Under the Lights by Dahlia Adler Page A

night…exercising.” I do another couple reps, then replace my own, just to stretch out my hands for a minute. “This is why you always kick the girl out well before dawn.”
    He scowls at me as he reluctantly removes ten pounds from each side. “The shots from last night aren’t helping either. You and your stupid parties.”
    â€œOh, come on. You had fun last night, and so did she. And I bet you got killer head for that present.”
    He just rolls his eyes at me and resumes the position.
    â€œI had a lovely night, too, thanks for asking,” I say coolly, moving into position to spot him, since I’m already bored and half-afraid he’s gonna drop it on his face. “Hooked up with that singer.”
    â€œOf course you did,” he grunts as he lifts, and I smile proudly. She’s a pretty damn good get, if I maysay so myself. Notoriously picky, especially since she used to bang their drummer steadily for, like, three years. Nice to know I’m probably one of the few guys in the LA area who knows her natural hair color.
    â€œThey’ve got a show tonight. You wanna come?”
    â€œAre you kidding? After I have dinner at the Duncans, I’m passing right the fuck out. I don’t remember the last time I felt this tired.”
    â€œMy old therapist would say you’re emotionally exhausted.”
    â€œThe hot one you screwed on her couch?”
    â€œThat’s the one.”
    Loud, high-heeled footsteps have both of us turning our heads. Liam replaces the barbell as Ally lets herself into the gym, protein shakes in hand, with my agent right behind her. Holly’s eyes widen for a second at the sight of us, sweaty and in nothing but gym shorts, and I give her my best wolf grin and watch as she sets her face back into stone.
    People trying to make Serious Names for themselves in the industry are always the least fun.
    Ally’s a little less immune to the sight, and I have to snap my fingers to get her attention as she drools over Liam’s sweaty, shirtless body like she hasn’t seen it a zillion times. “That envelope for me?”
    â€œShots from the Aspen shoot. You wanna go to your office?”
    â€œNah, let’s see ’em here.” We lay them out carefully, and I can see I look pretty damn good. “Don’t let them use this one,” I order, pointing to one by a palm tree. “I look short.” Not that I am.
    â€œYour complex about being two inches shorter than me is getting a little pathetic,” Liam says smugly as Ally hands him one of the shakes and me the other.“So you’re not even six feet. So you’re basically only half a man. So what?”
    â€œFuck you.”
    â€œAre they always this awful to each other?” Holly asks Ally.
    â€œYes,” Ally responds without hesitation.
    â€œDelightful.” Holly turns to Liam. “So, Liam, Josh tells me you have a callback for Lassiter tomorrow. How the hell did Evan Cooper score that?”
    Liam narrows his eyes at me. “You didn’t tell her Coop had nothing to do with it? What’d you do, Chester, make her feel like crap for not getting you an audition you didn’t even want in the first place?” He turns to Holly. “We met Lassiter in a club. And I’m better-looking and a better actor than Josh. That’s it.”
    â€œAnd Mickey Davis is gonna let you do this?” she asks, referring to
Daylight Falls
’ showrunner.
    â€œI have no idea.” He mops off his face with a towel, then takes a long drink of the shake. “Haven’t gotten that far yet. You know Mickey, though. Think I got a shot?”
    â€œDepends on their plans for you this season. How’s your storyline?”
    â€œI surf. I hook up with Bailey, then cheat on Bailey, then get caught, then hook up with her again. Oh, and I surf some more. It’s all very exciting. Clearly, I’m