Strike a Pose (Blame It on Fame #1)

38. Riley

Chapter 38

Riley

“ R

iley, do you want to tell me why I saw your clothes strewn all over the living room last night?” Heena asks as the security team escorts her and Willow into the backstage area where my band and I are killing time before tonight’s show.

Willow is wearing a white baby tee with two red cowboy boots embroidered on it, paired with a red-fringed leather jacket, low-rise flare jeans, and the golden boots I gave her. Beside her, Heena’s in a lacy black slip dress with black tights, black cowgirl boots, and an oversized black leather jacket.

Ethan freezes at the sight of Heena Badahl in the flesh. “Holy shit.”

“No reason. I was just feeling a little warm and wanted to cool off,” I respond.

I can feel Waylon and Nash’s stunned gazes on me (Ethan is still staring at Heena, seconds away from literally drooling).

“Congrats, dude!” Waylon beams, hitting me on the back as he looks between Willow and me. “So, are you two finally together?”

“Yep,” Willow answers, crossing the room to sit next to me on the couch, the guys moving to the armchairs to give us space.

“It’s about time.” Nash smiles like a proud dad. “I’m so happy for you two.”

Heena sits next to Willow, narrowing her eyes at Ethan and his ‘Enjoy a Nice Cold Girl!’ T-shirt. “What’s his problem?” Heena asks me pointedly.

“He has a little crush. Just ignore him.”

“Oh, I think I remember Willow mentioning something about that,” Heena says before directing her attention back to Ethan. “Not. Gonna. Happen, okay?” she says, drawing out each syllable like she’s talking to a baby.

“Okay,” he answers glibly, obviously not taking Heena’s words to heart.

I hear a low chuckle coming from the doorway and see two giant, attractive men facing us with their arms crossed. They’re each at least 6’5 and built like boulders. One appears to be in his mid-twenties with dark hair and dark eyes that contrast his pale skin, which is decorated with black tattoos. The other seems like he’s in his forties, also with dark hair and dark eyes, but with uninked, tanned skin.

Willow follows my gaze. “Oh, I forgot to tell you, but we decided to use the two extra tickets I had for Cole and Tito.”

I feel my eyebrows raise all the way to my hairline.

“They’re our bodyguards. Relax.” She knocks my leg teasingly with hers. “‘You’re cute when you’re jealous,’” she teases me, using my words from last night.

“I’m not jealous,” I defend. “I was just wondering who they were.”

“Nice to meet you.” The older one grins warmly at me, instantly melting any unease I felt. “Willow told us you were a great singer. We’re excited to see your show. ”

“Mhm,” the younger one grunts, face still stony as he…glares at…Ethan? Interesting.

“I know we’ll be right by the venue’s security in the VIP section anyway, but I figured, why waste the tickets? A little extra protection never hurt anyone.”

“That and the fact that Cole practically begged to come,” Heena teases. “It’s all he talked about last night.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.” The younger one rolls his eyes, a hint of a smile grazing his lips as his eyes meet Heena’s.

“All night?” Ethan asks. Cole’s shadow of a smile instantly drops.

Okay, this is definitely weird.

“Well, on the way to and from my date with Zac Schwartz.”

“Zac Schwartz?” Waylon whistles. “Good luck competing with that, Ethan.”

“Hey, I could take Zac Schwartz any day,” Ethan responds. “He’s short.”

“He’s five-seven,” Heena clarifies. “And more than makes up for that in other areas.”

Willow turns to her friend, holding in a laugh. “Wait, you’re five inches taller than him?”

“Eight in the heels I was wearing last night.” Heena flips up her hand to stare at her nails. “But that didn’t matter when we were horizontal.”

“Cole, were you there for that part, too?” Willow asks innocently.

Cole doesn’t answer.

“Nah, I sent him home. Zac’s not into sharing,” Heena answers for him.

“Well, just for the record, I’m six-three,” Ethan says loudly into the void.

“And I’m six-six,” Cole responds coolly. The two men glare at each other .

“What’s up with that?” I whisper in Willow’s ear.

“I don’t know. I don’t remember meeting him until last night. I think it’s just Heena being Heena, though,” she adds. “She has that effect on men.”

“So, did you guys have work this week in New York?” Nash asks the girls. “Or did you come just for the show?”

“I had a Dior shoot,” Willow starts.

“And I had a Vanity Fair panel thing,” Heena finishes.

“What’s it like doing a photoshoot?” Waylon asks.

“Usually not as fun as it sounds,” Heena says. “They take hours to do hair and makeup, and then you have fittings and outfit changes and lighting changes and directors telling you what to do.”

“But it can be fun with the right photographer,” Willow adds. “Usually, they at least play music for you.”

Willow’s phone buzzes, and she leisurely brings it out and checks the screen before jolting up and bolting out the door, Tito hot on her heels.

“It’s probably nothing, but she’s had a few family emergencies recently,” I hear Heena explain as I follow them. “So she gets worried about calls.”

I catch the iron back door just before it closes, propping it open so we don’t get locked out before I emerge into the alley.

“Are you okay?” I hear Willow ask the caller. “Is Mom okay?” she asks a few seconds later. Tito and I tense and then relax as we listen to the rest of Willow’s end of the conversation. “You—what? Aspen, holy shit! Oh my God, that’s incredible. I’m so excited for you! Yeah, I’m with Riley right now. Heena had tickets the whole time but didn’t tell me because she wanted it to be a surprise. I know, right? Can I tell you about it tomorrow? It’s a lot. Yep, by afternoon. Heena, too. Okay, see you then. Tell everyone hi for me. Bye, I love you.” She ends the call and turns to look at me, tears glistening in her eyes.

“Everything okay?” I ask.

She takes a running leap into my arms, wraps her legs around my waist, and laughs into my neck. “She got offered the lead in an upcoming Jack Mack film. He wrote the screenplay and is producing and directing it. And he personally called her and begged her to take the role.”

“Holy shit,” I exclaim. Jack Mack is one of the greatest screenwriters of the past decade, winning Academy Awards after Golden Globes for his films. His movies are huge . “That’s incredible.”

“God, I’m so happy for her. She’s been so stressed. She really needed this. And she sounded so happy. I haven’t heard her that excited about anything in literal years.”

“I know.” I squeeze Willow as I gently set her down. “That’s great news.”

“I can see the headline now. ‘Aspen Jordan, starring in the highest-grossing film of the year.’ And I plan on taking the hottest date.” She quirks one corner of her lips, leaning up to give me a kiss.

“Just to be clear, you’re talking about me, right?” I smile against her lips.

“Would you rather I take someone else?” she asks, running her hand through my hair in a way that sends a jolt through my body.

“Nope.” I lift her up by the back of her legs and press her against the wall of the alley, kissing her plump lips.

Tito clears his throat.

“That’s your cue to set me down,” Willow says, giving me one last peck.

“Fine, but only because the show starts soon.” I set her down and start towards the open door .

“Hold on.” She giggles, pulling me back gently by the biceps. “Wow, somebody works out,” she jokes, giving my arm another squeeze for good measure. Then she pulls out her phone and takes a photo of me.

“What are you doing?” I furrow my brows.

“Taking a picture so I can remember how cute you look with your hair all messed up and with my lipstick all over your face.”

She turns the phone around, and I see my lips smeared with red.

“Willow.” I swipe it off with the collar of my white T-shirt. “Did I get it?”

“Almost,” she says, wiping the edge of my lip with her thumb. “But now your collar is red.”

“Eh, I don’t care.”

“People will wonder whose lipstick that is.”

I smirk. “Make sure to reapply then, so they’ll know.”

Willow playfully scowls at me before walking through the open doorway. I can’t help but smack her ass as she passes me, prompting a laugh from her.