“You can be a moody asshole at times. You drink way too much and smoke like a fucking chimney. But you’re also one of the best people I know. You’d give your shirt off your back to help someone. And don’t try to fucking deny it because I know you would.”
I sit forward, resting my elbows on my knees, and stare down at the floor. “I just wish I hadn’t been so fucking stupid.”
“You talking about Ava?”
I glance at him. “I trusted her. Spilled my fucking guts to her. And, now, because of that, my past, the stuff I wanted to keep hidden, is splashed all over the fucking tabloids. My career is in the toilet. And not only is my career fucked, but this is going to screw things up for Tate’s, too.”
“How?”
“He’s a doctor for kids. You think people are going to want the child of mob bosses and the brother of an ex-whore taking care of their kids?”
“Tate will be fine. And so will you.”
I laugh hollowly. “I’m dead in the water after this. Who’s gonna want to hire me now?”
“Gabe, how many actors and actresses do you think have succumbed to the casting couch over the years? Thousands, I bet. The only difference is, they sleep with whomever they need to, to get a part in a movie. You slept with women to feed your kid brother. I know who’s the better person in that scenario.”
“Yeah, but their stories aren’t splashed all over the papers.”
“No. But we’re all whores in this business. None of us are clean.”
“You are.”
“I’ve done things that I needed to, to get to where I wanted to be.”
I stare over at him. “The…casting couch?”
“Fuck no.” Pause. “You?”
“Surprisingly, no.”
We look at each other and laugh. And it feels good for a moment. Then, I remember what I’m laughing about, and I don’t feel so good anymore.
“That’s because you’re a great fucking actor, Gabe. Your career isn’t done. And neither is Tate’s. You don’t need to worry about him. Trust me. We’ve seen worse things happen in this business, and careers have survived.”
“Worse than two parents in jail for racketeering, drug dealing, and murder and me selling myself for money?”
“Okay, well, maybe not that bad. But isn’t that what we do now? Sell ourselves, our bodies, to the world for money. Look at Martha Stewart. She did time for fraud, and she came back even stronger. She made more money after that than she did before. It’s how the situation is handled that counts. We get your PR team handling this the right way, and it’ll be fine.”
“I don’t know, Vaughn.” I lie back against the sofa and let out a tired-sounding sigh. “I just really don’t feel like talking to anyone right now.”
“Then, let me do it. I’ll speak to Gil. I’ll handle things for you.”
I stare out the window at the view. “Fine.” I sigh. “But I’m not speaking to any interviewers or going on any chat shows to talk about my fucking feelings. Got it?”
“Got it.”
Gabe
“Charly’s here,” Vaughn says to me, his cell pressed to his ear. “Is she okay to park in your building’s parking garage?”
“Sure. Tell her to put eight-eight-three-nine into the keypad at the entrance, and the barrier will open, letting her in. She can park in bay two. You’ll need to go down in the elevator to get her though. Use my key.” I point to it on the coffee table.
“Did you get that, Pins? Yeah. See you in a few.” Vaughn gets to his feet and swipes the elevator key off the table.
“Charly, she’s…alone, right?”
Vaughn stops and looks at me. “Ava’s not with her if that’s what you mean. She’s still at the hotel.”
“Good.”
Vaughn goes to get Charly, and I pick up the coffee that Julian brought back and take a sip.
It’s decent, but it doesn’t taste as good as Ava’s coffee.
And I fucking hate that I miss her making me coffee.
God, I’m pathetic.
“What did Gil say?” Julian asks me.
I glance over at him. He’s sitting on the other sofa, drinking his coffee.
“Vaughn talked to him. Said I just needed to okay that press release he sent over, and once that’s out there, they’ll start pulling together a strategy based on the public response to try and stop this shit from completely destroying my career.”
“Have you read the release?”
“Yeah.” I sigh.
“And?”
“It’s just the usual shit that we read all the time. Gabriel regrets his past actions, and his parents’ criminal past is in no way a reflection of him. He does not condone their crimes and has not had contact with his parents since their arrest. Blah, blah, blah.”
“If you hate the release, then have them rewrite it.”
“And put what?”
“I don’t know.” Julian brings his coffee to his lips and takes a sip. “Just think about what you want to say and then tell your publicist and have her write it up.”
“Yeah. I guess I could.” I take another sip of my coffee.
A few minutes later, I hear the arrival of Vaughn and Charly.
And the first thing I want to do is ask Charly how Ava is.
How fucking lame is that?
I really need a punch in the face.
“Gabe.” Vaughn’s voice comes from behind me before he comes into view. He stands to the left of the sofa, Charly by his side. “Charly needs to talk to you. It’s important.”
I look directly at Charly. “If it’s about Ava, then I don’t want to hear it.”
She presses her lips together, looking like she’s really likely to punch me in the head right now. Maybe I should invite her to. Knock some fucking sense into me.
Charly’s eyes move around my living room. “Gabe, can I use your bathroom, please?”
I almost exhale with relief that she’s not going to try to force me to hear whatever it is she’s got to say.
“Sure. You can use the bathroom in my bedroom. It’s the first door on your right. Bathroom’s off there.”
“Could you show me where it is, please?”
“Were my directions not clear enough?”
Her hands go to her hips, her lips pursing into a scowl. “They were just fine. But I’d really appreciate it if you would show me the way.” She’s staring at me, eyes wide, with a weird expression on her face.
“Vaughn, what the fuck is wrong with your girlfriend?”
“Pins, what’s going on?”
Charly sighs, rolls her eyes, and then gets her phone out of her pocket. She starts tapping on the screen and then hands her phone to Vaughn. He reads whatever’s on the screen. Then, he hands it over to me.
I read the words she typed into a Note on her phone.
I think your apartment is bugged. We need to talk. It’s important. Bathroom is a safe place.
I look up at her. “Are you being for real right now?”
She snatches her phone from my hand. Yes, she mouths.
I look at Vaughn for help, and he just shrugs, hands out, palms up.
“What’s going on?” Julian asks.
Charly puts her finger to her lips and hands her phone to Julian.
He reads it and then mouths, Holy fuck. He hands Charly’s phone back to her, his eyes roaming over my living room.
Charly taps me on the shoulder and mouths, Bathroom. Now.
“For fuck’s sake.” I sigh. I could really do without this shit right now.
But I still get up from the sofa and start to follow Charly to the bathroom.
The next thing I know, Julian’s beside me, and then Vaughn’s on my other side. Apparently, they’re coming, too.
I shake my head with annoyance and walk quickly to my bedroom, wanting to get this shit over and done with as soon as possible.
When we reach the bathroom, Charly’s already inside.
We file in, and she shuts the door behind us. Then, she proceeds to turn on the faucets on the sink and the shower, leaving them all running.