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