Chapter 57
fifty-seven
Lizzy scoots over, and I wrap my arm around her shoulders. Leaning my head against hers, I let out a happy hum.
“What’s the full story between you and Walker?” she asks suddenly, turning to face me.
I blow out a long breath. “It’s a long story.”
“We’ve got time,” she says, curious eyes shining bright.
“It all started a little over fourteen years ago,” I begin, the memory still a bitter taste in my mouth. “We were both up for the same role in ‘Midnight & Daisy.’ It was my first big audition after a string of smaller parts. It was the role of a lifetime—one that could’ve launched my whole career.”
She nods, studying my face as I continue.
“Walker was a nobody back then, just like me. We’d met a couple times at parties, exchanged the usual pleasantries.
Nothing special or anything.” I shake my head, remembering how na?ve I’d been.
“We even grabbed drinks a few times after our auditions. I actually thought we were on our way to becoming friends.”
“What changed?”
“Everything.” Ironically, the memory plays out like a movie in my head. “The night before the final callback, Walker calls me up, says he’s got some notes from his acting coach that might help both of us, and invites me over to his shitty apartment in West Hollywood.”
Lizzy stiffens. “Right. Let me guess. He sabotaged you?”
I shift my stance against the car. “Yup. So one night, I show up at his place, and he’s all smiles, offering me a beer and shit.
We start running lines together, and he’s giving me these ‘tips’—telling me my delivery is too intense, that the director wants something more subtle.
So, grateful for his help, I toned it down. ”
Her eyes narrow into slits. “Not what the director wanted, I’ll bet.”
“Not even close.” Even after all these years, after all my success, my laugh still comes out a little bitter.
“The next day, I walk into the audition, all confident with my new ‘subtle’ approach. The director looks at me like I’ve lost my mind and asks what happened to the raw intensity from my previous auditions.”
“Walker tricked you into changing your performance.”
“Yep. And while I’m standing there looking like an idiot, Walker comes in and delivers an intense, raw, and emotional audition. He stole my approach and made it his own.”
“That’s fucked up.” Lizzy’s hand finds mine and squeezes.
“Tell me about it. He got the part. I got nothing but a lesson in Hollywood politics.”
“And that’s when the rivalry started?”
I nod. “It got even worse from there. Every time we were up for the same part, he pulled similar stunts. Sometimes he’d spread rumors about me having a temper to casting directors.
Other times he’d try to sabotage my relationships with producers.
It got to the point where I started checking to see if he was attached to a project before I’d even consider auditioning. ”
“That’s insane,” Lizzy says, voice soft with empathy. “Hollywood sounds fucking cutthroat.”
“Most of it isn’t.” I shrug, trying to downplay how much Walker’s betrayal still stings. “But there are always a few who’ll do anything to get ahead. Walker’s one of them.”
“Sounds to me like Walker was... is... intimidated by you. Not everyone can say they’ve been the Sexiest Man Alive twice. I’m not saying it was okay. But... maybe you should take everything he did as a compliment?”
I huff out a laugh. “Guess I’ve always been so hyper-focused on the fact he had it out for me, I never really thought about it like that.”
She’s quiet for a moment as she looks out at the city lights. “That’s why you were so pissed when you saw us talking, wasn’t it?”
I release the breath that’s been stuck in my chest. “Yes. And...” I turn to face her. “Because of the way he was looking at you, I knew exactly what he was thinking.”
“Oh, yeah? And what was that?”
“That you’re beautiful. Talented. That you’re different from all the other women in that room. In the known universe.” My voice drops. “And that he wanted to take you from me, just like he’s tried to take everything else.”
Lizzy’s eyes widen, and she takes a step closer to me. “Ro, he could never—”
“I know,” I say, shaking my head. “But seeing you with him brought back hardcore feelings of being powerless. Of having something I cared about ripped away from me.”
“And I should have trusted you,” I continue, brushing the back of my fingers across her cheek. “I’m sorry for how I reacted.”
Eyes softening, she leans into my touch. “It’s okay. I understand.” She shrugs. “Kinda hot actually.”
Huffing out a light chuckle, I take a deep breath, gathering my courage. “There’s something else I need to say.”
Her eyebrows lift in question.
“I’ve been thinking about this trip. About how much that’s been thrown at you all at once. The gallery opening, the paparazzi ambushing us back in Lakeside and then you... it’s a lot. And I want you to know you don’t have to come back to L.A. again during our agreement. Not if you don’t want to.”
Her expression shifts to one of confusion. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. Aside from a few sightings of us together, the contract only requires you to attend the movie premiere. That’s it. You can lie low at home while I finish filming. I know this trip got a little out of hand.”
Silence stretches as she processes my words. The rest of the world fades into the background as I wait for her response.
“You’re giving me an out?” she finally asks.
“I’m giving you a choice,” I correct, heart hammering against my ribs. “I want you to feel safe and comfortable, not scared and overwhelmed. Shit. God forbid you feel trapped. That’s the last thing I’d ever want.”
The confusion in her eyes turns to heat as she looks up at me. “And what do you want?”
Her question catches me off guard. Grabbing her by the waist, I move her so she’s standing in front of me. Palming her face with both hands, I whisper. “You. Only you.”
When her hands come up to cover mine, moving them away from her face, my heart lurches.
Is she going to reject me?
Giving me a lecherous look, she reaches for the button of my jeans. Next thing I know, she’s on her knees.
“I think it’s about time for me to make you feel better.” She quirks an eyebrow. “Don’t you think?”
“Holy fuck,” I groan as she looks up at me with wide eyes, full lips parted.
Instantly, my cock is so hard, straining against my boxers as she pulls down my zipper so slowly, I almost come just from the sheer anticipation. The cool night air kisses my heated skin as she yanks my jeans down to my knees, fingers brushing against my thighs.
Raspy with need, her name leaves my lips as a strangled whisper. “Lizzy.”
Hooking her fingers into the waistband of my boxers, she tugs, freeing my aching cock.
Mesmerized by the sight, I can only watch in awe as she leans in, her warm breath washing over me. My heart thuds as she wraps her delicate fingers around the base, giving me a slow, firm stroke.
“Fuck,” I hiss, my head falling back as pleasure rockets through my veins.
Her tongue darts out to taste the bead of pre-cum at the tip, and I almost lose my mind as she takes me into her mouth, full lips stretching around my girth.
The sight of her—on her knees before me, city lights spread out behind her like a glittering tapestry—is almost too much to take.
Reaching down, I tangle my fingers in her hair, careful not to push.
“You’re so fucking beautiful down on your knees, sucking my cock,” I growl.
She hums in response, the vibration sending shockwaves of pleasure through my body. Her tongue swirls around the throbbing head of my dick as she takes me deep, hand working in tandem with her sexy as fuck mouth.
I’ve had my share of blowjobs in my life. But nothing, absolutely nothing, compares to this moment. The way Lizzy is looking at up me, it’s like she’s worshiping me, loving me with every stroke of her tongue and twist of her wrist.
“Fuck yeah, baby,” I encourage as she takes me deeper, relaxing her throat to accommodate me.
Jesus. Does my girl even have a gag reflex?
“You’re doing so good,” I groan.
Her free hand cups my balls, massaging them gently as she works me with her mouth. The dual sensation of her tongue and that sexy as fuck lip piercing has me trembling, my knees threatening to buckle.
“Sunshine,” I groan. Fingers gripping her hair tight, I do everything in my power to keep from holding her head still and fucking her face as I pant, “I’m getting close.”
But those words only seem to encourage her.
Hollowing her cheeks, she sucks hard before swallowing, throat constricting around me. Tingling starts at the base of my spine, balls tightening in response, ready to explode down the back of her throat.
“Shit. Iz. I’m gonna come,” I warn, trying to pull away.
Holding me firmly in place, she shakes her head and hums.
And that’s what does me in. My release detonates as I cry out her name, my entire body convulsing as Lizzy swallows every drop.
My heart races, body tingling from one of the most intense orgasms of my life while I watch in awe as Lizzy stands. Wiping the corner of her mouth with the pad of her thumb, a satisfied smile plays on her lips.
The next words out of my mouth shock the shit out of me. “I love you,” I blurt.
Time seems to stop. The light in her eyes shifts as tension visibly tightens her shoulders. She’s closing down, putting up walls I was so sure we’d finally torn down.
“You don’t have to say it back,” I rush to add, keeping my voice soft. “I just wanted to let you know where my heart is at.”
Lizzy leans in and kisses me, lips soft against mine. But there’s something missing—a distance that wasn’t there before.
Gah! I’m such an idiot. Everybody knows you don’t tell someone you love them in the heat of the moment.
“I’m hungry,” she says, pulling away. “Can we stop at In & Out on the way back?”
My heart plummets at her indifference, cutting deep.
“Sure, Sunshine,” I manage, forcing a smile. “Anything you want.”