Page 42 of My Sexy Rival (Stars In Their Eyes 2)
The publicist cocked his head to the side. He seemed curious to hear my story now. William kept his face stony.
“And my client wanted to know how everyone else in the neighborhood kept taking all these pictures of his dog. How on earth could all the neighbors get shots of his pervy dog? As if it was the neighbors’ fault that his dog was so randy. Can you believe that?” I said with an exaggerated huff. “I had to explain to him that the reason his dog kept getting caught on camera,” I said, shifting my gaze to Avery Brock, “was that his dog was doing bad things.” I let out a quick, fake laugh. “If he was a good boy, he’d never have to worry about getting caught with his pants down.”
Then I waved toodle-oo and walked off down the promenade.
“Jess.”
William called out to me thirty seconds later when I’d reached the corner of the street. I didn’t turn around. I kept walking, seething inside. I would not give him the satisfaction. He had long legs, though, so he caught up to me, and placed a hand on my shoulder. “Jess,” he said again. I shrugged off his hand, and turned to him. I took off my shades so he could see I wasn’t crying. There was no room for tears.
“You were working for Avery Brock all along,” I said pointing my finger sharply at him. “Your client was Avery Brock and you pretended you didn’t know it. I told you everything and it went to that guy who you claimed was a dick, who you claimed was giving your countrymen a bad name.” My voice rose and wobbled.
“I didn’t know it, Jess, I swear,” he said, pressing his palms together as if he were praying. “I had literally no idea until last night when you showed me the flash cards and I recognized Trevor because he’s the client. But Trevor never told me he was having me do intel on behalf of Avery. I never would have done any of that for Avery.”
“You told me last night you were done with the job. One more meeting and you were done with the job. I guess you’re not done with the job, are you? Because you’re sitting there feeding him information. From me,” I said, now poking myself in the chest.
“Jess, it’s not what you think.”
“If there was ever a tired, old movie line, it’s that one,” I said with a scoff.
“Listen to me, please. I don’t want to have anything to do with him. You have to believe me.”
I flashed back to Nick Ballast’s reaction when I tried to apologize to him on Friday morning. I could learn a thing or two from actors. They ran this town. They knew what to do. I had to be more like them. I took out my imaginary bow for my make-believe violin and pretended to play it.
Then I put my fake instrument away. “Actually, I don’t have to believe you. Because there’s this thing called honesty, William. I might be a control freak, I might be skeptical, I might be neurotic. But I never lied to you. Never,” I said, biting out that last word. “I never lied about a thing. And you have lied about so many things,” I said, and my voice started shaking. Fighting back, I reined in the tears that were threatening to flood my eyes. “And you always have an excuse or a reason why it’s okay. But it’s not. Especially because I was in love with you.”
He exhaled heavily, his faced looked pinched. “Was?”
I was about to repeat myself when William’s eyes danced away from me. “Oh bloody hell,” he muttered, then waved listlessly. “Hi, Matthew.”
From behind me, I heard footsteps, and I spun around, nearly smacking into William’s ridiculously good-looking older brother. He had the same dark hair, the same chiseled cheekbones, the same fantastic smile—the only difference was Matthew had blue eyes.
“You must be Jess,” he said to me with a big grin, then offered a hand to shake. He had no clue we’d been arguing. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. I couldn’t be more thrilled that this troublemaker has somehow convinced you he’s a good guy.”
William cringed, his jaw falling open. He shook his head at his brother, and made a slicing motion at his throat.
“What?” Matthew said, looking at William, then me, then back again. “Shit, did I say something wrong?”
I jumped in. “I assure you, it was nothing you said, and while I’d truly love to chat, my brunch meeting was just moved up. Sorry I have to duck out,” I said, then I walked off without saying goodbye to William.
* * *
William
* * *
Matthew apologized profusely. Endlessly.
“I’m so sorry. I had no idea I was going to say the absolute wrong thing. I feel terrible,” my brother said once more.
