Anyone But the Superstar (Anyone But You #3)

Chapter 21

21

FELIX

‘Did you and Anne really meet by showing up at the same condo?’ Amanda leans her elbow on the car door’s armrest, her laugh laced with disbelief. ‘And just like that—’ she snaps her fingers ‘—you hired her to watch over your emotional support animal?’

I glance at the chauffer in front of us, surprised Amanda would ask me something like that with him in easy listening distance.

Back at Vance’s house, when Anne and my shared living arrangements were outed, Anne saved us with a we-made-the-best-of-the-situation lie. Explaining how we hadn’t wanted to trouble Vance and Em, who had already gone out of their way to help us.

It was obvious Em wanted to follow up with more questions, but whether out of courtesy or the fact that Park dropped Mike Hunt in her arms to hold, everyone went back to petting my emotional support animal.

Amanda’s eyebrows lift, waiting for an answer.

It seems not everyone is so easily distracted .

I give her a small nod. ‘Thanks for the ride, Amanda. I appreciate it.’

She’s silent for a second, as if debating whether or not to accept my abrupt change of subject.

For the first time, I’m uncomfortable around her. But as soon as the thought forms, it vanishes when she shrugs and smiles. ‘Not a problem.’

I blame Anne for my sudden distrust of everyone. Every woman.

In the moment, I was grateful for Anne’s quick thinking, but now I’m starting to think of it as a quick lie. And instead of just wondering what I don’t know about Anne, I’m questioning everything I do as well.

I close my eyes against the southbound oncoming traffic lights on interstate forty-five, my head hurting.

Hopefully, Jack has a good reason for calling and insisting I not go to the condo, but instead meet him at the hotel.

Walking to the car with Anne, I’d pulled my phone out, ready to use it as a shield between us until we got to the condo and I could unleash all the questions I’ve stored up over the past weeks with her. That’s when I saw all the missed calls from Jack. He’d been calling and texting all night, but I had turned off my phone when dinner started, not wanting to be rude. His last message was to inform me that he was boarding a plane for Houston and wanted a face-to-face tonight, even though he’d be arriving late.

I’d hesitated for a moment, not wanting to put off the inquisition that I’ve already put off for far too long. But one more look at Anne in that dress made me think that it might be best to regroup and reorganize my thoughts before we started that conversation.

And honestly, a petty part of me felt vindicated at Anne’s shocked expression when I told her I’d text her later and asked Amanda to give me a ride to the hotel so I could meet up with my manager.

‘Hey.’ Amanda lays a hand on my arm. ‘You okay?’

‘Hmmm.’ I drop my head against the headrest. ‘Headache.’

‘Ugh, that sucks.’ There’s riffling, like she’s checking her purse. ‘I don’t have any on me, but I have some Motrin in my room. I’ll get it for you when we arrive.’

‘Thanks.’

The rest of the ride downtown is quiet.

Except for the constant throbbing of my head that weirdly echoes the one in my heart.

‘Here.’ Amanda emerges from her hotel room bathroom, two pills in her outstretched palm.

I toss them back with a long chug from one of the room’s bottles of water. ‘Thanks.’ I check my phone again, even though I know Jack isn’t due to land for another hour.

‘Why don’t you stay here until Jack arrives?’ Amanda offers, kicking off her heels. ‘It’s better than waiting alone in your hotel room.’

She must read the hesitation on my face because she picks up the remote. ‘We can watch a movie neither of us are in and be mean and judgy about the actors in it.’

That gets a small laugh from me. ‘If you don’t mind.’ Distracting myself for a while might help my headache and keep me from doing what I really want to do – call or text Anne.

‘Not at all.’ She sits on the end of the suite’s sofa, legs tucked under. ‘What should we watch?’

Setting my phone, screen up on the coffee table, I take the other side of the sofa, releasing some of my tension with a long sigh. ‘You pick.’

Liz

‘Felix didn’t come home last night.’

Mike stares at me from his spot on the chair opposite the condo’s couch.

‘You’re right. He’s a grown ass man.’ I toss the phone I’ve held in my hand since I woke at five in the morning onto the cushion beside me. ‘I’m sure he’s fine.’

Mike turns on his side, his front and back paws crossed.

‘But, you know, it’s weird.’ The foot resting over my knee vibrates. ‘For someone who had proven himself to be such a nice guy, it’s odd that he hasn’t texted or called like he said he would.’

Then again, he hadn’t seemed himself last night.

‘Maybe I should text him?’

Mike remains motionless in the morning stream of sunlight coming in through the windows.

‘Yeah, not a good idea.’ As much as I’d like to simultaneously ask if he’s okay and chew him out for leaving with his co-worker last night, it would reek of desperation. Plus, I’d already asked if he was okay, and he said everything was fine.

My foot shakes faster, remembering how Felix ignored me, spent more time talking to Amanda than me, then sent me home alone under the guise of having to meet with his manager.

Fuck a duck.

With a large yawn, Mike stretches and gets to his feet.

‘Is this how my mother felt during all those years with Stanley?’ Sympathy for my mother, which I haven’t let myself feel much of this past year, wells up inside me.

Bounding from chair to coffee table to couch, Mike settles in next to me, his warmth immediately stilling my foot and soothing my inner agitation.

Maybe the whole emotional support animal isn’t such a stretch after all.

My phone dings and it’s embarrassing how fast I grab it.

This is your warning

Fuck a huge fucking duck. I stare at my brother Chase’s text, wondering how things went from great to shit in the matter of a day.

First, I build up my courage and decide to come clean to Felix about everything, but then Johnny Douchebag takes over Felix’s body again. And now my family decides that this is the perfect time to ambush me.

I mean, I guess I should feel lucky that they waited until after my storyboard duties were over. But it would’ve been nice to meet my sister before coming clean to my brothers about what I’ve been up to.

Even so, what with everything that’s happened and everything that I’ve learned these past few weeks, I’ve realized I need to stop pushing my family away. Even if that means telling them why I did so in the first place.

I snap a picture of Mike curled up next to me on the couch and text it to Chase, giving him both proof of life and letting him know that I got his warning.

But just as I’m about to put my phone down, it buzzes with a text from an unknown number.

This is Trish.

From last night.

I chuckle, wondering how many Trish’s she thinks I know.

I got your number from Em. Hope that’s OK.

With nothing better to do other than whittle away time before I either kiss or kill Felix and then get swarmed by Moores, I call Trish instead of texting.

‘Hey there,’ Trish’s Georgian accent sing-songs over the phone.

I put it on speaker so I can cuddle Mike closer. ‘Hey Trish from last night.’

She snorts. ‘Did you get home okay? Has Mike recovered from his adventures?’

Mike flicks his tail with acknowledgment of his name being called.

I nuzzle the top of his head. ‘Yeah, that was just another day in the life of Mike Hunt.’

Her laugh sounds like bells. ‘I see.’ There’s some murmuring in the background.

Remembering her questions on illustration last night, I ask, ‘Is there something I can help you with?’

‘Um, actually, yes. I was wondering if we could meet?’

‘Now?’ I glance at the clock.

‘I was thinking brunch. I know we talked about how webcomics are created last night, but I wanted to look over your sketches and discuss maybe you creating the webcomic for me.’

My mind pauses, then fast-forwards with a million thoughts. The most pronounced is awesome . ‘You know I’ve never made a webcomic, right?’ My self-doubt can’t help but pipe up. ‘I just read them and can draw.’

‘Yes, but Amanda said that storyboarding is similar.’

Damn Amanda. It’s hard to dislike her when she talked me up so well. ‘That’s true.’

‘And plus, I invited Jackie to brunch.’

Fuck a duck. My brain stutters again as her words sink in.

‘You can meet your favorite astronaut.’ Trish says the last as if trying to bribe Mike Hunt off his humping doll. ‘You looked so disappointed last night when Rose said she wasn’t coming. And since us girls usually have brunch together anyway, I thought you and I meeting up today would be great for everyone.’

‘Yes.’ I nod my head, nearly bashing Mike with my chin. ‘I can meet.’

More bells. ‘Great. I’ll send you the link to the restaurant. Is ten o’clock okay?’

I have just two hours to put together a portfolio from the work I have saved on my tablet and get ready to meet my sister. ‘Perfect.’

‘Okay, sugar. See you soon.’