to his sides, and he shook his head.
“You mean when you had your publicist leak a story saying you were dating Henley Swanson, and it was all over the magazines?”
“I was eighteen, Riley. She was my costar. It was to stir up hype for our movie. You think I really liked her?” He rubbed his hand roughly along his jaw, the playfulness had left his tone.
“I didn’t think you’d publically humiliate me. And like her or not, I saw the shots of your tongue crammed down her throat.” My chest hurt just thinking about how young and naïve I had been. I was running with an older crowd that had no limits. Society loved to hang on their every word and loved it, even more, when they crashed and burned.
“You know how it is in our world, Riley. I want to make it up to you.”
I raised an eyebrow, skeptical of his sudden change of personality. I couldn’t tell if his acting had improved or if he was genuinely sorry. “How?”
“I brought you something.”
“You can’t buy me off, Ezra.”
“Not even with this?” He pulled out a small envelope from the back pocket of his jeans and held it out. I pulled my cover higher up my chest. I was only wearing a camisole and panties for bed, and I wasn’t about to hop out of bed and give him a show.
“What is it?”
He smiled before stepping closer and placing it on the stand beside me. “I guess you’ll have to find out.” With that, he turned and walked back to my door, calling over his shoulder, “Goodnight, Riley.” The door closed, and I sighed as I eyed the envelope.
I didn’t have the patience or the energy to deal with Ezra, so I turned out my light and settled into my pillow. The envelope could wait.
***
The next morning I woke with the sunshine pouring through my window. I yawned, bowing my back as I stretched before grabbing my phone and checking the time. Shit. I was running late for school.
I hurried out of bed and ran through the shower, my mind racing as I thought of everything I needed to do for the party. It was Friday, which meant that I only had two weeks left to get everything together and get the word out.
After getting myself ready, I threw on some jeans and designer t-shirt and raced down to the kitchen. Ezra was already sitting at the island, shoving an apple into his mouth.
“Dad leave yet for work?” I asked as I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and a banana from the fruit bowl on the counter.
“Two hours ago. But lucky for us, I don’t have any scenes today. Some nerdy kid with a bowtie just dropped off a liquor store. Why would he do that?”
My eyes met his and he smiled mischievously.
“Planning a party, Riley?”
“Nope. Just hanging out with a few of my friends.”
“Come on. You don’t have any friends,” he joked.
My eyes narrowed as I pulled my purse strap further onto my shoulder. “ You don’t have any friends, Ezra. Everyone loves me.”
“You seriously have no idea what love is. They fear you. That’s the way it should be.” He stood from his stool, tossing his apple core into the trash. “I could show you what love feels like if you want.” His smirk turned my stomach, and I scoffed as I shoved by him toward the door.
“No one even knows you’re here, and I’d like to keep it that way. So, find some rock to slither under ‘kay? Bye.”
I hurried out the front steps, struggling to find my sunglasses in my oversized bag before sliding them on my face.
I groaned as my eyes landed on a sleek silver car that was parked next to my car, making it impossible to pull out.
Yanking open the front door, I screamed, “Ezra, get your ass out here and move this piece of tin before I have it towed!”
Ezra laughed and strolled leisurely out the door, hitting the button on his key fob and causing the car to chirp as it unlocked. “Why don’t you stay home today and hang out with me?” He asked.
“Not a chance. I’m already late so could you please hurry?”
“I might be inclined
“You mean when you had your publicist leak a story saying you were dating Henley Swanson, and it was all over the magazines?”
“I was eighteen, Riley. She was my costar. It was to stir up hype for our movie. You think I really liked her?” He rubbed his hand roughly along his jaw, the playfulness had left his tone.
“I didn’t think you’d publically humiliate me. And like her or not, I saw the shots of your tongue crammed down her throat.” My chest hurt just thinking about how young and naïve I had been. I was running with an older crowd that had no limits. Society loved to hang on their every word and loved it, even more, when they crashed and burned.
“You know how it is in our world, Riley. I want to make it up to you.”
I raised an eyebrow, skeptical of his sudden change of personality. I couldn’t tell if his acting had improved or if he was genuinely sorry. “How?”
“I brought you something.”
“You can’t buy me off, Ezra.”
“Not even with this?” He pulled out a small envelope from the back pocket of his jeans and held it out. I pulled my cover higher up my chest. I was only wearing a camisole and panties for bed, and I wasn’t about to hop out of bed and give him a show.
“What is it?”
He smiled before stepping closer and placing it on the stand beside me. “I guess you’ll have to find out.” With that, he turned and walked back to my door, calling over his shoulder, “Goodnight, Riley.” The door closed, and I sighed as I eyed the envelope.
I didn’t have the patience or the energy to deal with Ezra, so I turned out my light and settled into my pillow. The envelope could wait.
***
The next morning I woke with the sunshine pouring through my window. I yawned, bowing my back as I stretched before grabbing my phone and checking the time. Shit. I was running late for school.
I hurried out of bed and ran through the shower, my mind racing as I thought of everything I needed to do for the party. It was Friday, which meant that I only had two weeks left to get everything together and get the word out.
After getting myself ready, I threw on some jeans and designer t-shirt and raced down to the kitchen. Ezra was already sitting at the island, shoving an apple into his mouth.
“Dad leave yet for work?” I asked as I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and a banana from the fruit bowl on the counter.
“Two hours ago. But lucky for us, I don’t have any scenes today. Some nerdy kid with a bowtie just dropped off a liquor store. Why would he do that?”
My eyes met his and he smiled mischievously.
“Planning a party, Riley?”
“Nope. Just hanging out with a few of my friends.”
“Come on. You don’t have any friends,” he joked.
My eyes narrowed as I pulled my purse strap further onto my shoulder. “ You don’t have any friends, Ezra. Everyone loves me.”
“You seriously have no idea what love is. They fear you. That’s the way it should be.” He stood from his stool, tossing his apple core into the trash. “I could show you what love feels like if you want.” His smirk turned my stomach, and I scoffed as I shoved by him toward the door.
“No one even knows you’re here, and I’d like to keep it that way. So, find some rock to slither under ‘kay? Bye.”
I hurried out the front steps, struggling to find my sunglasses in my oversized bag before sliding them on my face.
I groaned as my eyes landed on a sleek silver car that was parked next to my car, making it impossible to pull out.
Yanking open the front door, I screamed, “Ezra, get your ass out here and move this piece of tin before I have it towed!”
Ezra laughed and strolled leisurely out the door, hitting the button on his key fob and causing the car to chirp as it unlocked. “Why don’t you stay home today and hang out with me?” He asked.
“Not a chance. I’m already late so could you please hurry?”
“I might be inclined
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