Page 51 of Off Script

Keeping her mind on her work, Jada avoided the amused looks and smirks from the crew over their arrival and made a beeline for the dressing-room trailer. Since they were filming on location today, all the usual equipment, props, and clothes had to be lugged around this way. She felt much more at ease after she slipped inside the white caravan. For once, Mikayla and Cass had the decency not to cross question Jada.

While Cass was in the middle of transforming her face into a work of art, Jada’s phone went off. Her stomach sank when she saw the caller ID: Avery Kane.

“Excuse me,” she said to the makeup artist, then stepped outside to take the call.

“Hi, Avery. What’s going on?”

“Logan Wentworth wantsyouto audition for the lead role in his new movieLove and War. It’s an upcoming action flick. They’ve already got Donnie Ward attached as the director.”

Jada resisted the urge to squeal, but before she could reply at all, Avery cut her off.

“My assistant will send the script over tonight along with the information for the audition. Please don’t fuck this up.”

And then she hung up. Not that Jada wanted to hold a conversation with her, but a few pleasantries would have been nice. Then again, at least Avery had said please before telling her not to fuck up. Either way, Jada’s heart fluttered with joy at the prospect of this job turning into a reality. Surprisingly enough, the first person she wanted to tell was Tristan. She got the perfect chance when he also paid a visit to the on-wheels version of the makeup department.

“Guess what?” She beamed at him, the incident from this morning momentarily forgotten.

“You’ve realized you’re madly in love with me?” He presumed.

“No.” Jada swatted him. “I got a call about Logan’s movie. Avery’s going to send over the script for the audition.”

“That’s great. We should rehearse together.”

“What do you mean?”

“Doug called me. Logan wants me to audition too. If things go well, we’ll probably end up reading together anyway, so . . . your place? Tonight?”

Jada’s brain blanked. She didn’t have a real reason to tell him no, but did she want him back in her apartment? At the scene of the crime. The very naked, nearly X-rated crime.

“Um . . . sure, I guess,” she faltered.

“All right. Sounds good. I’ll meet you after work.” He said it easily, like it was nothing for him to show up at her place again. Meanwhile, Jada’s heart was doing somersaults.

Tristan, in her home again. With his lips that told her all the things she wanted to hear. With his perceptive looks showing he knew exactly what her body wanted. . . Dear baby Jesus, she was in trouble! And she told Mikayla as much on their drive home.

“He’s coming over again?” Mikayla’s face lit up with glee. “That’s not bad. That’s great!”

“What the hell is going on with you? You were on the whole boo Tristan train right with me after what he did. You were the one who wanted to release the video. And now, all of a sudden, you’re all for me hooking up with him.”

“I was always for you hooking up with him. That dimmed a bit after his behavior, but now . . . well, I see how happy you are around him.”

“Happy? You mean more like a rabid dog.”

“Okay, sure. Just know I’ll be staying over at Alia’s so you and Tristan can ‘work.’”

“What? You can’t leave me alone with him.” Jada panicked. She hadn’t even told Mikayla about what had happened this morning yet. Although, at this point, the revelation would be more like ammo than a valid reason for Mikayla to play chaperone.

“Look, you agreed to this arrangement. So either you manage to keep your hormones in check or you give into them.” This worthless advice was Mikayla’s last say on the matter.

True to her word, around seven Mikayla fled the apartment to hang out with Alia. Jada had begged, bargained, and practically chained Mikayla’s feet to the floor, but it was no use. Her cousin was gone. This time, though, she hadn’t advised Jada on what to wear. Jada vacillated on the decision way too long, eventually settling for a black camisole, light cardigan, and jeans. But she had bigger problems than just her wardrobe. She’d also gone over the dating rules notebook when she got home.

RULES:

Stick to cover story at all costs.

No cheating.

No public fights.

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