Strike a Pose (Blame It on Fame #1)

8. Riley

Chapter 8

Riley

A s we approach Alex Stehling, deep in conversation with the most famous singer of his generation, I clench my hands into fists to stop them from shaking.

“Hey,” Willow whispers to me, her hand lightly touching my forearm, which somehow makes my heart race even faster. “It’s okay, I won’t let him bite you.” She smiles mischievously before dropping her hand from my arm.

“He bites?”

“Hard.” She smirks. “Hey, Alex,” she says, gracefully leaning in to kiss her elderly godfather on the cheek. “I wanted to introduce you to a friend of mine, Riley Coleman. He’s a big fan.”

“Is he?” Alex’s attention turns his attention to me, his hawkish eyes scrutinizing my face before breaking into a smile that easily shaves twenty years off the old man. “Then it’s nice to meet you, Riley. Any friend of Willow’s is a friend of mine.” He holds his hand out for me to shake. “A solid handshake,” he says. “You’re not dating him, are you, darling? ”

“What? God, Alex, no.” She turns her head to look at me, mouthing an apology.

“Hey, I’m old, but I’m not blind. I saw that. A shame, though, he seems like a pleasant young man.”

“Thank you, sir,” I reply.

“Nervous, though,” he muses with a slight smile. “Are you new around here?”

“Very new,” I respond. “This is my first award show. My debut album was only released a couple of months ago.”

“A country singer?”

“How did you know?”

“Your accent gives it away. Country is my favorite genre. Willow, you’ll have to give me one of Riley’s CDs.”

“Do you even have CDs?” she asks me with laughter in her eyes.

“I’m sure there are some somewhere…”

“I’ll try to find one for you,” Willow says to Alex. “Or better yet, I’ll come over to your place before I leave LA, and I can stream it for you. You’d really like it.”

“Sounds like a plan. Thank you, Riley, for giving Willow a reason to come visit me.” Alex smiles. “Well, I hate to leave you kids, but I promised to chat with Jack Mack tonight, and it’s already past my bedtime. Bye, darling,” he says, giving Willow a brief hug before walking off in search of the other director.

“See, that wasn’t so scary, was it?” Willow asks, turning to face me.

“It was pretty scary.” I exhale a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

Willow laughs. “You’re ridiculous.”

“So what if I am? Hey, this is all new to me. Just wait ‘til we get you up on a horse, then we’ll see who’s laughing. ”

“A horse?” she asks, eyes wide. “That wasn’t part of the deal.”

“Now it is. Have you ever ridden one?”

“Twice, but I don’t know if I could use the word ‘ride.’ Both times were for shoots, so I just sat there on a standing horse while a handler watched from about three feet away.”

I laugh at her. “Yeah, so we’re not going to count that.”

“Well, if you plan on making me ride a horse all by myself, I’m going to really rip the Band-Aid off for you, too. I’ll call the paparazzi on you and make them chase you down the street.”

“You’re ruthless.” I chuckle. “Unfortunately for you, I don’t think the paparazzi give a shit about me.”

“I think you’d be surprised.” She shrugs. “You have a sold-out six-month tour and a number-one song. That counts as paparazzi-worthy.”

“Speaking of this database of knowledge you apparently have on me...you’ve also heard my music? You told Alex Stehling he would like it. That means you’ve listened to it, right?”

“Don’t flatter yourself, Riley. I was just making conversation.”

“Oh,” I say, catching my smile before it falls.

“I’m just kidding,” Willow interjects quickly. “Damn, you make me feel bad for making a joke. You looked like a kicked puppy. Of course I listened to your music. I told you I would.”

“I just didn’t think you meant it.”

“I don’t often say things I don’t mean.”

“So, since you think Alex would like it, does that mean you liked it?”

“Slow down there, cowboy, or someone might think you’re fishing for compliments. But yes, I did like it. A lot, actually, even though I don’t typically like country music. ”

“Maybe you just haven’t listened to the good stuff.” I shrug, trying to keep the ridiculous grin off my face from her compliment—and failing.

“You’ll have to make me a playlist, then.”

“And what’ll you make me in return?”

Her eyes light up, then dim a little to cover the glitter of her excitement. “Now, listen, Riley. I mean this in the best possible way, and I love the country look—I think it suits you well, fits your brand,” she starts.

“Now you sound nervous,” I tease her. “You want to revamp my wardrobe, don’t you?”

“Yes! There’s nothing wrong with it, it’s just not wowing anyone. I could keep your same country look while just making it a little more…elevated.”

“Sounds like you have yourself a deal.” I grin. Jeez, I can’t stop myself from smiling around her….that does not bode well for me or my heart.

A woman who looks scarily identical to Willow walks up, a glass of champagne in her hand.

“Hey, Willow. And you are…” the woman asks, eyeing me curiously.

“I’m Riley Coleman, nice to meet you…” I pause, extending my hand and waiting for her to fill in her name.

“Aspen Jordan.” She smiles. “Willow’s sister.”

“Ah, I never would have guessed. You guys look nothing alike.”

Both sisters laugh at this, a sound so identical and in sync it sounds like one person.

“I like you, Riley, you’re funny,” Aspen says. “Well, it’s nice to meet you. You’re new here, right?”

“Is it that easy to tell?”

“Hollywood is kind of a tight circle. It sticks out when you haven’t met someone before. Not that it’s a bad thing. God knows we could use some fresh blood around here.”

“Aspen!” Willow rolls her eyes at her sister but can’t contain her laugh. “Don’t scare him off by talking like it’s some big cult we’re in. It’s taken him all night to break out of his shell.”

“It is sort of a big cult. But, wait, all night? What were you so scared of?” Aspen asks me.

“You guys, I mean, all of the famous people.”

“Well, aren’t you famous now, too?” Aspen asks.

“That’s what I said.” Willow nods. “He’s just nervous. First big awards night and all.”

“Were you nominated?” Aspen asks.

“No. My album only just came out in December. Nominations came out the month before,” I answer.

“So you think that you’ll be nominated this November?” Willow prods.

“That’s not what I meant,” I start.

“Don’t be humble. It doesn’t suit you,” Willow chuckles. “I think you deserve a nomination. I mean, six hundred million streams on Spotify is pretty Grammy-worthy to me.”

“That’s a massive hit,” Aspen confirms.

“You guys are conniving together.” I chuckle. “Remind me to never get on your bad side.”

“Oh, I’ll remind you,” Aspen says, eying me and then Willow. “Ready to leave, Willy? My single glass of champagne wore off thirty minutes ago, and my feet hurt.”

“I don’t get why you don’t just have a second glass, nobody’s going to judge you?—”

“I don’t like feeling out of control, you know that. What if I do something ridiculous?”

“Nobody would care,” Willow starts, then looks at me, seemingly remembering I’m there too, watching them bicker .

I chuckle. “No, please, don’t stop on my account.”

Willow gives me a knowing smile. “As fun as this has been, Riley, that’s my cue to leave. See you around, right?” she says, taking a step to leave with her sister.

“Wait!” I call. “Shouldn’t we exchange numbers? What if one of us has a fame-emergency?”

The surprise on Willow’s face is quickly replaced by an impressed smile. “Sure. Here,” she says, handing me her phone.

I try not to notice all the A-list numbers she casually has saved.

I type my number in, handing back her phone. “Goodnight, Willow. And Aspen. Get home safe,” I say, waving as they walk away.

A chuckling Nash joins me, having watched that whole exchange. I lower my hand awkwardly, debating whether I should just cut it off.