FanGirl (23 page)

He smiles and then laughs and gives me the craziest expression. “No. No, that was not the problem at all. Why would you say that?”

“I don’t know. I’m being dumb.”

“Goodnight, Ruby.”

g

Chapter 15

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Z
WankHard

@Ruby Miller seen out last night! Where was Andrew Xavier?

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ZWankHard

@Spotted! In her pajamas! Ruby Miller sneaks around town.

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ZWankHard

@Whose home did Ruby Miller sneak in and out of last night? Come read our latest post!

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Z.net

@Exclusive pictures from the
Zocopalypse
set! Cast interviews and more!

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AlexkicksZass

#1 the ability to wipe my brain and start over again.

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g

Wyatt and Alexandra fight
on the front porch of a large, historic home. The house is beautiful, but hollow and empty.

Alexandra:
I know why Cole wants to go so badly, but why you? Why are you so ready to get to that Army base? What happens if we get down there and find more of the same? What if it’s like Raleigh or Charlotte or any other place left on the planet? Dead.

Wyatt:
I want to see it myself.

Alexandra:
Bull! If there’s one thing I’ve learned about you, it’s that there’s always a reason. What is it? Why are we following Cole on an impossible mission?

Wyatt:
Don’t push this, Alex.

Alexandra:
Why? Why can’t I push? You guys tell me what to do, when to do it, where we’re going and, for the most part, I agree. You’re hiding something from me, and I want to know what it is.

Wyatt stands in front of Alexandra, his anger evident. She doesn’t back away, but she’s scared of him. He sees this and attempts to calm himself.

Wyatt:
We’re leaving at dawn.

He turns and walks into the house. Alexandra stays outside. With the world at a standstill, the silence is deafening. She jumps when she hears the backdoor open. Cole steps out of the house.

Alexandra:
I know. Leaving at dawn. I have my orders.

Cole:
It seems like that sometimes, I guess.

Alexandra:
What?

Cole:
Like we’re in a war. Everything is a battle.

Alexandra:
Fighting for our lives, scared all the time. Killing and saving and running. Yeah, feels like war.

Cole:
In every Army, there has to be a leader. I’m willing to step aside and let him take this right now.

She looks at him like he’s crazy.

Alexandra:
Step aside? This is your idea, going down there. You came up with it.

Cole:
No. He suggested it. I agreed. There’s something in Columbus Wyatt needs even more than I do.

Alexandra:
Do you know what it is?

Cole:
No. But we all came into this battle with a history. He’s looking for something, and it doesn’t have anything to do with any of us.

g

I pick up my
phone and start to call Iris. Then I remember we aren’t talking and put it down. I pick it up. Put it down.

“You look like me,” Andrew says. He slips an arm over my shoulder. I don’t have supersonic hearing, but it’s like I can hear the shutters clicking on a million cameras whether they’re there or not.

“What? The obsessive phone thing?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m not quite the addict you are.” I shove the phone in my pocket. “We may have a problem.”

“What kind of problem?” Andrew catches his reflection in the makeup mirror.

“Someone caught me coming out of Gabe’s apartment in my pajamas last night and sent the info to ZWankHard.” This gets his attention.

“What the hell, Ruby?”

“I also may have been seen, again in my pajamas, at the Mini-Market on Clairmont with my ex-boyfriend, Reid.”

“What?”

I have nothing else to say. No defense. No excuses. His phone rings and, when I don’t reply, he answers it.

“Hey,” he says into the phone. I should leave — give him some privacy, but I don’t. I have a feeling I know who’s on the other end of the line. “Yeah, she just told me. Why? I don’t know. That, she hasn’t explained yet. How damaging is it? Yes, yes, I know she was in her pajamas. Can you make it go away?” He’s staring at me and frankly, the intensity of Andrew Xavier’s blue eyes is too much to handle, so I look away. I’ve made a mess of everything. “Yeah, we’ll fix it.”

“Derek’s pissed?”

He shrugs. “A little. You know Derek, he’s a believer in ‘no press is bad press.’ Although, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s not working on an ‘Andrew Xavier - Broken Hearted’ rebound story for the press as we speak.” He sighs and rubs the back of his neck. “He never stops. It’s why he’s the best, but sometimes it can be exhausting.”

“Well, what does he want us to do? I’ll do whatever you need me to. Anything.”

“Glad you feel that way, because you and I have a date.”

“Tonight?”

“Tonight.”

g

Chloe and Alexandra have
been paired to drive the second truck together, while Wyatt drives the front truck and Cole sits in the back, shotgun ready.

Alexandra:
What do you think about this plan?

Chloe:
I think those two men are determined to go through with this crazy idea. If we’re riding with them, we better be ready. My brother has some strange desire to see what’s left of the military. He’s hoping all the bullshit our dad told us when we were kids is true.

Alexandra:
We don’t have to let them make decisions for us. We have a vote.

Chloe:
You really think that? Wyatt is half-rogue already. If he didn’t need us for back up, he would be long gone.

Alexandra:
Why would you say that? Wyatt’s not going anywhere.

Chloe:
[Laughs] If you say so. I think you could chase that one across the country, fighting thousands of the dead, but in the end, I’m not sure his heart is available.

Alexandra:
I don’t want his heart.

Chloe:
Could’ve fooled me… and my brother.

Alexandra:
I don’t know why we’re talking about this. The odds of us surviving the next 24 hours are next to nothing. Love? Hearts? None of this is relevant.

Chloe:
Because that’s how we know who to trust and follow. Wyatt is not in this for the rest of us. He’s in this for himself and whatever he’s searching for. Me? I want a warm shower and a safe place to sleep at night. Cole? His mind better be where it needs to be — that’s all I’m saying.

Alexandra:
And what about me?

Chloe:
You? That’s a decision you need to make. Are you here to survive or here to follow a man you can never catch?

g

That night, a package
waits for me on my side porch. Inside, I find the sexiest dress I have ever seen. Black straps tie behind my neck, but the neckline is low — plunging. I’m not sure how to keep everything inside. The hem barely covers my behind when I sit. No bending. Ever. I also discover an outrageously expensive pair of shoes. Heels, of course, sliver platforms with straps that wind all the way up my ankles. The whole outfit is over the top and borderline trashy. I have a feeling I know who bought it and it wasn’t Andrew, not directly at least. This has Derek’s style written all over it. I thank God my parents are still out of town. I don’t have to explain anything. Now, that is. I have a feeling that by tomorrow, the shiz will hit the fan.

“You look gorgeous,” Andrew says. I hold onto his arm for fear of tipping over in these shoes. I adjust my top, making sure everything is inside the minimal amount of fabric. I scan the streets for paparazzi. I can’t see any, but that means nothing. Once seated in the car, I tug on the hem of my dress, willing it to stretch farther down my legs. I’m sure at least one photographer will get a money shot tonight. Good thing coordinating underwear came in that package. If I flash my hoo-ha at everyone, at least everything matches.

“Thanks. What’s the plan?” He merges onto the highway, driving toward the city. He tosses something in my lap. It’s an invitation.

“A friend has a new restaurant and club. I thought we’d make an appearance.”

“Oh.” I read the invite. The place looks swank. “I didn’t even realize places like this existed in Atlanta.”

He laughs and rolls to a stop. “There’s always somewhere to be seen. This had to work on such short notice.”

The valet opens my door and Andrew arrives at my side before I can take a step. His arm hangs tight across my back, a hand on my waist as the cameras begin to snap. Just before we reach the door, he leans into my ear and says, “Tonight’s our night. We have to make it happen or we cut this whole thing loose. Follow my lead.” I feel his lips brush my ear and although it tickles enough to bring a smile to my lips, my belly lies quiet and calm. I never thought I’d see the day when I’m immune to Andrew Xavier’s charms.

Inside, a man whisks us through an elegant, crowded restaurant. As we pass patrons, Andrew turns heads, of course. Even if they don’t recognize him, he’s so handsome people stare. Their eyes glide past me. I’m relieved when we leave the main room and pass through a heavy wooden door and up a flight of stairs.

“Do you know where he’s taking us?” I ask. We enter a small, even more sophisticated room. Ahhh, the VIP room. I never anticipated seeing such a place, much less being invited into one.

“Relax,” Andrew says, but I cling to his arm. We’re escorted to a corner of sleek leather couches. Andrew gestures for me to sit and begins ordering drinks from an eager waitress.

“I can’t drink in here. I don’t have an ID.” I’m whispering even though the loud music gives us a sense of privacy. A moment later, our waitress returns with our drinks and sets them on the low table in front of us.

“Welcome to a taste of my world,” Andrew says, raising his glass. He swallows his drink whole. Uh oh. I recall the last time he drank too much too fast. It’s how I ended up in this circus in the first place. “This is a minor representation of what it’s like in New York or L.A. A perfect place to get your toes wet. Someday, I’ll take you to the Chateau Marmont or Soho House
[1]
for a real slice of celebrity life.”

I eye my drink with caution. I have no intention of getting drunk. “What do you mean?”

“It’s where we go to be seen. To make an announcement. ‘Look world, I’m dating Sabrina Taylor!’ Sometimes it’s real. Sometimes it’s not, but it’s always, always intentional.”

On cue, Andrew’s phone buzzes and jumps across the table. He turns the screen flat on the table. “Is that her?”

He stares at me and then laughs. He also motions to the waitress for another drink. “Yeah.”

I pick up my drink and take a swallow. It’s sugary and sweet, but burns the back of my throat. “What’s her name?”

He shakes his head.

“I think I should know.”

“I think you shouldn’t.” A loud squeal draws our attention to the door. Two attractive women just entered and they’ve spotted Andrew. I take another drink.

“Tell me about her then.”

“Tell me why you met up with Gabe last night half-clothed.”

My eyes widen. “I wasn’t half-clothed!”

He makes a face. “I saw the photos. Those shorts and that tank left little to the imagination.”

“Those were just stupid pajamas. This dress leaves little to the imagination.” I tug on the hem.

“True, but a different kind of imagination. I suspect Gabe would rather see you in that than this.” That comment is unexpected. My flaming cheeks think so too.

“Gabe doesn’t care what I wear or what I think. We had an argument.” The waitress brings two new drinks, one for me and one for him, even though I haven’t finished the first.

“Why?” he asks.

“
Zocopalypse
and how he’s trying to ruin my life with his new issue.”

Andrew laughs at this, loud enough to attract (more) attention from the tables around us. “Of course you were. God, you two are the biggest geeks ever.”

“Duh.”

“Okay then, Gabe was a late night geek fight. What about you and the ex?”

“Why do you care?”

“Because if you and I are together, and you’re out with other guys, I need to have the story. So, the ex?”

I sip my drink in an attempt to buy some time. The burn in my throat is less noticeable. “Unfinished business.”

He raises an eyebrow, but I’m not telling him anything else. I’m learning my lesson about keeping private things private. Plus, Andrew knows a lot about me and I’m realizing how little I know about him in return.

Instead of pressing like I expect, he looks over my shoulder and stiffens. I immediately look for some kind of super-fan or camera or something, but instead a gorgeous guy walks toward us. “Do you know him?” I ask. I glance between the two of them and it becomes clear, without Andrew’s confirmation, they do.

Andrew stands and his startled look turns to a smile. “James,” he says, stepping forward to give him a hug.

“How have you been? I heard about
Zocopalypse
. Congratulations,” James says. He’s beyond handsome. Maybe even more so than Andrew, if that’s possible.