Page 20 of King of Players

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Let me know when you’re done.”

“Okay, seriously though… so you got to your thirties before a woman kicked you out of bed. Boo-fucking-hoo!”

“That’s not the point,” I argued. The waiter came with our order, so I had to stop, my eyes locking with my friend’s as she seemed to try to decipher the real reason behind my irritation. When he was gone, I added, “The point is that I gave her a really good time. I was a gentleman. I was—”

She suddenly interrupted me, “Maybe it had nothing to do with you at all!”

“I was the only other person in the house.”

“So? Maybe she has issues. How long have you known this woman, anyway?”

“A few days.”

Scoffing, she grabbed her knife and fork and began tackling what was on her plate. “Jesus, Chad. Fuck her, alright? You don’t deserve this.”

“Just like that?”

“Yeah.” She shrugged. “Do you know how many psychos live in this city? More than I’d like to know, personally. Unfortunately, I work behind the camera and observe way too much.”

“And your point is?”

“Meditate, get a massage, pop a happy pill… just forget about her and be thankful that you don’t have to see her again.”

“What if I want to?”

She snorted. “Masochist much?” Then popped a full bite into her mouth, watching my expression as she chewed.

“There’s just something about her,” I explained. “Something that makes me want to know more.”

“And you did. You slept together. End of story.” She paused, reaching for my hand. “Honey, I’ve always worried that because of your career, you’d end up in some fucked up, abusive relationship. And so far, you’ve picked your battles well and cut your losses like a pro. Don’t go pulling an existential crisis on me now!”

“You know how the whole thing started? It was a one-sided bet between me and Abel.”

“Abel?”

“He told me I couldn’t, and so I wanted to. And now that I have… I don’t know. I feel like we… didn’t talk enough?”

“Then, talk!” She casually shrugged. “Be friends, that’s fine. Just don’t start building a love story around the woman who makes you feel like this.” Pausing, she leaned slightly forward, a serious look radiating from her eyes. “If you allow yourself to assume the role of the victim for her, it will stick.”

Knowing where that came from—a failed relationship of hers from a couple of years ago—I gave her a comforting smile. “I’ll never forget that.”

In an attempt to mirror my smile, she could barely stretch her lips. “Good. Cause I love you, man.”

“I know.” I nodded. “Speaking of love, how’s Bridgit?”

“She’s good. Actually, she’s helping me with the shoot later. Wanna come?”

“I can’t. I have to be on the Brad Lopez show at three.”

“Oh, nice.”

I scoffed and waved it off before digging into my food. Dakota and I spent the rest of our brunch talking about work, gossiping and laughing. When we were done, I was picked up in a limo and driven to the studio to get ready. The interview was typically everything my fans would have expected; talks of my upcoming project, relationship status, and, of course, addressing the rumors that naturally surrounded a thirty-two-year-old actor who was considered a sex icon.

Of course, my excessive partying, sightings with several women, and the age-old question of ‘Do you ever see yourself settling down?’ took the spotlight. That was where I mentioned that I was starting to invest more time and funds into charities and giving back, derailing the conversation and earning my persona a new attribute. I was now Chadwick, the once reckless bachelor, who was now growing up to be more responsible.

“It’s one thing to indulge,” I said at one point. “It’s a whole other thing to be aware of what other people need. And I can now say that I was late, absolutely… but better late than never, right?”

Around seven o’clock, and just as I was about to leave my house for a dinner party, I tried Kaira’s number again. And again, it was unreachable. A woman like her couldn’t have possibly gone the whole day with a shut off phone. She must have blocked me.

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