Something Like Want

Chapter 2-2

Two hours later I’d done the phone interview with Linda and managed not to dig myself into a deeper hole. She’d been vetted by Lou before the interview, and she was good about not being overly tenacious. In turn I answered her questions honestly; I told her I was excited about an upcoming project and would be able to share details soon. I confirmed I would attend GLASFIC—the Greater LA Sci Fi Introspective Convention—next week, and that I’d be on the panel for Angel’s Fall, the spec/sci-fi film I’d costarred in that was slated for release in a few months.

When she brought up Spencer, trying to sneak it in, I’d managed to respond that I’d rather not talk about the prick, and refused to be baited when she tried to press. All in all, it was a good conversation, but I was happy when it was over.

I also had an email from Vincent, welcoming me on board Talking with Ghosts and giving me a lot more details than Lou had. The contract wasn’t signed yet, but Vincent was confident it was a done deal. I was too. And the more I read, the more excited I got. Vincent’s passion leaped off the page. Seeing who else was attached to the project ramped up my excitement even more. I’d caught Roarke and Geary a few times over the last few years, so I was familiar with the tall, handsome lead actor Dan Jacobs. And Brandon Culpepper was building quite the name for himself. The buzz around his new miniseries was positive, and there was talk of an Emmy to go with the Golden Globe he’d already earned.

However, I didn’t know much about Lena Marcus, but I’d actually worked with Melora Young about five years ago on a romcom that had been a huge box-office success. She’d played the leading lady; I had been her love interest’s best friend.

And of course there was Spencer. But I wasn’t going to dwell on him.

The fucker.

I pushed him from my mind and started making plans. I’d have to get on a plane in less than three weeks. I did a little research, just because I was interested, and found it was better and closer to fly into Bellingham, Washington and then drive the hour to Oak Harbor.

I could reserve a car for the month or so Vincent planned for the shooting schedule, and I wouldn’t want to have to rely on anyone else to get around. I’d never heard of the town on Whidbey Island in Puget Sound, but Vincent had a house there. Which was, apparently, not only where we’d be shooting the movie, but also where I’d be staying. Low-budget, indeed. But sometimes those were the very best circumstances to make an outstanding film.

I shot Mindy an email so she would know my preferences when she booked the tickets and car, and didn’t even allow myself to question where Spencer would be staying.

Instead, I called my sister.

“Hey, Trouble,” I said as soon as she answered.

“Alexander!” she sang out with a happy laugh. “How’s my favorite brother?”

“I’m your only brother,” I grumbled back playfully and grinned. God, I loved her. “Hey, listen, you want to come stay in a movie star’s house?”

Rachel gave a squeal of excitement. “Yes! Absolutely! When do you want me there? Let me get packing!”

I had to laugh at her antics. Having just graduated college, she still lived with our dad in Long Beach. She’d gotten an entry-level human resources position at a huge law firm and was currently saving up for a place of her own. She always welcomed the chance to house-sit when I went out of town. Twenty-three, and she had the world at her feet.

Rachel was as enthusiastic as ever to hear about my upcoming work, and I purposely didn’t mention Spencer. She hated him as much as I did—my fierce, warrior sister who was always on my side—and I didn’t want her to try and talk me out of it. When she got going, it was hard to shut her down, and I didn’t want to listen to a twenty-minute diatribe about how he was a s**t-eating asshole and I shouldn’t go within a ten-mile radius of him. She was right, to a degree. But I wanted to work on this project without my sister’s guilt weighing on me.

We chatted for a long time, and finally wrapped up once we had the details nailed down. I was glad I was giving her a break from our very loving, but sometimes overbearing father. And I knew my house would be well taken care of in my absence.

With all that seen to, I stood and headed for the bedroom. The con was next weekend, but I was only scheduled to be there on the Saturday. Since it was downtown, in the convention center, I didn’t even need to travel. So I could focus solely on my upcoming, month-long trip. That would take some time to sort out, especially as I would be providing my own wardrobe this time. To keep my brain occupied, I opened my closet and started looking.

I wasn’t going to allow myself to think about that fucker Spencer Johns or his gorgeous smile. I didn’t know how it was possible to hate another human this much and still want him to hold me down and f**k me hard, so I focused on the hate and let the want go.