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Chapter 89

Author: Rachel Van Dyken
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56
BOOK THREE: STEAL

Will

Zane was back. Thank God.

His memory. His snarky weird-ass attitude and love for all things sugary and sticky.

At least that problem had solved itself.

And now I was back in Seaside, where Hollywood single rockstars and actors go to die-also known as the place where every single one of my clients end up in love, married, or with kids.

My gut twisted.

I twirled the stick between my hands over the fire. I was exhausted.

I love my job.

I love my job.

I love my job.

I freaking hated my job.

I was thirty, and I wanted to retire.

I was an agent, partially because I was good at it, partially because when my boy band broke up, I didn't really have a choice. I needed a purpose, and it was easy to go into the business side of things.

I had an ear for talent.

I loved managing musicians.

I loathed actors.

I wanted to strangle them with my bare hands, give them a little shake, then take them for a long drowning swim in the ocean.

"You look like hell." Linc
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    WillThe AftermathPresent dayThe cool Seaside breeze picked up, whipping my tight leather jacket around my biceps, making me squeeze my arms across my chest. Annoyance surged through my body, making my blood hot despite the cold weather.Angelica fucking Greene.Late.Shocker.I gritted my teeth and flashed an irritated glance at my Rolex.Make that an hour late to set.Jaymeson waved at me from the beach and lifted his arms up in question. Of course, Angelica gets the second chance of a lifetime working for Jamie Jaymeson - one of the biggest names in the industry, not to mention the youngest - and she's late.An hour late.A pulsing headache throbbed behind my eyes; I pulled off my prescription sunglasses and blew out a breath between my teeth."Sorry!" Angelica's melodic voice interrupted the very vivid daydream I'd just been having: the one where I was chasing her with my car and she tripped, and I accidentally ran over her phone and ruined her life just like she

  • Seaside Pictures   Chapter 91

    AngelicaHe hated me.I hated me.The world hated me.The only person that actually tolerated me was my mom, probably because my paychecks made it possible for her to live the life of a rock star. Plastic surgery, new cars, houses in Mexico - she had it all because of me.Because of the grueling schedule she'd forced me into when I was two and barely able to talk.My first word was commercial.My second was hotdog.Mainly because that was the commercial I starred in, it was the first big paycheck my mom cashed."You're gonna be famous, baby!" Mama hugged me tight, squeezing me until my lungs almost popped from the force. It was the first hug she'd given me in weeks. The first time she'd smiled in what felt like forever. And even at that age I knew, that if I could just keep her happy - that would be enough."Fun!" I giggled. "Fun, mama!""Mama will always be fun for you."It was a lie.She was only fun when I did what she said.I closed my eyes against the sting of tear

  • Seaside Pictures   Chapter 92

    Will"You look more pissed off than usual." Lincoln sprayed water across the ground giving it a wet effect and then tossed the hose.I rubbed under my eyes and glanced away from it all.Away from the cameras.The crew.The extras.I inhaled the fresh ocean spray, thinking hey, this is where people relax it's supposed to be vacation - God when was the last time I even had one of those? Breathe. In. Out. Easy. We only had three months of shooting. I could do anything with three months."I'm ready." Angelica's voice may as well be a warning alarm going off in my head. Bright red lights flashed in front of my line of vision and every single muscle in my body went taut.I hated the effect she still had on me.She'd gained weight back - no longer looking like a fresh cocaine addict - and her skin was bronzed just enough to give her the summer glow needed for the film. Add that to her captivating catlike eyes and her plump lips, and my body was already responding even when I hated

  • Seaside Pictures   Chapter 93

    WillIncognito.My mantra.My goal.My hell.I should be on set instead of hiding out at an abandoned coffee shop down the street.I should be making sure my actress wasn't setting the director on fire, just like I should be making sure that she was doing her job, the job she was getting paid for.Two years ago she'd been fired from three different films.Two years ago she was still doing drugs.Two years ago I was still in love with her.Two years ago she broke my heart for a second time without even realizing it and providence brought her to my agency, my doorstep.I was the freaking Luke Skywalker of her world.I'd dreamed of that moment. The moment she'd come crawling back and I'd sneer in her face, tell her to drop dead, then laugh while the door hit her in the ass on the way out of my office.But that was the thing about revenge. Nobody ever warns you about all the other feelings that attach themselves to that one word.Like regret.Like what ifs.Or the soul-su

  • Seaside Pictures   Chapter 94

    AngelicaYou know the dream people have when they're kids? You're naked in front of all of your classmates. They point and laugh while you try to cover up whatever parts you can with two hands all the while wondering why your feet are frozen in place. I mean, why don't you ever run in those dreams? Why do you just stand there? Logic would say to run, right?Instead, you stand, paralyzed with fear.And the worst part?It feels so real.Like it's really happening.Like something you won't ever recover from.I was experiencing one of those moments, only I wasn't dreaming - trust me I even pinched my arm to make sure.Because standing in front of Will's beach house wasn't just my brother, actor Lincoln Greene with his girlfriend, Dani - because that would be normal right? He was in town shooting, he was blood, end of story.I could live with that story.But no.It was my nemeses.My past coming back to my present.In the form of every single Hollywood heartthrob I'd either k

  • Seaside Pictures   Chapter 95

    WillI had a plan. A solid plan. Force her into an uncomfortable situation by way of barbecue and exhaust her so much after filming most of the morning that she'd go to sleep and ignore me, ignore the past, ignore all of it while I tried not to lose my mind.My plan didn't work.Because I forgot one tiny little thing about my friends, about the people I represented.They were extremely forgiving.And loyal.So if one of them wanted to give someone a chance again, they jumped on board, they were family even, though not all of them were blood.By the end of the night, I was the exhausted one, dreaming about my pillow while Angelica sat by the fire with a few of the girls and laughed.The first time I heard it, my body went completely still.The second time, I thought I was hallucinating.And the third time, well the third time, I had no choice but to look in her direction. My breath caught in my lungs because, that laugh. God, that laugh was one of my favorite sounds in the w

  • Seaside Pictures   Chapter 96

    AngelicaI blinked up at the white ceiling, willing the tears to dry. Praying they wouldn't slip free - because once they were loose there was no stopping the onslaught of emotion that would follow, the devastation, the earth-shattering realization that nothing would ever be the same between us. Not if he could help it - and not with me constantly pushing him.But at least pushing him got me a reaction that proved he wasn't a complete indifferent sociopath.I refused to let him get to me.With a sigh I turned onto my side and stared out the window imagining a different time a different place, where he was by my side - and promised to never leave.That and the way his hands ran down my skin like he was getting ready to worship me the way he used to.Only his face hadn't been filled with wonder - disgust was more like it.I clung to the anger like a blanket. It was the only way to sleep, the only way I was able to close my eyes and pray the sickness in my chest away.Anger forc

  • Seaside Pictures   Chapter 97

    WillI couldn't help it. I tried I even did that old trick where you look in the mirror and talk to yourself as if you're two separate people. Just. Play nice. I could be nice. I spoon fed celebrities on a daily basis. It was my job to kiss ass.I just didn't want to kiss hers.Because for some reason, being nice somehow felt like she'd won like she was getting in and the last thing I needed was to give her a foothold in any area of my life.So anger was all I had.Rudeness was what I clung to.And I hated myself for it because that wasn't me, I'd never been that guy, hell maybe she'd turned me into that guy. The one that literally didn't give a shit if she lived or died.No that wasn't true.I'd always cared.Too much.That was the problem.True to her word, Angelica had gotten ready in five minutes. She slid on her giant black sunglasses and looked ready to take on the world better than most girls who needed at least an hour to look presentable.Her good looks had alway

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  • Seaside Pictures   Chapter 136

    Will"I can't hear you, Chicago!" Zane yelled. "I said are you ready for some Adrenaline?"The roar was deafening.We'd sold out across the US and had to move to larger arenas, it was unreal.And I'd missed it so damn much that I was having a hard time wiping the grin from my face, though part of that could be because of Ang.She agreed to sing on some of our newer tracks.And I'd coerced her by way of sex into performing a few of them with us.It was what people wanted, especially after seeing the music video from the film, and even more so, after seeing the opening scene, the raw emotion in her eyes.And knowing our story.The whole story.The whole damn thing.Word for word. Written out in our new album, for the world to see.Andrew wrote half.I wrote half.And then we traded, added things to each other's riffs, made sure the lyrics worked, and then very amicably went into the studio to record with the rest of the group.It was intense.We still barely spoke any w

  • Seaside Pictures   Chapter 135

    AngelicaIt was midnight by the time we made it back home. All I wanted to do was crawl into bed and just... exist.And then Will started taking my clothes off, and I forgot all about existing on my own, and began to think about licking my way down his body instead, or up, I wasn't picky."Mmm." I groaned when his lips slid down my neck. "That feels nice.""You feel nice," he murmured stealing another kiss. "I love you.""Say it again.""I love you."I couldn't help the sleepy smile that spread across my face at his words. Or the desire to press my palm against his chest. And when he gripped my fingers like a lifeline, unbridled passion flickered across his handsome features as the lean muscles of his stomach seemed to ripple in the moonlight. I couldn't resist the feeling of power it gave me to know... that expression was for me.He leaned down and mapped my body with his tongue, I whined when he stopped and lifted his gaze to mine, a wicked smile teased his lips."More," I

  • Seaside Pictures   Chapter 134

    WillBy the time we made it back to set most of the chaos had died down. Andrew was back, but he was still lurking in the corner, his eyes downcast but not as lost as when he'd first gotten to Seaside.Alec and Demetri had started a bonfire down by the ocean.All of us just followed, like we knew the fire was for us, like we were in need of the calm the heat would bring.Even Andrew eventually ventured over after Jay said something.Demetri had his ever-present guitar.Alec had his.And then Zane said something like, "Oh, look what I have here.""Any other instruments we should know about?" I said casually."Don't!" Demetri waved his hands in the air. "Don't give him the perfect set up to take off his pants, not when he's finally wearing them."Zane just shrugged.I leaned back into the sand and closed my eyes for a few seconds.Everything fell silent.So I opened one eye and then another.A guitar was being held over my head."Are you going to hit me with it?" I asked

  • Seaside Pictures   Chapter 133

    WillThe Andrew I knew was gone.His eyes were cold.Lifeless.He finally slapped Ang's hand like a high five rather than a shake and continued to glare at me."I was scared," I finally said. "Jealous and scared."Surprise flickered across his face."I'd sent her into your arms knowing you'd take care of her while I was gone while hating the bad influence you were on each other. You had this connection I didn't understand, this... thing that gripped both of you like a vise. I didn't get it, I hated it, hated you for bringing her into it almost as much as I hated that I couldn't stop it." All things I'd told Ang without reservation. "And I'd been gone so much, it made sense, she chose drugs over me, why not eventually choose my best friend? The one who was there when I wasn't?"Andrew looked away.Ang reached for my hand and squeezed."The thing is..." I dug my heels into the sand and looked out at the horizon. "You're right, I blamed everyone but me. Hated everyone for my o

  • Seaside Pictures   Chapter 132

    AngelicaAndrew was a runner.I could tell by his stride, the easy way he inhaled through his nose, out his mouth. While I thought I was going to pass out from shortness of breath."Andrew!" I yelled.The ocean swallowed my voice.Finally, he stopped and turned.I kept running; he was a good hundred feet in front of me.And when I finally caught up, I couldn't catch my breath, my tears were mixed with sand by then, and my lungs burned."I'm disappointed." He rasped, "You still don't exercise. Isn't that part of the steps in rehab? Find a healthy..." He made mock quotes. "Outlet.""I bite," I sucked in a gulp of air, "My fingernails and," I put my hands on my knees and tried breathing in through my nose, out through my mouth. "I color.""Color." he repeated, "With crayons? Markers? Colored pencils? Watercolors-""Crayons." I blurted then collapsed onto the sand.Slowly, he lowered his massive body next to mine.We were a few feet apart.Both of us staring at the ocean.

  • Seaside Pictures   Chapter 131

    WillI'd passed out once in my life.Dehydration.So I didn't realize what was happening when Zane was snapping his fingers in front of my face and asking how old I was."He can't count that high," Demetri muttered."So many candles." Ty shuddered.I shoved them away and moved to a sitting position then held my head in my hands rubbing my temples. "What happened?"Nobody spoke.I sucked in a breath as the events crashed over me, jarring my memory to a painful degree.That night.That. Night.I chose never to think about it.Hated giving it power.But in that moment.I did.I thought about it - really thought about it.The fight with Ang before the concert.The fight with Andrew after.Drinking just enough to be angry at the world that things weren't going my way - that my best friend wouldn't listen to me about drugs, that he'd hurt the woman I loved, and that the woman I loved was choosing drugs over me.The groupie was pretty.And it was easy.So easy to wonder

  • Seaside Pictures   Chapter 130

    AngelicaI heard the yelling.Demetri grabbed my arm while Alec shielded me.It looked like Andrew and Will were going head-to-head.I rolled my eyes. "I got this, guys, it was bound to happen.""Yup." Zane said from behind me, "Should have just killed him.""Hey, I was ready," Alec agreed as we all slowly jogged over to the chaotic scene where Ty was trying to hold Will back.But something about the scene was.Wrong.Rather than looking pissed - Will looked.Worried.Andrew looked ready to rip Will's throat from his body.And then I heard it.The words."...it's not that I didn't care, it's because I knew exactly whose baby it was... yours"I stutter-stepped.Demetri caught my arm.I shook my head over and over again while pieces of my memory fused.I refused to think about that time in my life especially after rehab, especially after moving on.Healing."Think about it!" Andrew kept raising his voice higher, higher. "I had just gotten back to my room, you were o

  • Seaside Pictures   Chapter 129

    WillThings were going too good.And when things went good.I panicked.As an agent, it usually meant that you were minutes from a phone call about a publicity stunt gone wrong, or an actor taking a bender, or one of your musicians trashing a hotel room.Ticket sales being down.Labels dropping musicians.Every single time I had this feeling.Something happened.It was the same feeling that woke me up that night and made me go search for Angelica. The place in my bed, the space she belonged in was empty. And I'd missed her even as dread washed over me.The same dread that followed well into the night when she was in my arms, when we rode together to set.When we shot the cameo scene with the rest of the band.And had to keep redoing it because Trevor couldn't keep a straight face half the time, and Andrew kept snorting like he was too big of a deal to do anything.Besides that, fans had caught wind of what was happening, and we had groupies lining the outside of the set.

  • Seaside Pictures   Chapter 128

    AngelicaI didn't want him to get to me.But he did.The way he leered at me like I was naked.Even with Will standing right there.And all the shame, all the mistakes, all the touches he'd given me, things he'd whispered in my ear, the so-called brushes of his hand, kisses to my neck.My stomach lurched.It took everything in me to walk past him.To smell that same cologne floating off his skin.And all the things that came with it.Drugs.Partying.Waking up in his hotel sheets that night, knowing that I only had myself to blame, and that I may as well embrace that side of me since Will was gone, since he wasn't coming back.The trailer door jerked open.He took one look at me, scooped me up into his arms, and held me on the couch, playing with my hair while his kisses dried up my tears.His lips moved across my cheeks, my chin, his mouth was so warm, comforting, sexy, I turned into him, inhaling his shirt while he rested his chin against my head."Thank you." I pre

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