Page 84 of Role Play
“Tipsy is for blonde chicks namedBritney.”
“He shouldn’t follow her—” Jude said, shaking hishead.
“Don’t listen to him,” Marly shotback.
“Well,” I said, standing. “You two keep arguing. Let me know what you come upwith.”
I didn’t wait for any more input, but rushed for the bathrooms, waiting outside the ladies room door. It didn’t take long for her to come out and when she looked up, seeing me there, an electric current sparked between us, so palpable, so intensely friction-filled that she actuallygasped.
“Ash,” she said in a rush of breath. “You have to stop staring at me. People are going to figureout…”
“I know,” I said, taking every ounce of energy not to step into her and wrap my arms around her waist. “I’m sorry… I lost it when Miguel said you were on amanhunt.”
She swallowed and shook her head. “My sex life is none of yourbusiness.”
I winced at that. The thought of her having a sex life without me was painful. Fucking painful. “Miguel’s been a really good friend to me this week. He’s another PA, like me. We have a lot in common. And it feels good to have a friend on the set. Someone people won’t whisper behind my back about if we’re friends.” She looked around for a brief moment. “So when he suggested yesterday that we should go out after work and that he wanted to give me a makeover, Icaved.”
My gaze softened and I pinched a strand of hair, running my fingers through it. “You’re beautiful no matter how you dress, but I’ll always prefer you in jeans, a t-shirt, andglasses.”
She blinked as though taken aback. “Thank you,” shewhispered.
“Andseriously. What were the goddamn chances someone would singthatsong,right?”
She lifted her eyebrow. “Pretty high. Because Judy Garland is fucking awesome and all of Hollywood seems to know it exceptyou.”
I laughed and it felt both incredible and fucking hurt all at once. “I’ll let you go back first,” I said, nodding toward the table. “And … just do me a favor. If you’re going to keep drinking, can you at least eat your chickenfingers.”
Her relaxed shoulders tensed, jerking higher toward her ears, and her grin melted into a scowl. “Are you kidding me?” she hissed. “For the love of God, Ash, I’ve been real patient. Butdo notcomment on what I eat. Do you understand me? I’ll eat however many chicken tenders I feel like. And I’ll drink as many vodka Diet Cokes as I want.” Her eyes narrowed so tightly that all I could see were two onyx slits peeking through at me. “Stay out of my business,Ash.”
She stormed past me, intentionally knocking into myshoulder.
* * *
Lucy
He hadsomenerve demanding that I eat more of my dinner. He didn’t even have that privilege back when I was getting his dick. He certainly wasn’t going to have it now that he had crossed so many lines. I was done playing nice. I was done being cordial and trying to have a decent workingrelationship.
On my way back to the table, I made a pit stop at the bar and ordered another vodka Diet Coke and two shots of tequila. One for me and one forMiguel.
We had tomorrow off of work and I planned to embrace it and get shitfaced with my new friends. I liked Miguel. He was a nice guy who I could vent to about Kelly and he could vent to me about Ben in a safeenvironment.
We were going to go grab burgers before going out for drinks with the crew… until Ash shoved his nose in. The second Miguel got wind that thedirectorwas going out to eat, he jumped right on that opportunity. Not that I could blame him—not everyone’s uncle was the president of the studio. And if I didn’t have that connection, I can’t say I wouldn’t have done the exact same thing at the opportunity to network with some heavy hitters on thecrew.
Even still, I could feel Ash watching us. No, watchingme. Glaring at Miguel. I weaved back through the crowd, taking my seat across from Miguel once more and slid him the tequila shot. “Here,” Isaid.
His brows shot up. “Seriously?Tequila?”
I shrugged and held up my shot glass. “It goes downsmooth.”
He tapped the edge to mine, and I threw my head back, sinking my teeth into the lime after I swallowed. Miguel didn’t quite follow in suit. He sipped a little of his tequila, wincing and set it down on the table beside his beer. “Sorry,” he said, shrugging. “I’m not much of a liquor guy. I tend to stick to beer and occasionallywine.”
I gave him a smile. Shit, I didn’t want to make him feel bad or pressured. “Oh, that’s okay,” Isaid.
Then, leaning in close, Miguel whispered, “Dude, why does Ash keep staring atus?”
I glanced down at my barely touched basket of chicken tenders and fries and grabbed a french fry, nibbling on the tip. I shrugged. “Maybe he’s intoyou.”
Miguel jerked his gaze to mine, eyes lighting up. “Yeah? You think? I could have sworn he was straight.” With another glance at Ash, I met his eyes, hating the way my heart jumped. Miguel studied me, eyeing me suspiciously. “He seems to be looking atyouthough,” hewhispered.
