adds, “I’m just surprised is all. It’s all anyone was talking about. The nurses and office staff at the clinic were discussing it the next day.”
When no one responds fast enough for my liking, I reply, “Tell me.”
“Why don’t you just watch the show?” Gavin asks, sensing the discomfort suddenly surrounding all of us. It’s as if no one wants to be the one to tell me what happened, and I’m not sure how I feel about that.
“Come on,” Logan says, standing up. “I want to change Mak’s diaper and put her down. We’ll watch it together.”
I groan. “Or you could just tell me.”
He laughs. “Come on.”
Gabe stands too. “I need to change this one’s diaper too.” He places a kiss on Wrenlee’s forehead as she dozes soundly in his arms, having filled her belly.
And judging by the stench hitting me, I’d say she filled her pants too.
We all file inside the cabin like cattle, and while Gabe changes his daughter’s diaper, Logan cues up the TV with her reality show. I don’t know how he does it, since the show isn’t currently airing, but he manages. I’m guessing Hallie has some sort of on-demand on the TV, even the ones at the cabin.
The program starts, and I’m instantly drawn in. Her smile fills the screen, and even though I see a hint of the woman I’ve come to know, I can’t help but notice the differences too. I enjoy the laid-back, casual Ryan, and the woman on screen now is anything but, with her designer clothes and her perfect makeup. Her hair is even styled with big curls a man could get his hands lost in, but I realize quickly I’d rather have her windblown and with a ball cap on her head.
We all watch the show, all five of us guys. When she’s at work, discussing her product line and planning the marketing campaign for this fall, I can feel her passion pouring from the screen. This is what she was born to do, and you can tell she loves it. Her team appears competent, courteous, and works diligently, at least on camera.
Her friends, however, are…stuck up. When they all meet up for lunch, there’s this vibe of spoiled, arrogant, and being self-absorbed. It’s Ryan’s show, but everyone seems to talk over her, not to her. I can’t help but sense she’s just there, doing what she’s asked to do.
But then they start talking about parties hosted by some of the biggest names in the industry. They refer to Ryan as the Wild Child, and it blows my mind. Ryan? Wild? I mean, she gets a little wild in bed, but I have yet to see this uninhibited partier they keep referring to, laughing about whatever antic she did the weekend before. Worse, she seems even more uncomfortable than before, the brightness in her brown eyes dulling. Her posture changes. It’s as if she’s trying to hide under the table, all while wearing a smile on her pink lips.
Suddenly, a man walks up to the table flashing a blinding smile. He’s wearing a tailored suit and screams douchebag. He’s handsome in that Hollywood way, and his demeanor as he approaches instantly puts me on edge. He waves to nearby tables, stopping to shake hands with some big man in another fancy suit two tables away. When he finally reaches the table where Ryan and her friends are sitting, he leans down and presses a light kiss to her cheek. My blood boils in my veins.
It’s Vaughn Cramer.
I’d recognize him anywhere.
There were photographs of him and Ryan together online, and now I’m seeing him on her show. I’m not a fan, but the world seems to be obsessed with him and his movies. He’s good-looking and appears to be an all-right actor, but I can’t get over his arrogance. Even in his movies, his manner just sets me on edge. When I was scrolling through photos of Ryan that first night she told me who she really was, I stumbled upon several of them together. Most of them were at premieres or other red-carpet events, since they were both dressed to the nines.
Now, seeing them together, makes me a little…ragey.
I’m jealous.
One-hundred-percent green with envy.
“You know, I’m having a hard time seeing those two together,” Gavin says as we watch Vaughn as he appears to flirt with Ryan’s friends.
“I mean, I get it. He’s a huge actor, and she’s a producer’s daughter who was raised in the industry. It makes sense,” TD replies. “But that kiss seemed like the kind you give your sister.”
“Agreed,” Gabe announces. “I suppose it could be for the cameras. You know, not wanting to slip her the tongue while grandma and the rest of the world is watching,” he adds.
“The man’s an actor. He’s made out with women in every movie he’s ever done,” Logan replies.
“True,” Gavin concedes. “Did you see that movie he did with Daphne Sparks? He has his tongue down her throat half the movie.”
I listen to their conversation, but my eyes remain glued to the television. They’re all laughing and carrying on, like friends do, but I just can’t get past how fake everything feels.
“We could probably just fast forward through all this stuff,” Logan suggests, but I shake my head no. I want to see it all.
The episode is only thirty minutes, so it doesn’t take long to near the end. Ryan is visiting her parents’ house, her mom coming into frame. I can see where Ryan gets her beauty from. Jade Holmes is every bit the sophisticated, stunning woman I recall from when I was a boy. She’s a former beauty queen and model, and from what Ryan said, she’s a dedicated philanthropist now.
Mother and daughter embrace before stepping inside a huge mansion. They’re chatting about Ryan’s makeup line and the potential of being picked up by a huge department store worldwide when Ryan’s phone rings.
“Hello?” she asks, putting it on speakerphone.
“Is this Ryan Marcotte?”
“This is she,” she replies, her mom’s brown eyes wide with excitement.
“This is Stanley Goodman of Goodman’s. I sent a proposal to your manager, but I wanted to call you personally to say congratulations. Goodman’s is thrilled to carry your new winter line in our department stores worldwide.”
“Oh my God,” Ryan cries, her hand covering her mouth as tears fill her eyes. Jade stands beside her, clearly as excited about the phone call as Ryan. “Thank you so much.”
“No, thank you. Please have Ariana get back to me once she and your legal team have reviewed the contract. We’re anxious to get this deal done, Miss Marcotte.”
“I am as well,” Ryan replies, practically bouncing where she stands.
“We’ll be in touch, Miss Marcotte. Congratulations.”
The phone disconnects, leaving mother and daughter to celebrate this huge accomplishment. There’s lots of hugs and tears, and when they finally pull apart, Ryan says, “Let’s call Dad and tell him.”
Jade nods as Ryan dials the phone.
“Hello, daughter,” a booming voice greets into the phone.
“Hi, Dad. Do you have a minute?”
“I do, yes. Just finishing up a late lunch with Vaughn,” the man says.
The camera cuts over to the restaurant where an older man sits with a younger one.
“Vaughn, it’s Ryan. She has some exciting news to share,” the man I now know as Douglas Marcotte says.
“Oh, that’s wonderful,” Vaughn says, but his eyes move just over Douglas’s shoulder to two men sitting at a table, waving him over. “Actually, you take your call. I need to go say hello to an old friend. Excuse me one moment,” he says, standing up and walking over to the other table.
Douglas remains cool, but I don’t miss the way the corner of his mouth ticks with annoyance. “Well, Vaughn had to step away. Tell me, baby girl. What’s the news?”
Ryan relays the information about the deal to her father, who not only congratulates her profusely, but gets a little misty-eyed himself at what she’s accomplished. “I’m so proud of you, sweetheart.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Let’s celebrate. Have your mom get a reservation at your favorite restaurant. I’ll be home around six and we can go commemorate this day.”
It cuts back to Ryan’s gorgeous smile. “Sounds good.”
“Congratulations, Ryan,” he replies once more before hanging up the phone.
The camera doesn’t cut back to Ryan and Jade the way I expect it to. Instead, it stays on Douglas for a moment, who chats animatedly with the server, telling him all about Ryan’s big deal. I expect it to return to Ryan, but it still doesn’t. Instead, the cameraman zooms in on Vaughn, who took a seat at the table with his two friends. With the camera being farther away, their conversation isn’t as easily heard, but as the cameraman slowly moves closer, the words become audible.
“You about done with her yet?”
Vaughn, with his back to the camera, snorts and lifts his glass. “So done. It’s getting exhausting.” He sips whatever expensive liquor he has in the glass.
“She still thinks you’re dating for love?”
“Of course she does. I’m a damn good actor,” he replies with a laugh. “Now that I have the role I’ve been after in her father’s upcoming movie, I can break it off with Ryan.”
The friend smirks across the table. “Better make it fast. That redhead over there is eyeing you like you’re her next meal,” the friend states.
Vaughn glances to his right, clearly eyeing the redhead.
“Son of a bitch,” I find myself saying out loud.
“Yeah,” Logan replies.
The camera finally cuts back to Ryan and her mom, who continue to celebrate her big deal with Goodman’s, all while having no clue how her boyfriend just confessed to the world he’s only dating her for what he can get from her father.
“I’ll never watch another Vaughn Cramer movie again,” TD announces.
“Me either,” Gavin says, shaking his head. “What a Grade A asshole.”
Anger courses through my veins like a raging tornado. It takes all the strength I have not to jump up from the couch, climb in my truck, and drive to LA to kick his fucking ass. “She didn’t know,” I say as realization sets in.
“Hallie said she saw it with the rest of the viewers.”
“What the hell?” Gabe asks, trying not to wake his sleeping daughter.
“That’s bullshit,” Gavin adds.
“I don’t say this very often, but that guy deserves to get his ass kicked,” TD states, shaking his head.
I nod in agreement, but my mind is spinning. She found out her boyfriend was using her by watching it on TV. That’s why she’s here. Why she’s hiding who she is and is laying low. This isn’t just a vacation or a month-long getaway.
She ran away from the mess back home.
Suddenly, phones around the room start blowing up. “Girls’ night is over,” TD announces, checking his phone.
Collectively, everyone starts prepping to head over to Gabe and Blair’s to pick up their wives and girlfriends. I wonder if Ryan will call me. I told her to, but that doesn’t mean she will. She could just as easily jump into any one of these guys’ trucks. I know they’d take her back to the cabin, but dammit, I want to do it.
I’m just about to send her a message when my screen lights up.
Ryan
Party’s over. I could use a ride, if the offer still stands.
Me
On my way, Princess.
Slipping my phone back into my pocket, I turn to Logan. “Thanks for having me.”
He pulls his eyes away from securing his daughter into her infant carrier and nods. “Of course.” I can tell he has more to say by the way he holds my gaze. “Be good to her, man. She went through a lot before she came to town.”
I nod once, understanding what he’s telling me. “We have an arrangement,” I remind him.
I’m not sure I’m saying that more for him or myself.
Gabe is loading up his daughter in her seat as well, while TD and Gavin grab diaper bags, trash, and anything else that needs picked up before we leave. I head out to kick some dirt on the coals and make sure the fire is on its way out for the night. The guys all step outside, and Logan makes sure the cabin is locked up tight.
“Thanks for coming, guys.”
Everyone replies as we make our way to our respective vehicles. I climb behind the wheel of my old Chevy and start the engine. I watch both Gabe and Logan secure their daughters into their vehicles, and the sight brings a smile to my lips.
My, how things have changed in the last few years.
TD has his stepson, Brody.
Gavin’s got a daughter.
Gabe and Logan too.
And I’m sure it won’t be long before more babies are added to the group.
Like a locomotive, we all file out of the driveway and head to Gabe’s place. It doesn’t take too long, and before I know it, we’re all pulling into the lane leading up to Gabe and Blair’s house. The front porch light is on and there’s a slew of woman standing outside, waiting.
Blair takes off toward the garage, where Gabe pulls his truck inside, and the rest of the ladies all fan out to their rides.
“Night, Blair!” Hallie hollers, her arm thrown over Ryan’s shoulder as she leads her my way. “Night, everyone!”
Ryan smiles as she approaches. “Hi.”
“Marcus, you got our girl here?”
“I got her, Hallie.”
“You better. Take care of her. You know, take care of her,” Hallie says before bursting into fits of giggles.
“Come on, love. Let’s get our little one home,” Logan says, taking Hallie’s hand and placing a kiss on her knuckles.
“Once she’s to bed, then we’re gonna get all sexy, Logan. Naked sexy stuff.”
I can’t help but smile. Yeah, they definitely enjoyed their margaritas.
“Ready?” I ask, opening the passenger door for Ryan.
Her eyes are glazed over, a sign of her intoxication. She looks very relaxed right now, and I take that as a good sign she enjoyed herself.
Ryan leans in and presses her chest to mine. I feel her fingers wrap around my hip, her nails digging into my T-shirt. Leaning in, she whispers those four little words I didn’t even know I needed to hear.
“Take me home, Marcus.”