11
I’m shaking with fear as I press the button to call Reeve later that night. He doesn’t answer, and I’m fearful he’s avoiding me. Curling into a ball on my bed, I clutch my cell in my hand, trying to talk myself off a ledge. He’s probably just running late, and he’ll call me back as soon as he can. Ten minutes later, my cell vibrates, and I quell the urge to hurl my dinner when I see his gorgeous face flashing across the ringing screen. Rubbing a hand over my queasy tummy, I answer his FaceTime call.
“I’m sorry,” we both say in unison, and it helps to alleviate the tension gnawing at my insides.
“Viv,” he whispers, and my heart hurts when his tortured blue eyes turn glassy and his handsome features contort with pain.
“I didn’t kiss him!” I plead, sitting upright on my bed. “I would never do that, not even when we’ve been fighting. I was drunk. Audrey had gone to get me some water and Nate was the only one at the table. He was drunk too and he thought I looked sad so he kissed me.”
Alex has spoken to his friend numerous times today, and he is convinced Nate didn’t mean it maliciously. He was just acting his usual stupid self.
“I am going to punch that slimy bastard in the face until he no longer resembles himself,” Reeve says, a muscle clenching in his jaw.
“I think Alex already beat you to it.”
“Remind me to thank him.”
“Nate is an idiot. You know I have zero interest in him, and he’d kiss any female with a pulse.”
“Don’t try to lighten this,” Reeve snaps, rubbing at his temples. “Nate has the hots for you, babe. Everyone can see it but you.”
“Whether he does or not doesn’t matter. I don’t have the hots for him, so you don’t need to worry.”
“And that’s exactly what I’ve been trying to tellyou.” He lies down on his side, and I wish I was there so I could snuggle into his chest and feel the warmth of his strong arms around me. “You have nothing to worry about with Saffron.Nothing. Even if she did have feelings for me, which she doesn’t, I have zero interest in her.”
I don’t think it’s the same thing, but saying that will only prolong the argument, and I really need to make things right with my boyfriend. However, I do need to tell him this. “I think you’re wrong. I think she has set her sights on you, and let’s not forget she has a history of stealing other women’s men.”
“Baby, please, believe me when I say you couldn’t be more wrong.” He sits up, looking earnest as he comes closer to the screen. “I have told her point-blank how much I love you. She knows you’rethe one, and she’s happy for me because she’s my friend, in the same way all of my costars are my friends. Honestly, I couldn’t have asked for a better crew. We all get along famously, and there are no airs or graces, especially with Saffron. If we weren’t in this situation, I think you would really like her and you two would be good friends.”
I bark out a bitter laugh. I can’t help it. Are all men this blind? “I can safely say that will never happen.”
He closes his eyes briefly. “Viv, I need you to listen to me and listen good. She’s twenty-one, and I’m eighteen. I’m like her little brother.”
A little brother she kisses, touches, and fakes sex with on-screen.
I instantly think of “Drivers License” by Olivia Rodrigo. She apparently wrote the song about her messy breakup with her boyfriend who left her for an older woman. As the lyrics bounce around my head, they couldn’t be more apt.
“I know she’s not interested in me like that because she’s told me,” Reeve continues, when I don’t comment, “and she’s fucking the thirty-year-old assistant director.”
I get what he’s implying—that she’s only into older dudes. But Reeve refuses to see what I see. It’s not their age. It’s their status and influence in Hollywood. Frankly, I would’ve thought an assistant director was beneath her, but he must be serving some purpose. I could continue pressing my point, but it’s not going to get us anywhere, so I focus on the crux of the matter.
“It hurt knowing she picked my gifts,” I quietly say, lying down on my side and tucking my knees into my chest. “It really hurt, Reeve. How could you do that?”
His face contorts in a fresh wave of pain, and his eyes glimmer with remorse. “I didn’t stop to think about it. I wanted to buy you lingerie, but I was bombarded by all the choices, and I was struggling to pick things you would like. She offered to help, and I accepted without thinking it through.”
“You know me better than anyone, Reeve. Whatever you would’ve chosen for me would’ve been perfect.” Pain rattles around my chest. “And girls know that helping someone’s boyfriend with a gift is a no-no. Especially something so intimate. Unless it’s the girl’s bestie and there’s an established friendship between friend and boyfriend like with you and Audrey.” If Reeve needed help, why didn’t he call my best friend?
“It wasn’t intentional, babe, and the last thing I ever want to do is hurt you. I swear.”
“I believe you. It’s her motives I don’t trust.”
He exhales heavily, and silence fills the distance between us in more ways than one.
“I was going to burn the underwear,” I admit after I can’t take the heavy silence any longer. “But I couldn’t bear to destroy such beautiful garments. However, I can’t wear them either. I’m going to return the unworn items to you so you can get a refund.”
“Babe, please, don’t, I—”
“I can’t wear things some other woman picked out for me, Reeve,” I hiss, rubbing at my temples. “How would you feel if I got Nate to help me choose gifts for you? Would you ever be able to look at them without seeing his face?”