Under the Lights

“I like to keep my fans guessing,” I say smoothly, using a line Holly fed me on the phone this morning. “I get bored easily. What better way to shake things up than playing the field?” Aaaaand wink at the camera.

“And that you certainly are! Just when rumors seem confirmed that you and Shannah Barrett are back together, this story breaks about you and Vanessa Park—”

I cut him off with a forced laugh. “Oh, God, that. Trust me, there is zero truth to those rumors! To any of them,” I add firmly, because no chance I’m letting Shannah’s famewhoredom cockblock me. “I’m single, ladies! Come at me!”

Gavin’s fake laugh in response is far more practiced than mine; I’m not sure he’s ever used a real one. “I don’t know that I’m buying this,” he says in what I think is an attempt to be playful but makes me want to punch him in the nuts. “There were a whole lot of pictures of the two of you together, and I did hear she emerged from your house this morning after some serious partying last night…”

I take a deep, exasperated breath and think about K-drama, how distraught she seemed that morning and how paranoid she is that this’ll be the end of her. It’s bad enough she has to bone Zander Wilson of all people; I can’t make it worse, even if I think it’s funny as hell.

“Vanessa Park is a good friend of mine, and she’s welcome to stay in my guest house—alone — as often as she wants, just like my other friends do. There is not, nor has there ever been, anything romantic between the two of us. Off set, that is,” I add with a smile. At least Mickey Davis will appreciate the bit of promo there, even if he hates me for sullying the good name of one of his stars.

“Then why was she staying at your place at all, and not with her boyfriend, Zander Wilson?” Gavin asks, all bullshit-casual.

“You’d have to ask her that,” I say with a shrug. “I’m just here to talk about my favorite subject: Me.”

More fake laughter. “Fair enough. So, with all these rumors about you and his ex, is there tension between you and Liam?”

Seriously? I should’ve known coming here was a bad idea. I don’t know how Holly envisions this doing anything good for me, but all it’s really doing is pissing me off. “Dude,” I say flatly, “this is getting boring. We all know nothing happened, so no, no one gives a shit — not Liam, not Zander, and hopefully none of our fans. Do you have any actual questions, or can I get back to something that matters?”

“Like what?” he asks sweetly.

I’ve never been a guy with much self-control, but whatever of it I possess goes into stopping myself from punching Gavin in the face. The worst part is, he’s right. I don’t know where I’m going from here, what I’m doing next. Without this bullshit drama, I don’t even know why people would care to keep watching me on this stupid reality show. Because I’m rich? Because I’m hot? Because I party?

When I’m not the bad boy, I’m nothing.

And thanks to the fact that I’m in danger of losing both my money and my house, and given I’ve been far too occupied with a lone girl recently, I’m pretty damn close to becoming irrelevant.

“Nothing I can talk about yet.” Being able to convincingly look and sound like a smug asshole at any moment is a God-given talent I’m extremely grateful for right now.

He perks up in his seat, obviously having bought it. “Not even a little hint for our loyal viewers?”

“Sorry, Gav.” My shit-eating grin is so wide I swear even I almost believe I’m not talking out of my ass. “But thanks for having me. It’s been fun.”

He blinks in disbelief as I start taking off my mic, and a technician runs to my side. I was supposed to give him a full fifteen minutes, but there’s no way in hell. He recovers quickly and we shake hands and whatever, and then I gotta get outta here. Preferably to get shit-faced and hook up with someone who’s not Vanessa Park.

Except I don’t really feel like doing either of those things. What I really wanna do, so help me God, is curl up on my couch with her for the rest of the day and watch more movies.

Oh, shit. I’m turning into Liam.

No. I will not let this happen. I’m not becoming that guy. And I’m not fading into obscurity either.

I whip out my phone, summon Ronen, and make some calls. If I’m goin’ down, I’m doing it in a blaze of glory.

* * *

I don’t know what the fuck time it is, but I am drunk. And a little high. And a lot horny. Thankfully, there’s a redhead sitting at my feet who seems very happy to help with that last one, and as soon as I take this next shot with that guy whose name I can’t remember from that movie that was s’posed to be a big deal, I’m gonna get on that.

“Enjoying yourself, cuz?” Wyatt asks smugly, taking a puff off the one-hitter in his hand. “You’re welcome.”