Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
And Carter—I had no idea how he’d react, but he already felt dangerous to me. Surely this revelation wouldn’t help.
Damn it.
I sank down onto the floor, clutching my knees to my chest. The porcelain of the tub was cold even through my hoodie, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to stay there and never come out.
But, of course, I wasn’t alone here. The first knock came about ten minutes later.
“Sierra?”
It was Drew, of course. I didn’t answer him.
“Why don’t you come watch the movie? I made popcorn.” There was silence for a moment. “Or we could watch whatever you want.”
His voice was gentle, which surprised me. There was really no way he or the others could interpret my behavior as anything other than absurd. Yet, he sounded like somehow, he understood.
Hmm. Maybe I wasn’t the only one with acting abilities around here.
“Please come out when you’re ready,” he said.
Then he left me alone for a good twenty minutes before trying again.
The third time someone knocked, it was a different voice calling my name.
“Sierra?” It was Tristan. He sounded concerned. “Sierra… please come out. I have to pee.”
My jaw dropped open, and I didn’t know whether to roll my eyes or laugh. But I did neither. Instead, I got to my feet, my stiff muscles protesting the act. Then I ran my hands under the shockingly cold water at the sink and splashed some on my face.
I took a deep breath as I prepared to face Tristan, but he slipped in as soon as I opened the door, reminding me of Zeus. I stepped into the hall and closed the door behind me.
Drew looked up when I came back. He patted the sofa next to him. “Come sit with us. We’re not going to talk, we’re just going to watch the movie.” He glared at Carter, as if emphasizing that. “You’re just in time for the space battle.”
Since the alternatives were to take a walk in the freezing cold or to hide away in my bedroom like a coward, I sat down in the middle of the couch, leaving room for Tristan when he returned. Then I carefully watched the television, even though I had no idea what was going on.
I tried, though. Movies were a great way to escape reality, so after a while, after Tristan took his place on the couch next to me, I got caught up in the storyline. The science was so technical that I had a feeling I wouldn’t have understood it even if I’d watched it from the beginning.
It felt like the calm before the storm as we all watched the movie in the dark. But time seemed to speed up—either that, or it was a remarkably short movie—and all too soon, it was over.
Carter did something with his phone and the television winked off. The only light came from the fire. I clutched a throw pillow against my chest and waited for the first question.
It came from Tristan. “Your hair was different. Lighter.”
That wasn’t what I’d expected him to say, but I nodded. “I dyed it afterwards, back to my natural color.” I’d have to either dye it blond or wear a wig during the press tour, but I didn’t tell them that.
“Were you in any of the other movies in the series?” Tristan said, but it was Carter who answered.
“No.”
Either he’d seen them, or he’d looked me up online. It was easy to find information, true or otherwise, on Sierra Sloane. Sierra Brogan—not so much.
Then Drew asked the question I’d dreaded. “Why didn’t you tell us?” His voice was full of curiosity, but I couldn’t quite tell if there was a note of hurt laced into it.
But this time, it was Tristan who answered before I could. “She’s up here to write, not act—unless you think she was shooting a movie in her cabin.”
“Yeah, but—”
“We asked her what she was doing up here and she told us.” Tristan’s voice was firm, but I’d hate it if I’d hurt Drew.
Then it was Carter’s turn. “Aren’t you supposed to be doing publicity for the movie?”
“The press tour starts in a few weeks.”
“You’re famous,” Drew said, sounding awestruck.
I sighed. “Not really. Had you heard of me before today?”
“No,” Drew said. “But still, you worked with Aiden Hunt.”
“She did more than work with him,” Carter said darkly.
Tristan got to his feet with a speed that made me jump. “I think it’s time for us to retire upstairs.” He looked directly at Carter.
Carter raised his hands in surrender, and then got up as well. “You two kids have fun,” he said, disappearing with Tristan into the hallway.
They left Drew and me on the couch. I gathered up the blanket and repositioned it on my legs, edging toward the side of the sofa that Tristan had just abandoned.