Page 61 of Off Script

“I want to congratulate you all on a job well done. I couldn’t be more thankful to have such a great team.” As Ren went on to thank the crew and cast, everyone applauded happily. Angela even had the audacity to give a magnanimous (a.k.a. pompous) bow when Ren acknowledged her.

Good riddance, Tristan thought to himself. However, when Ren turned to him, he hid his scowl at her with a plastered-on grin.

“And thanks to you, Ren. You have been a saint through all the . . . misadventures on this shoot,” Tristan said.

“Thanks. I also wanted to let everyone know I’ll be throwing you all a wrap party. This weekend, my place.” Ren grinned.

The crew let out a loud cheer at his announcement. Tristan understood their surprise. Ren was such a private person, him hosting a party seemed like something out of theTwilight Zone. Yet, as he headed back to the dressing room, Tristan realized this invite meant he would get to see Jada.

After their Palm Springs argument, Jada had texted him when she got back into town. At that point, Tristan was feeling hella bitter over her behavior and accusations. Where did she get off implying that he was sleeping around when they had already talked about that? So, despite it being extremely petty, Tristan made up the excuse that he could only get together after this final week of filming. Until then, they’d have their PR team deny the allegations. But now withLove Locketofficially wrapped, it was a different story. The mere idea of being near Jada—even if it would inevitably lead to more fighting—made his heart flutter. With hope or anxiety, he wasn’t sure. He should have been terrified by that, but Angela snapped him out of his thoughts by yanking on his arm.

“I bet you’re happy. You can finally be rid of me and run off into the sunset with Bambi eyes.” Angela batted her own lashes for emphasis.

“That’s the plan.” Tristan didn’t bother denying it. In spite of her vehement denials, he still suspected Angela was the blog’s “reputable source.”

“Hmm. We’ll see how long it lasts.” Angela started to walk away, but dying to prove her guilt, Tristan caught her arm.

“What does that mean?”

“It means we both know the longest relationship you’ve ever had has been with . . . yourself.” Angela looked meaningfully down at Tristan’s crotch. “Everything else, everyone else, is merely a brief side act in your long-running role in Me, Me, Me, and My Dick.”

“You’re no one to talk, Angela. Your fixation on my dick was the only thing holding our brief act together.” Tristan let go and brushed past her. Still, he heard her last cutting remark.

“When you do blow it, give me a call. Not for pity sex. Just so I can laugh my ass off.”

Despite his best dirt off your shoulder facade, her taunt did dig in. Granted, his relationship with Jada was fake, but even with their differences, the thought of it ending didn’t sit well with him. Pushing the feeling aside, he changed back into his everyday clothes, said his good-byes to the crew, and drove off. Free from Angela Hell. On the drive, Doug’s number lit up on his cell.

“What’s up, Doug?” Tristan responded to the call via his Bluetooth device.

“Congrats on the wrap, my friend!”

“Thanks. I’m hoping—”

“Now what are we going to do about Jada? You said after the shoot you guys would figure things out. Please do that soon because we’ve got to plan our next move.”

“Doug, I’ve got it under control. The—”

“Peoplemagazine hasn’t let that last blog go. They keep theorizing on why you two haven’t been seen together lately. If we want to fix this, you two have to get back out there,” Doug pushed. Despite wanting to throw back how Doug had clearly changed his tune about letting things blow over since the last time Tristan had brought this all up, he chose to stay on topic.

“Doug, listen to me! Everything’s handled. Ren is throwing a wrap party this weekend, and I’ll get together with her then.”

“Weekend?!” Doug squealed. “Hell, you need to see her tonight and smooth things over. We’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”

Tristan hesitated, worried that Jada had plans. Since they hadn’t set an official reconciliation time, she might be offended that he was asking her to drop everything to see him now. Under more of Doug’s pressuring, though, he gave in. After hanging up with his agent, Tristan reached out to Jada before he changed his mind.

“Tristan?” she answered hesitantly when she picked up.

“Yes, it’s me. I know things have been rocky, but the shoot’s done and—”

“And you and Doug are worried about our image. I readPeople, too, Tristan.”

“No. I want to see you. You know, get the chance to clear the air or fight to the death. Whichever.”

Hearing Jada’s soft chuckle on the other line, Tristan pressed further. “Come out with me tonight.”

After the longest pause of Tristan’s life, Jada said, “Where?”

And in that moment, Tristan knew what had truly been bothering him for weeks. The reason he’d been so salty about Palm Springs. He’d missed Jada more than he’d been willing to admit. And now, seeing her easy acceptance of his request, he realized something else.

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