The Actor's Contract

= 26

ing out the day. And

n Francisc

to places I've n

-

racted, debating whether a taco tru

y tummy actually starts to ache. These girls know just how

e pretenses, the friends

! B

e loud noise jerking us al

seems to decelerate quickly, maki

right. She concentrates on keeping the white BMW going in a straight line, her tongue s

es, and eucalyptus, mixes with dus

making sure we're okay. Mel is pale, a panicked look on her face, as though expecting

uction probably still haunts them. Mel told me the whole story in detail, from the car crash to the end, and

dured a lot

why we get along so well, we c

son, who's totally emotionless, and Logan, in contrast, who exhibits too many em

ast arm and opens her door. She inhales dee

e right front t

g at the busted wheel, as if it's

gh the dust particles in the air, and Mel sniffs unladylike before

." Kiara is the first one to com

hanging it' actually works. I've nev

" Haley suggests, handing Mel a bott

Then we giggle like 13-year-olds on their first

s and walks with a motivated fa

ifting," Kiara says, and Mel steps back, holding her hands up. I give Ki

and hand them to our v

t (without breaking a nail, might I add) and drop it unceremoniously on the gr

ter again, hanging onto each other so as not to fall over.

when the boys came to San Francisco didn't make it any easier. At least now I have some people to share things with, t

o loosen the first nut. However, the next one is so tight that

ht take

. Sweat already trickles down my face to po

fall backward on my butt ― again. Kiara lets out a squeal and covers her mouth wit

Looking like he's just finished filming a colo

ucking

me stray strands o

o be kidding

sing the situation like a man who kn

n fix

el asks, a question mark

his heart and gives us a big smile. "I am on my w

from my clenched hand, probably scared I'm going to hit the man over

ies. Some unpaired eyes flash into my mind. Yep, I kn

pare on and is tightening bolts. He works efficiently, confidently, like this is

o easy. Maybe I m

my ear, and I wiggle my eye

to cram the baby parcels back on top. With di

is a bouquet with a smile. The kind of sm

cue," I add, as I b

like he doesn

come ... Ar

I haven't introduced myself

. Y

ayer making a move. "Te

..." but he i

jump in the car to escape the uncomfortable

Kiara asks immediately

m n

Mel snorts. "He wa

y, glaring at the road ah

s to late-punch him from a distance. Brian

why. "Enrique will bury him in the ground without a compass,

' while looking at me through the rearview mir

aley giving the occasional "Mm

ck, sister!" I swallow

ponse I can manage without

ar with another ticked-off Blackburn. But his annoy

manage a deep sigh before he growls

melling the salty sea air. But I have no i

it seems like the most logical

ately trying to drive me ins

aybe they have this sibling-bond thing wher

ry again. The girls

with the press -" He kno

f my phone. I'm aware that this action will probably provoke him

It's him. She smiles

can

always this intense? I ask, ne

ara snorts, "That's them

.. a full moon thing

ay to Sunday thin

t it this way - emotionally, they're o

s, "Just layered. B

I gotten myself into? "S

Since you're new. Consider this your crash c

in a car chase and a crisis. Less great at matching socks and discussing feelings. But he's kind. He'll hold my hair while I puke

as if she's going to throw

He seems like the one wh

shit ... responsible, mysterious, a

s," Haley comments, "All doctors are

PM." I snigger. He actually does look like the type. But I've learned the hard way not

d, hero, heartbreak - with hungry eyes. He'll carry you through fire without blinking.

ther balanced," I g

e is ... relatively compared to the rest. Cries at dog videos

isaster," Haley smiles.

eah, let

y has cracks you don't see until you're halfway in love." I'm at tha

ou because he's 'protecting you from his darkness'," Kia

patience. And someone who won't run when it gets hard." I've heard enough. My hea

other, so I continue, "I said 'hi' to him and he just nodded. Like I was a m

"The kind you need to solve slowly. With cookies, a sedative, and at lea

roken ... broody ... and a little psycho," Haley c

ys, and shows up all broody in a leather jacket. He said a sing

," Kiara titters. Personally, I don't find him very funny. He actually terrifies me

he car an

s you, he'd kill for you. Quietly. Elegantly. And then make you tea," Mel says

he point of near-hilarity. As we continue, my mouth literally han

rd sign that reads ― 'Moodcups'. After finding out how they work, I i

least, I can tell what mood he is in. Mel buys two. Haley gets half a dozen -

cks, are packs of sea lions ― lazily squished against, and even piled on top of each other. Most of them are

to get a better view. They are so freaking cute. I

en I still don't move, she yanks me violently away an

hrough floor-to-ceiling windows. This time it's a spectacular postcard-perfect vista over

through the glass. Kiara pulls me onto a chair, and while spri

ailboats and ferries coming and going, and huge container ships lumbering into the harbor ― it

st like that, the

content state, and my eyes land on none other than B

Brian introduces them as PJ, a colleague, and Graham,

ce ― one that only Damion can put there ― b

If Brian hadn't wrecked my mood, the way they jumped may have

dn't tell me that SHE's part of the

ls for messing with his girl," PJ conti

ed look, while Graham

ly, looking around as if just summoned the devil. He

so courageous, now inciting a hate-filled expression. Some

last time," Mel sneers as she glares at Gra

shole," Gra

ack. Says Argentina was lovely." Mel is relentle

But at least no one died this ti

won." I don't have

ou better watch out, winning is his one true love."

he's expecting Jackson to materialize out of thin air. Well, given the boys'

ks playfully, and I bite my low

I hop

away. We watch them go. PJ whispers something to them, his body l

like them that we need direction

so familiar?" Ki

" Mel seems discomposed

behind them, "It's THAT Brian? And THA

se asses and order some FOO

e gives me a scornful stare as if I'm a moron, then

f my mouth ― if you take away Brian and