The Actor's Contract

a few days after the

a midnight call

os Angele

ia. With

V

t the choice

he peop

hat there's ALW

cline' on the pop-up notificat

ey are

ife chooses

fate. I call it 'A

oices ... I hav

unexpected call when I so de

myself, taking one last look in

look li

wing up rainbows. A towel wrapped around my head like a stressed housewife in a telenovela, face

r first im

ng his call. And I'm defini

ed sigh, I cl

rs for a second b

ate gray. Clean, modern lines. Floor-to-ceiling windows glistening with

st

that is criminally unbuttoned. He looks like a

e

e dark wood headrest of an unreasonable large bed,

interrupted a ritual sacri

t of my tee, just to remember I'm actually

at you're prepping for me. I just was

makes the mask crinkle. "Yo

. But it's his eyes that make me stare. One is a sharp, icy blue. The other blue, swirling

rf

p, you're d

mouth with the back of my hand. He sniggers softly -

erybody

"Are you alway

enever I'm freezing my balls

oxi

th dramatic botheration, then

t the window. The rain taps faintly on

ies, grayer coffee. I was hopin

g sharp twist in me. It could be my gut. However, th

close to this man is going to be pai

ho chose it - me

my wet red curls fall over my shoulders. His eyes twitch. "However, I

ightly, though something shadows his expression for just a second. "Long story that include

say just to

st the rest of the world." I don't want to dw

s and the more likely it is to leak out," he adds as if he's forced

keep a secret secret is not t

r of my shampoo wafts into m

myself, and pushing som

hould discuss. My mood morphs f

my laptop onto my lap. "Let's talk about this. No flirting. No jokes. Just

no fun at all, are you?" He sounds li

orced detachment. "So ... point one - I pretend to be your girlfriend. Publicly sta

e eyes me, and I'm sure those strange eyes can read minds. I try to hide the guilt mixed with exha

rown, he adds, "I know she started her chemo." My

done some digging ... there's a fi

im see the pain in my eyes. "S

second. Then, gently - "I'm

to say that. You just need to hold up your end of the contract." I do

ent slide. "She

smile. She never

states. Actually, she likes all

w. "Is that

les. It

that she's obsessed with

rvant, with the memory of an elephant. Great.

. I force mysel

pay you back." I don't like taking money from

a job. An exchange. You help fix my image - I

e for a beat, contempla

lary," I agree, "But anything extra will be a loan

stack of pages in my lap. The paper is warm from my hands, creased at the edges from me gr

low hum of the storm in the background. I wet my lips, narrowing my eyes at him across

He leans back, stretching out like he owns the entire Berlin, one arm slung la

he asks, tone d

n the coffee table, sharp enough to sting my tongue when I speak. "Si

al parts charm and menace. The kind of smile that says

rt is thrumming like it's auditioning to be the percussion in a marching band, but my tone stays brisk,

the window as if applauding him. He tilts his h

lable heavy with mischief.

hang in the air, w

ith eac

auda

walrus. Attractive. I glare harder, gripping the papers

ap, the slam of my wor

knows I won't take the saucer away. That smile says he doesn't believe me fo

n say it out loud. "Mov

iod before either party may publicly date again." Strange ... but yeah ...

spicious," he explains.

nappropriate conduct in public, no arguing, no fighting, no

to this weird express

o you want to

e me for any reason ... privately or publicly." I

I would?" He loo

a rather callou

Ro

less look. He sulks, as if my words m

I always dress presentably." My voice is fir

rks.

like I just escaped a cult ... or a strip club," I add, sin

"So just to be clear ... your version of 'presentable' includes a jet-b

then lo

r

unicorn's eyes are crossed. T

... expressive look. It screams cult with a hint of stripper." Can he see my nipples?

my chest. "Are you -?! You absolute -!" I stutter.

ning like the devil. "Hey, you said you were p

e impo

g smug. "Men tend to notice tits an

e screen, cheeks pink. "

"If this is business, it's t

o a feeling I'm not eager to dissect. He's either hungry, angry, or horny. Feeling a

s there any clause you have a serious problem w

A little her

if it's the most natural thing to do ... leave my whole life behind to move

hot guy. And free Wi-Fi." His telepathic abilities scare me a little. I'm pretty sure only v

seriously. "You d

o. Your file h

re at

school so Noah could study. You've been working three jobs while enrolled in night classes at the cosmetology school, which

gain, elbows resting on his knees. "You

uld be desperate enough to say yes." Althoug

perate. I wanted someone real. Someone with something to lose. And your brother literally fell

re what Noah, fate, or the universe has to do w

the story?" I ask, c

hips, six pregnancies, fifty-five harassment calls, seven stalkers, of which three got vio

e a pl

yb

brands that want me to stop being a headline for sex and start being a headline for stability. A.k.a

t can't be worse than my previous experiences. I'm sure

e says, "I want a sweet, grounded girl. Real.

sound like a

e sound lik

r that. You're an id

his lips. I can't help but smile - just a flicker - befor

ckly, like he just grabbed the fi

l of his body on the bed, as if gravity obeys him. The glint of someone who thrives on

ou look like the type who does

I'm not wrong. This

es, pretending to be wounded.

houlders forward like I'm giving a lecture.

h amusement. "So ... a farmer's market?"

believ

nd warm, velvety, and annoyingly cont

LA. I was a waitress, you w

rough the room like the flare of a struck match. For a

sound is dangerou

as there for the show ... you carried wi

harcoal mask even more.

You said no." Sounds about right. I would have thought he was an obnoxious ass ... a sexy, perfect

number. Not after the i

You waited for me outside, handing me your very expensive Italian shirt to wash.

u're catc

" Noah will know I would never move in wit

went up. You had nowher

ove?" I

en you weren't there." Nope, not good enough. I

t round of chemo with the new doctor." Now that's

the soft ping of rain echoing fa

ell Noah?" I

rry on his face. Well, I'm not comfortable with

ou going to tell your f

ey'll find ou

ay I move in?

ow," he hoots a roar. "I swear he has top secret NSA cleara

y." I'm not gonna lie. This

to it." Still ca

won

This hits too close to home. I th

h. "Un

him. Be polite and not my usual self." I believe he'

l be fine. Don't worr

eed to think. I ne

there anyt

g register that makes it sound like he is about to propos

rt with me while

hink this version of you is the most hones

need to end this call. H

or into my mind? And I've

nging u

g in person, Batnip." Wha

laptop shut and s

just fall in love or explode?" Thin walls.

ith

d, traitorous things. Whi