The Critic (19 page)

Stepping forward, I practiced a few lines of the scene between Rose and the adoptive parents. My body relaxed as the words rolled off my tongue through the theater. I moved to stage right and imagined audience members before me. I briefly shut my eyes for a bit of dramatic pause before I spoke again, addressing the faux audience. The scene was gripping, and I made sure my gestures complemented and enhanced the story. I actually brought myself to tears, which wasn’t difficult after what I’d just gone through with Bentley. My eyes closed, and I heard applause.

A man walked up to me from the side curtain. “Andrea Jordan? I’m Hank, the director. It’s wonderful to meet you.” He extended his hand as my nerves spiked.

That wasn’t how I’d intended him to hear me. I was just practicing. “Hank, I was just rehearsing. I can do much better.”

“Oh, no need. I knew you were perfect for the role before you got here. This was just a formality for the producer.” His lips curled into a genuine smile.

I swallowed hard. “Who would that be?”

“Joselyn Burley. Do you know her?”

My breath of relief came out in a rush. “Nope. I was just curious.” And thankful that Bentley and his mother’s theater guild weren’t involved. I didn’t have anything against the guild, but I didn’t want to be linked to Bentley.

After we’d finished our celebratory dinner and cocktails, we headed to a club Gina insisted we just had to go to.

“I heard this place is the shit!” She was practically bouncing up and down in her seat.

Seth and I laughed at how animated she had become.

“So what’s the name of this awesome place?” I asked.

“The White Orchid. From what I gather, the bartenders are hot!” She looked at Seth and shrugged. “Ya know, to get Andi’s mind off you-know-who.”

“I’m sitting right here, you know, and a man is the last thing I need. Let’s just enjoy each other and have a good time.” My voice came out harsher than I’d intended. The club sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place it. I figured Gina had mentioned it before.

“Andi, I love you like a sister, you know this, but you’ve been moping, and I can’t stand it. Now you have a job, and there’s nothing wrong with taking in this moment and letting loose. So we see some eye candy in the process—there’s nothing wrong with that. I’m not telling you to throw a guy down on a bar or dance on a table. Just have fun and relax.”

Seth choked on the beer he was finishing. “If the two of you are going to be throwing dudes down on the bar, maybe this should be a ladies’ night.”

Gina flippantly waved at Seth. “Oh shut up, you’ll have fun too. Save me a dance tonight, and you’ll see.” She winked.

I snickered at the look on Seth’s face. He was clearly planning on doing just that. Those two played it way too cool with each other—they needed to sort things out.

After we’d paid our tab, Gina crowed, “Let’s blow this popsicle stand and club it!”

As we hopped in a yellow checkered cab, my mind lingered on the man I missed. Yes, I was happy to be going out, but when Gina mentioned dancing with Seth, all I could picture was me dancing with Bentley. We’d never shared a dance, and we probably never would.

The White Orchid was sophisticated yet still young and fresh. The DJ spun tunes for the people gathered on the dance floor. A floral scent permeated the air, very different from any club I’d ever been in. Normally, we went to dive bars that smelled of beer and chicken wings, so flowers were never a thought. I watched couples talk, girlfriends laugh, and men look for their next conquest.

Seth led us through the small crowd to find stools at the bar. Only women occupied those seats, making Seth’s smile grow.

I rolled up on the balls of my feet and whispered in his ear, “I thought you liked Gina?”

He smiled and kissed the top of my head. “Don’t worry about me. Let’s get you a drink.”

We found three stools together and sat at the beautiful bar. It was magazine-cover worthy. Top shelf liquor lined the glass shelves, and Gina hadn’t been lying when she’d said the bartenders were hot. The blond looked as if he’d stepped out of
Surfer
GQ.
I looked at Gina, who was beaming with excitement.

A different bartender turned as he wiped down the bar and placed napkins in front of us. My heart sank. Brett.
Fuck me, this is his place. No wonder I recognized the name.

“Well, if it isn’t the woman who brought my big brother to his knees.” His award-winning smile radiated, but his eyes were laden with mischief.

“You’re Brett, right?” Gina tried to break the odd thickness that suddenly filled the floral-scented air.

His lips quirked. “Yeah.” He chuckled. “And you’re Gina.” He tossed her a quick wink. “So, ladies, what’ll it be? My signature Manhattan Martini?”

“That sounds great. Have you met Andi’s friend, Seth?”

I wasn’t sure what Gina was up to, but I didn’t want Brett to think I’d moved on.

“Hey, Seth. Good to meet ya, man. I’m Brett.”

They shook hands, and Brett took our drink orders, completely unfazed by Gina’s introduction.

When he returned with my wine, Seth’s beer, and Gina’s martini, he got the attention of Mr. GQ. “Hey, Ty, can you cover for me? I’ll be back.” The hot blond nodded. Then Brett signaled to me. “Andi, can I have a minute?”

My eyes shot to Gina’s, which were as wide as pancakes, and then back to Brett. “Um . . . sure, I guess.” I left my drink and slid off my stool.

Brett came out from behind the bar. He placed his hand on the small of my back as he led me upstairs to what had to be a VIP area. It didn’t escape me that although Brett was hot as hell, his touch did nothing to me—no sparks, no tingling. Nothing like when his brother touched me. Bentley didn’t even have to touch me for me to feel it. Brett motioned for me to sit in a plush booth that looked as if it had been built for lovers.

A beautiful waitress approached. “Can I get you anything?”

She’d addressed her question to Brett, so I tuned her out until she asked if Bentley would be coming in that night. My head snapped up and caught her name tag on her large breasts. “Carly, I think we’re all set. Thank you.”

She sized me up before smiling at Brett and leaving.

He watched her go. “I know this is none of my business, but what the hell did you do to my brother?”

I was floored. “Excuse me? You’re right, it isn’t your business.”

Brett ran his tongue over his pearly white teeth. “Maybe not, but from the way he talked about you at lunch, I thought you two were serious. Then I talked to him yesterday, and he said it was over and he was done. So tell me Andi, how does my brother go from gushing to nothing overnight? How do you go from being with him to being here with someone else in a New York minute?”

Serious? He’d said we were serious? And over.
“He lied to me.” That was the only answer I had.

“What are you talking about? You didn’t even let him explain, did you? Do you even know him?” He shook his head. “Fuck.”

“Look, this isn’t a good idea.” His frustration was clear, and I didn’t need to hear him bash me for pissing off his brother. My heart was damaged enough.

“Andi, let me tell you something about my brother.” His voice was deep and bordered on chastising, which made me cringe. “He is the one of the kindest, most generous people I know. You rushed to judgment, and that was a mistake.”

I recoiled in my seat. I was sure my cheeks looked like a basset hound’s, and the look in Brett’s eyes confirmed that. I felt all my muscles fall, making it hard for me to keep up a strong presence.

“I’m sorry, but he’s the most important person in my life,” Brett said, seeming to study me with each word. “I’ve fucked up so much, and if I didn’t have him, I’d lose my mind. Bentley has always been there for me—he’s that kinda guy. He likes to fix things and help people. He cares about his profession and all that encompasses.”

“I don’t know that he cares about me anymore, and I don’t need his kind of help. I’m sure others out there can benefit from his expert tutelage, if they haven’t already.” My stomach twisted as I wondered how many actresses he had helped.

Brett smiled. “Us Chambers men, when we care, we truly care. It isn’t a flippant emotion.”

“He once told me that he had a deep reach in our industry. I didn’t think that meant he reached up actresses’ skirts.”

That earned a lip curl and a shaking head from him. “And you know this how? Did he tell you that’s what happened? Because the story I got is completely the opposite.” He took a sip of his drink and studied me.

“Wait, he told you about this, and you’re sitting here questioning me? What do you mean opposite?” Bad decision to leave my drink on the bar. I could’ve really used it. Actually, I could have gone for a shot.
Where did that waitress go?

“Ya know, when he told me what you thought about him and that Lucy chick, I figured he was assuming the worst, but he wasn’t, was he? You think my brother has a habit of sleeping with actresses. Maybe you should get the facts before you jump to conclusions.” Brett smirked. “My brother doesn’t mix business with pleasure—he leaves that to me. Ya know what’s funny? We’ve both done it once, and we both lost the women we cared about. Except the one he did it with was the one he did care about. Ironic.” He drained his drink and placed the tumbler on the table.

“I don’t need this.” What had I done? I began to slide out of the booth, but he put his hand on my arm to stop me. My body stilled. I looked him dead in the eye as I tried not to lose it.

“Andi, wait.”

His voice wasn’t harsh, but it still pierced through me. I felt like an errant child. “No, I won’t wait. I met your brother because of his hatred of my acting. Do you realize how hard it was for me to ask for his help? And then have it become more?” My voice cracked. “Just when I thought I was special to him and fell for him, I found out I wasn’t the only one.” The hug Lucy had given him was very familiar, and I’d hated it. Imagining them in each other’s arms made me see red. “He knew my reservations from the beginning, and he discounted them. So if I seem a little on edge, I have a reason. I don’t have flippant emotions either.”

Brett raked his hand through his hair. “Look, all I know is he cares about you. I know for a fact he didn’t sleep with Lucy—he set her up with some famous acting coach. I also know you didn’t let him explain that. This is on you as much as it is him.”

My face heated as his words spun in my head.
A coach? He didn’t run lines with her? Oh my God.
“Oh.”

He let out a deep breath. “If he had told you about helping Lucy and still wanted to work with you, what would you have said to him?”

All I could do was stare at him because I didn’t have the answer. The air felt heavy, and my heart hurt with the thought that I’d let go of a man whom I had quickly fallen for. “I don’t know.”

“Maybe you should think about that.” Brett slid out of the booth and stood. “He’s a great guy, and I think you know that or you wouldn’t have cared about any of this. He’s not the type to take a week off from work for just anyone. I’ve never known him to do that.” He rubbed his chin before leaning toward me. “You hurt my brother, and if you two work this out, which I hope you do, don’t do it again.”

My eyes glassed over, and his handsome image blurred.

“I need to get back to work,” he said. “It was good seeing you. Feel free to stay and have a good time with your friends. Your night is on me.” With that, he turned and walked away.

Before I knew it, Seth and Gina were squeezing into the booth. Thankfully, Gina had my drink in her hand.

“What was that about?” Gina said.

“Bentley.”

Gina placed her hand on mine. “Are you okay?”

“I don’t know.” That was the truth. I had no idea if I’d ever be okay.

Seth chimed in, “Well, we’re here to celebrate, so let’s get this party started.”

I smiled at them. They were right—we did need to celebrate. But I needed to figure out what to do next, and staying at that club and having a great time wasn’t what I wanted.

Traveling to New York City for rehearsals for the week made me crave the big city life. Once the show ended, I’d miss the sounds of the train, the horns and sirens blaring, the yellow cabs weaving through the city streets. Hopefully, I could land something else then, but what really weighed on my mind was Bentley.