Page 12 of Beyond the Fame

Lana and Mylan’s butler opens the door as I’m approaching, and I give her a nod before walking in. When I round the corner to the living room, I’m met with Mylan and Lana being disgustingly cute and handsy with each other.

That unnerving yearning for companionship hits me head-on so I kill it with humor.

“Get a room.”

My best friend whips around and smiles at me. My stomach drops. He looks so healthy. We haven’t seen a lot of each other these past few years, but every time we do, I'm always surprised by his appearance.

During the height of his addiction, he’d hide the physical signs well. He’d cover the dulled, gray skin and dark circles under his eyes with makeup. Mylan had always been built, but he’d lost a lot of weight before going into treatment because he wouldn’t eat when he was drinking or getting high.

But now? He seems so happy. He’s gained back the weight and muscle he lost because of his disease. His skin is clear and smooth, no longer suffering from dehydration.

Mylan greets me with our secret handshake—three palm slaps, two fist bumps, a fist to the chest over the heart. We made it up as teens with our other friend Rey, the three of us bored as fuck on set in between scenes.

The heels of Rebecca’s pumps click loudly on the marble floor. I step back from Mylan and adjust my black-rimmed glasses, folding my arms over my flannel-covered chest.

“Wow. Did you two come together?” Lana asks, glancing behind me.

“Ugh, no,” Rebecca blanches. I turn to look at her as she tosses her long, light brown hair over her shoulder and crosses her arms like me. She's still flushed from what we did, and I realize I did, in fact, make her blush for reasons other than pissing her off.

“Wrong. She came with me, but we’re not here together,” I say, giving Rebecca a teasing smile, which makes her blush deeper.

Rebecca explains the situation with her driver getting a flat tire. Her voice fades away as I replay the memory of her coming on my fingers.

Oh, this is going to be fun. There’s no denying Rebecca enjoyed my touch and my kisses. Now I’m going to use that to make her squirm every chance I get.

Chapter 4 – Jensen

Present Day

She’s as beautiful as ever.

Rebecca’s flawless but pissed off face scrunches up—likely planning my murder at this moment. I scan her body, from her tapping sandal-covered foot then up her tanned, smooth legs pouring out of white shorts. The body-hugging crop top she wears dips to showcase her plump tits that I desperately want to put my mouth on.

I salivate, remembering her taste—a taste I never expected to have. That moment in the car when she let my fingers inside her was a product of built-up sexual tension between us. A year later, and my hands itch to touch her again. I barely got a chance to memorize the feel of those wonderful curves.

Rebecca isn’t a plus-size woman like Lana and Ginger, but she’s not thin like Eloise. She’s in between. I believe the term is mid-size, though I fucking hate all the labels that are assigned to our bodies.

“It makes sense, Becky. My suite has an extra bedroom that no one is using.”

She balks at me using the nickname she despises and anxiously plays with the strands of her perfectly styled hair that falls in waves over her shoulders.

“Because, Jenny,” she begins. I walked right into that. I use the nickname she hates; she uses mine. I don’t let her see the effect it has on me and smirk, which just pisses her off more. “I would rather have nails hammered into my eyeballs than stay anywhere near you.”

“No reason to lie. Just say you don't want to stay with me because you find me irresistible, and you’ll have a hard time controlling yourself around me.” I glance at the clerk, giving her a wink, which makes her blush.

Rebecca groans. “You are so wrong, it’s sad.”

“And where will you be sleeping tonight?”

“I’ll figure it out. I’m sure Lana and Mylan will let me crash on their couch. Believe it or not, I don’t need you to keep saving me.”

She’s being such a fucking brat.

I step to the counter next to where Rebecca is standing, and she backs away. That’s the difference between her and Lana. I’ve seen the way Lana doesn’t back down around Mylan. She’s fierce and defiant. I know Rebecca is all that, yet she doesn’t trust herself to let it show.

I lean in to the clerk, who is flustered and maybe it’s because she recognizes me. Or maybe it’s because of that wink. I could never understand why women found me attractive. I’ve struggled with my body image my entire life. It’s something I’ve been working to fix for the past four years, but learning to love myself, when my whole life people told me I shouldn’t, has been difficult.

Sometimes I’m my own worst enemy because when women see me and want me, it should make me feel good. Instead, I wonder if it’s all a ruse. Do they ignore how my body looks because of my career? My money? My fame? I never let them stick around long enough to find out.

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