Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 60750 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 304(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60750 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 304(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
“We’re not changing into a long-distance situation, Marina,” I mutter. “We’re just…I don’t know. I have no idea what’s happening with all of us.”
“You guys will figure it out.” Marina says. “You pretty much have to, right? I’ve never seen you any happier than when you were with them, Alyssa. You’d be a fool to let something like that go.”
“Then maybe I’m just a fool.” I shrug. “Because I still can’t see myself back in L.A., Marina. Not until this shit with Geesha finally blows over—”
“Ugh.” Marina rolls her eyes, interrupting my response. “Let’s not talk about her right now. Let’s talk about something more important instead, like the fact that your dye job is dangerously on the verge of reverting to your real color, babe. Do you want me to pick you up another box of dye while I’m out?”
“Yes, please,” I nod. “And maybe pick up something good for dinner, too?”
“When you say good, do you mean that you just want me to run by the Indian restaurant again?”
“Yes, please!” I repeat myself, happily grinning as I do. “I’ll take the usual order of tandoori and garlic naan.”
“Predict-able!” Marina singsongs as she stands from the couch. She puts on an English accent when she speaks to me again. “This is what keeps bands from making it big across the pond! You have to be different if you’re going to stand out! Just look at all the greats! Look at David Bowie!”
“Oh my God.” I can’t help but laugh at her sudden change in accent, genuinely amused by her complete personality shift. “No wonder you’re going to be a bigshot actress one day. Your ability to turn yourself on a dime is uncanny.”
“Thank you, thank you.” Marina playfully bows before she heads toward the front door. “I’ll be right back, okay? I just need to stop over at my hotel room and grab my keys, and then I’ll pick up dinner and hair color—”
Just then, Marina’s words are interrupted by a sudden knocking at the hotel room door. Marina shoots me a puzzled look, before she points toward the doorknob.
“Should we answer this?” Marina quietly mouths the question. “Or are we about to get murdered?”
“…Answer it?” I guess, silently mouthing right back to her, even as a frown comes over my expression. “But if we get murdered, it’s all your fault.”
“Okay, in that case, let’s hope we don’t get murdered then.” Marina whispers her final response right before she cautiously pulls open the door.
And then her mouth falls open in surprise as Rhys, Van, and Cameron tumble through the doorway, each of them wearing sunglasses and top hats, the outfits matching and overly conspicuous.
“How did you…?” I start as I look them over, confusion flowing through my veins. “I don’t…My location was kept completely under wraps. How could you even find me? The only person who even knew where I was is Marina—”
“Welp, that’s my cue!” Marina beams, before she playfully twirls out of the room.
I then let out a loud groan, remembering that my best friend is an actress, which means there’s a pretty good chance she already knew that the guys planned on coming over, which is why she was just heading out the door.
“Why are you all dressed like that?” I ask, when I finally bring my attention back to the guys. “You look like you’re trying out to be extras in something.”
“Because Rhys thought it would be a good idea to keep a low profile,” Van answers first.
And Rhys casually shrugs. “It’s worked for me before.”
“I told you this was a stupid way to go,” Cameron grumbles, pulling his shades away from his face. “And you guys already know how I feel about wearing sunglasses, anyway.”
“No one’s going to think you’re an asshole for wearing sunglasses, Cameron,” Rhys replies. “They’re only going to think that you’re an asshole if you’re acting like an asshole.”
“What are you doing here?” I cut into their side conversation, even though I can’t help but smile at their interaction. It’s almost like nothing has changed at all between them, and between us, too. “I already told you guys, if I’m ever ready to come back to L.A., I’ll go—”
“We just wanted to be the first to tell you the good news,” Rhys says, a familiar smirk on his face.
“What good news?”
“We took care of the Geesha Riley problem,” he continues. “We…she came over to my apartment, and let’s just say, she pretty much confessed to trying to smear your name in the press. We got her on video and everything.”
“And after we busted her, we sent it straight to Harrison’s office,” Cameron adds. “He was pretty damn excited about getting it, too.”
“Yeah, he might be a total creep, but maybe he can start making up for it,” Van muses. “Or he’s just going to use the attention and cash he’ll get from putting dirt on Geesha Riley’s name and hopefully just leave the fucking country.”