Celebrity 2 - Acting Out (6 page)

Evan sat at his mother’s kitchen table, sipping a cup of hot coffee while the house remained quiet. It had been a week and he still couldn’t erase the image of Cree walking away from him, his head slightly down, telling him to go home. The resignation in his tone echoed in Evan’s quiet moments. He’d dreamed about running after Cree and telling him that he’d come anyway, to just wait a few days.

But it had been more than a few days, and the subpoena had been served. There’d been no word from David Fowler.
The lawyer had told him that David needed to find representation, too, and that was the hang up. He’d said that David wouldn’t have a choice but to pay, because Evan’s mother had filed for support a year after he’d left and it had been sitting in the court system ever since. He’d said it was only a matter of time.
Evan didn’t want any more time wasted. Urgency built in him daily to find Cree. He had so much to say to fix things. They hadn’t left on good terms. And just when Evan thought he knew what to say, he realized he hadn’t a clue at all. It wasn’t like they’d left fighting. They hadn’t parted ways with a simple disagreement. They’d parted ways because their goals took them there, and because those individual goals had caused hurt in the other person.
Evan had done most of the striking out. Cree had been right about a lot of things. They’d led different lives, but one wasn’t more valuable than the other. They’d had different experiences, but one wasn’t more important than the other. Yet that’s how Evan had treated Cree.
So in that way, Cree had been wrong. Evan
had
behaved like David. He’d left someone behind who could have loved him if Evan had given Cree half a chance. It wasn’t like celebrities had a different reaction to pain and loss. Putting himself in Cree’s shoes, he’d have shuttered his heart if the people in his life consistently used him.
That’s how Cree had seen their time together. He’d thought Evan had used him, and Evan had stuck by his assertion that it wasn’t true. But was it? Had he used Cree?
He’d gone over the argument so many times, Evan wasn’t sure what interpretation made sense. If someone would hand him the answers, he’d probably accept them as truth.
Evan hung his head, sighing over the untouched steaming mug. Or it had been steaming when he’d first sat.
“Such a long face,” his mother said.
She walked in, already dressed for work. Since he’d been sending her money, she’d been able to let go of one of her jobs. He wanted to do so much more for her.
“Morning, Mom.” Evan got up. “Want some coffee?”
“I’d love some.” His mother moved efficiently through the kitchen, pulling out a plate and some bread. “Toast?”
Evan declined, but she put in two slices, then added the cream and sugar to the cup he handed her. She smiled, but it didn’t remove the concern in her eyes.
“You were happy in Hollywood, weren’t you?” she asked between sips.
“I think I could have been.”
“Was it Cree Radek? Was he the one who made you happy?” she asked gingerly.
“I don’t know, Mom. I didn’t handle things well with him.”
“Have you told him that?”
“No.”
The toaster dinged and his mother buttered the bread sparingly. She carried her plate and coffee to the table. Patting the seat next to her, she motioned him over.
“Have you talked to him at all?”
“He’s in Austria, filming.”
“So? You were in Hollywood working day and night. You still had time to return my calls.”
“I wasn’t mad at you,” Evan said smiling. He took the seat.
“How do you know he’s still mad at you if you haven’t
tried
to call him?”
“What would I tell him? Nothing’s changed. I need to be here taking care of things, and we have no answer to the subpoena in California. It’s not like I can go to Austria and pretend nothing happened.”
His mother put her hand over his. “Honey, never pretend nothing happened. It doesn’t do either of you any good. Be honest with him. Tell him what you’re telling me.”
“It’s not the same.”
“Because he’s famous?” she asked, leveling him with an unimpressed stare.
“He thinks I used him.”
“Is he right?” she asked softly.
“I don’t know. Maybe.”
“If your answer is maybe, then it’s best to assume you have some apologizing to do.”
Evan stared into his mug. “I can’t leave yet.”
“Why not? Do you think I’ll fall apart without you?”
He blinked and lifted his gaze to hers. She smiled fondly at him as though she thought she’d said something amusing. He’d always felt like she needed protecting. She’d had such a hard life bringing him up alone. No handouts, no special treatment, no easy jobs.
She laughed then. “You were always such a helpful boy. I couldn’t have asked for a better son. But, Evan, even if you weren’t, I would have survived. I would have worked harder and juggled faster, but I would have been fine.”
“When I left for Los Angeles you were so upset,” he reminded her.
Her eyes grew sad. “I admit to thinking that you were following in your father’s footsteps. It took me a couple of days to remember who you were and that you’d never be David. I let my fear cloud my judgment and I think you’re doing that, too.”
“The lawsuit will make a difference. He’ll pay all the back child support and you’ll be able to save it for retirement.”
“And what if he doesn’t? The court can tell him to pay. If he chooses not to, then there’s another court battle to make him pay. It can run a cycle like that for years, draining what savings I do have. No.” She shook her head emphatically. “I can’t live my life hoping he’ll be responsible. I know better and so do you.”
“I’ll help you pay. I’ll get another job.”
His mother pushed away from the table and took her empty coffee cup to the sink. Her toast was untouched. She rested her hands on the edge of the sink, seeming to think for a minute, before she turned around again.
“This, right here, this is my life. These are the results of the choices I made. I didn’t get pregnant by myself. I had enough sense to know that unprotected sex was a bad idea. I actually had that thought at the time—what if I get pregnant? And you know what? I did it anyway.”
Evan started to talk. She stopped him with a lift of her finger.
“It was a bad choice, but it was mine. I made it and he made it. Trying to get an irresponsible party to take responsibility is a pipedream. It doesn’t mean we won’t try. It means I’m not expecting him to come through with restitution.”
His mother pushed away from the counter and walked over to him. She placed a hand on his chest.
“I’m living my life, Evan. It’s a hard one, but it’s also a really good one. I’m happy. You go live your life now. It’s time that you stop putting me first and start thinking of what you need. Start thinking of that Cree Radek and how to get him back. I’ve never seen you this way, and that tells me he’s worth fighting for.”
Evan hugged her close. “I love you, Mom.”
“I love you, too.” She swatted his butt. “And now I need to get to work.”
He laughed. “Can I at least stay another day or two while I wait for word from the lawyer?”
“Sure. But you need to earn your keep. Take care of the laundry and buy some groceries today.”
“You got it.”

Evan spent the next two days keeping busy, cleaning his mother’s house like it was spring. And thinking. It was the thinking that was the killer. He’d already thought the situation to death, but in a spurt of determination, he’d booked his tickets to Austria. He knew where they were filming, since he’d helped manage the itinerary before Cree left.

There were moments where his pride said, “Why hasn’t Cree tried to call
me
?” He knew the answer. He’d told Cree that he’d had no intention of sticking around after he found his father. Not even for Cree.

Evan winced. If Cree had said that to him, he’d have assumed it was a celebrity thing. But if Cree had meant it, that he’d actually been thinking in terms of a relationship with Evan, God that had to have hurt.

Cree pulled his coat tighter around his neck. It was too goddamn cold here. It should be against the laws of human nature to live in a climate like this one. Oesterhausen seemed to thrive at its foothills nonetheless. He didn’t know how. It wasn’t a wellknown tourist destination. Although he’d been told that this was the second movie crew to film here.

“Must pay well,” Cree mused, looking up at the snow-covered peaks.
He stomped his feet, trying to slap some feeling back into them. His fingers felt frozen in place at his collar.
“Walker,” he bellowed. “Coffee.”
“Mr. Radek, my name is
Brett Shackley
.”
Cree glared at him.
“Getting it!” he called cheerfully as he rushed for the service tables.
The coffee came and Cree shivered as he cupped it close to his face. “Where the fuck is my script, Walker?”
Shackley sighed. “It’s at the hotel.”
“You left your copy of the script in the hotel? Walker was new at his job, too, but he always had his shit together,” Cree grumbled.
“I’ll go get it. Do you need anything else while I’m there?”
Cree ignored him. Nothing worked as smoothly without Evan. He didn’t sleep as well, without Evan nearby. He didn’t feel confident that his affairs were being managed properly, either. Evan did everything right the first time.
His mind slipped to a moment of ecstasy, rolling on the bedcovers in the dark with Evan’s body flexing and pumping into his. The cold Austrian air couldn’t stop the fill of his cock.
“Jesus.” He had to get Evan out of his mind.
If that was possible.
Brett was doing his best. He’d agreed to do Ryan Pierce a favor by hiring him, but Brett wasn’t Evan. The best consolation he could offer was to call him by Evan’s name.
The lighting crew and cameras were set. Eliza White, decked out in faux white fox coat, sat on a boulder next to the thermal spring that made a natural hot tub in the snow. Or at least that was the scene the set builders had created. Did Montana even have hot springs?
“Mr. Radek, you’re needed on set,” the director called.
Cree groaned. He handed the cup to a set aide and shrugged out of his coat. Underneath, he wore swimming trunks. Another aide took his pants and boots from him as he stepped into the water.
“Oh, thank God, it’s actually a
hot
spring,” Cree breathed.
Eliza followed, giggling and sighing in that way the vapid movie actresses do when they think they’re being cute. If Evan were here, Cree would tell him to make a note never to work with Eliza again.
He saw Brett jogging from the hotel in the distance, across the expanse of snow. It was awkward and comical. Cree smiled. Evan would never have run. He’d have arrived.
A black sedan pulled up where the service table was set up. Cree barely spared it a look.
“And action!” the director called.
“I didn’t think you’d come,” Cree as Johnny said.
“I wasn’t sure I should.” She pouted.
“He’s my best friend, too.”
“I’d lose everything if he found us together.”
Cree looked off into the distance like he was supposed to, checking for their best friend. His gaze locked at the edge of the staging area. Cree leaped to his feet.
Evan’s short brown hair fluttered in the cold mountain air. His thick black wool coat wrapped him to his knees where the corner also flapped playfully. Cree was seeing things. He had to be. The man smiled that partial smile, kind of shy, kind of pleased, all Evan Walker.
“Cut! Cree is there a problem?”
He didn’t even feel the cold air on his wet skin. “Walker?”
The apparition took its hand out of its pocket and waved casually.
Cree sat heavily. “I need fifteen,” he called to the director.
“Everyone, take fifteen.”
A horn sounded as an all-call, and the aide came to his side with clothes. Cree dressed on the heated mat behind the tub, then walked quickly to the man who carried a striking resemblance to Evan Walker.
When he reached him, Cree stared. He didn’t know whether to hug him, or start yelling. Instead, he searched his mind for something to say.
“Did it work out for your mom?” he asked.
Evan’s smile faded. “Not by the time I left. It’s pending.”
“So you’re going home soon,” Cree assumed.
“I don’t know. Am I?”
He looked good, all scrubbed and Midwestern, with healthy skin born of good food and fresh air. Cree had the sense that if he hugged him and inhaled, Evan would smell like soap and hay.
“Why are you here?” Cree asked. Was it duty to finish the production he’d started, or something else.
“I—couldn’t stay away.” Evan’s expression grew earnest. “Can we talk?”
“No.”
“Oh, okay,” Evan verbally stumbled.
“I mean, not now. They’re about to call me to set. Meet me tonight at the hotel?”
There was only one hotel in town and they had the whole thing booked out, while still having to pay locals to house some of the crew.
“Are you using a special name or does it matter?” Evan asked.
“This town’s too small for paparazzi and psychos.” Cree cracked a smile. He waved Brett over. “Give Walker my room keys.”
Brett gave Evan an assessing look as he handed them over.
The horn sounded to return to set.
“I’ve gotta—” Cree hitched a thumb over his shoulder.
“Yeah, you’ve gotta go,” Evan agreed filling the air with inconsequential conversation.

Evan watched him saunter off, admiring how even in snow boots he looked like he ate up the ground as he moved.
“So you’re Walker,” Brett stated like he’d suddenly learned something important.
Evan held out his hand. “Evan Walker, Cree’s former assistant.”
“You must have been a great assistant. Do you know that he refuses to call me anything but Walker? Like you never left, which is totally okay, I get it. He just doesn’t like change I guess.” The blond surfer boy with spiky hair grinned brilliantly at him.
Brett must drive Cree crazy with all his excitement and chatter. In this instance, Evan was extremely pleased. Cree missed him. He might only miss his professional side, but it was a start.
“He likes order,” Evan acknowledged.
“How many years did you work for him? Must’ve been a lot. No one does anything right like you do. He only tolerates me because my best friend is hooked up with Ryan Pierce.”
“I think I remember hearing about the man who got Ryan Pierce out of the closet.” He grinned at Brett. “I haven’t worked for Mr. Radek very long. You’ll find your way.”
“The guy is smokin’ hot, but I don’t know how much more of this I can take. It’s like he wakes up on the wrong side of the bed every morning.”
That made Evan laugh. He remembered thinking the same thing at first. “He grows on you.”
Evan heard his name. He looked around and saw Susie from makeup. Evan waved. Susie beckoned him over.
“Brett, it was great meeting you but it looks like I need to stop over and see Susie before I head to the hotel. It was a long flight. I’m dying for a nap.”
Brett thumped him on the back as Evan made his way to the makeup van. That’s what it was, too, a van. He doubted Susie was terribly impressed.
“Hey, Susie.” Evan flashed her a bright smile.
Susie narrowed her eyes. “Don’t you dare, hey Susie me. You left him. Do you know how hard it is to get Cree Radek into makeup when he’s moping?”
“I—haven’t a clue,” he offered, not sure what to say. Yet more confirmation that Cree had missed him. It eased his soul.
“No, you don’t have a clue. Not even one to leave that boy the way you did.”
Evan found himself getting annoyed. His mouth tightened and he counted to ten to stay calm.
Susie took his arm and led him to a more private area. “Evan, you’re a good boy. I like you. I also care a great deal about that man over there. He’s been through a lot. Now, I don’t care to know the extent of your working relationship, but I know a heartsick man when I see one. You left him high and dry.”
If the roles had been reversed, his mother would also have given Cree a talking to.
Evan put his hand over hers and squeezed. “I know, Susie. I was wrong. I’m going to fix it, if he’ll let me.”
Susie’s eyes moistened and she swallowed him in a bear hug. “I knew you were a good sort.”
Evan pecked a kiss on her cheek and looked back at Cree working through his lines as he shivered between takes. Evan’s eyes felt gritty and heavy. He needed sleep, especially if he was going to try to convince Cree to give him another shot.
Evan slipped away to the hotel room. Twenty minutes later, he was sprawled across Cree’s bed in the dark.