Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Blake eyes me. “See what I mean by you’ll learn things you need to shut up about?”
“I promise.”
“Good,” Brix says. “Because I wouldn’t want to force someone to sign an NDA.”
I swear his biceps flex.
I shift closer to Blake. “Just to clarify, that was a death threat, right?” In the rearview mirror, I see Brix’s lips twitch. “I’m definitely getting Cabin in the Woods vibes.”
That feeling doesn’t last long.
When we pull up to a ski chalet type mansion, I realize I could really get used to Eleven’s way of roughing it. “Yes, yes, yes. This is definitely my idea of hiding out. Are there butlers in thongs and little bow ties?”
“I’ll tell Mason to get right on that,” Blake deadpans.
We climb out of the car and are hit with mountain air. It was cold back at the airport but not holy shit, my balls now live inside my body cold.
We both hiss and grab our bags, while Brix leads us to the massive wooden front doors.
The mansion is dark wood and stone and has that warm feeling of home, even if it’s large and intimidating.
Inside, Harley Valentine, Mason, and Denver are in an informal living area with papers sprawled everywhere. Mason’s strumming a guitar lazily, while Denver’s and Harley’s heads are hunched over the coffee table.
“You all know Jordan Brooks,” Blake says. “Or at least of him.”
They all wave but barely lift their heads.
“Wow. They can’t contain their excitement,” I say.
“They usually have more manners than this, but they’re in work mode.”
Brix walks up behind Harley and kisses the back of his head, and only then does Harley lift his gaze. Harley welcomes his boyfriend with a soft kiss, and my chest twinges.
“Rooms?” Blake asks.
Mason puts down his guitar and stands. “I put you two in rooms next to each other. You have to share a bathroom, though. Is that okay?”
“No, this is not acceptable at all.” I cross my arms. “You put me up for free, you help me hide away, and you only give me a single bedroom and a shared bathroom? What is this? The seventh circle of hell?”
Mason’s deep brown eyes look at me like they’re trying to assess my tone.
“Uh, I guess I should hold up a sarcasm sign? I swear I’m not one of those Hollywood types. I still live in a one-bedroom apartment. It’s a nice apartment, but it’s not …” I wave my hand around. “Anything like this.”
Mason smiles. “Follow me. Oh, and as per Harley’s rules, no cell phones allowed, so you need to leave them in your rooms.”
That’s fine with me. My manager told me to turn mine off and only check in once a day with him.
Mason shows us to two bedrooms upstairs, and after Blake and I dump our bags and get settled in our rooms, Blake knocks on my door.
“You ready to go back down there?”
“Will you hate me if I chill up here for a bit? You guys are busy, and I don’t want to be in anyone’s way.”
“You won’t be in our way, but it’s up to you.”
I nod toward the wide window that overlooks a valley covered in white snow everywhere. “Have you seen this view? You might not see me for weeks.”
“Come down whenever. The guys are all welcoming.”
“The last time Denver and Mason saw me, I was a drunken mess—”
“If anyone understands drunken messes, it’s Denver. You’ll be fine.”
“Okay. I’ll, uh, come down soon.” As soon as I can shake this melancholy.
It turns out my stomach is more impatient than my somber mood, and I drag my feet to look for food a couple of hours later. I’ve literally been staring out the window and doing nothing but dwelling over the scene at the hospital and the media fallout that followed.
I might have broken the rules and scrolled through some articles about Ben and me. And now, because of one insanely perfectly timed photo of Blake and me in that bar, this scandal is being turned back onto me, and it’s dragging Blake into my mess.
Sex, lies, and infidelity. LA is in a frenzy, and not in a good way.
This is Kristen Stewart cheating on R Patz with her married director levels of scandal.
When I get downstairs, Harley’s partner is MIA, but the others are still huddled around the coffee table. Blake lifts his head when I arrive, and just seeing him makes me feel not so alone.
This is my first real taste of drama as a famous person. I can’t claim to be anywhere near as famous as anyone in this room, but it all feels like I’ve majorly screwed up with this Ben situation, and it’s quickly piling on top of me.
Still, I smile my way through it all. Because I have to.
“Hungry?” Blake asks.
“Starving. How did you know?”
Harley doesn’t look up as he says, “Blake got to hangry status about half an hour ago. Pizza is on its way.”