The Ecstasy Series Book 2: Fake Dating The Movie Star
Author
Idah Zangata
Reads
117K
Chapters
28
You know you really love someone when you can’t hate them for breaking your heart.
Emily Bennet is the head of design at Dachie and the company has a summer campaign in California. California has always been forbidden territory for Emily but the pay check is worth getting a flight ticket, and that’s what she does, but what she feared about the city comes to pass on the first day on the job. She bumps into someone she swore she would never meet again and soon after their collision, she’s asked to fake-date him in order to save his acting career.
Chapter 1: Weak at the Thought
EMILY
It has been a month since I moved to LA. I miss my boyfriend Josh and our dog Wheezy. I wish they were here with me, but Josh loves his job, and we agreed to visit each other every two weeks.
My boss Danielle and her new business partner Christian are going to do a photoshoot for their joint collection Dachie before they showcase their work on a runway.
Danielle gave me the honors of picking the country’s most demanded top male and female model, and like a fool, I let Collin and Gabby talk me into picking Drew Anderson.
I looked him up afterward and found out that he’s best friends with my famous ex-boyfriend Adrian. I was a fool to think that I could change Danielle’s mind about Drew last minute.
The guy is in demand, everybody wants him, and the fact that Drew was already on board to do the shoot made her so happy she gave me a bonus. For picking him.
Sometimes, I feel like she spoils me for unnecessary shit, but she’s filthy rich, so I don’t complain much.
I am debating with myself on whether or not I want to go to the shoot tomorrow. No one knows for sure if Drew is going to magically show up with Adrian; he didn’t even post anything on his Instagram, which I followed for that specific reason.
The thought of seeing Adrian again makes me feel…weak. I thought I’d be okay about it, but now that it’s actually happening, I can’t stop praying that he won’t be there—because I know I’m going to go, no matter what I tell myself.
Seeing Adrian again in person is suicide.
I have a boyfriend now, and Adrian and Serena Ryan look like this Hollywood couple that makes you wanna say, “aww” every time you see them in a picture together. I still don’t know how I feel about that though.
“I ran into the mailman this morning and I confused him for Channing Tatum,” says Collin from the floor.
Our three-bedroom apartment is fancy and all, but it does not have air conditioning or a ceiling fan. It’s literally so hot I feel like I’m being boiled in soup.
“You should see the pizza guy,” Gabby responds from my bed. She’s lying down next to me with a book in hand while I’m leaning back against the headboard and Collin is spread out on the floor.
Collin plops on his elbows and looks at us. “Do you guys think we’re gonna run into Angelina Jolie?” he asks.
I giggle at his question, turning my gaze to Gabby, who looks lost in that book. “That question was meant for you,” I nudge her with my leg.
“Collin, my love, we’re meeting them all, starting with Drew Anderson, that fine piece of a man.” She whispers the last part.
Collin and I exchange a glance. Knowing Gabby, she’s probably going to tell Drew that exact thing to his face without stuttering.
“I’m gonna go pee,” Collin announces before getting up from the floor and walking out of my bedroom.
“Women in steamy romance novels are literally just so frustrating,” she says, flipping a page.
“How frustrating?” I ask.
“He says close your eyes, she obeys. He says get on your knees, she gets on her knees. He says take it off, and she does it. Like bitch, how horny are you?” She waves the book in her hands.
“It’s called dark romance for a reason, Gabby,” I laugh. I wish I could read what she’s reading, but I quit reading romance novels seven years ago. Why? A story for another day.
Gabby’s phone vibrates with a ding. She picks it up from the bed and looks at the screen. “Holy shit.” She lets out a small laugh, sitting up and looking at the screen. She probably has some celebrity gossip to share. It’s her thing.
“Did Zoë Kravitz like your comment again?” I ask through my laugh.
“No.” She turns her screen to me.
I see the names Serena Ryan and Adrian Mackey, and I immediately avert my eyes from the screen.
You know what the hardest part about being his ex is? Getting to hear every move he makes, against my will. He doesn’t know shit about me or my new life, but I get to see him on my phone, on my TV, and let’s not forget about that huge billboard of him that I saw a few days ago.
Can’t I just move on in peace? “Who cares,” I groaned frustratedly.
“I do.” She turns her head to look at me. “I care,” she adds.
“Good for you, Gabby,” I deadpan.
“People are going crazy over that kiss they shared after they won all three awards they were nominated for.” She keeps on telling me shit that I do not need to know.
“They did what?” My tone comes out higher than I planned.
“Shared a kiss,” she repeats, tucking her red hair behind her ear. “It was just for show though. They’re just friends.” She waves her hand in dismissal, but it’s too late.
My heart is already running laps, just at the thought of him kissing someone. The fuck? I place my hand over my chest and feel the ache, the sting. Calm down, my heart. We do not ache for him anymore. We don’t race for him.
“Friends don’t kiss.” I try my best not to sound desperate or interested as I grab my phone from the nightstand and act casual.
“You really shouldn’t be getting jealous, man. You moved on first.” She rolls her green eyes at me.
I know I moved on first, but who could blame me? He did not want to do a long-distance relationship when he first moved to LA, and I wasn’t going to wait for him to stop fucking around.
When Adrian became a famous actor, I decided not to tell anyone that he was my ex. Collin and Gabby were the only people I told.
Collin was the first one to believe me, but that was only because I showed him a picture of Adrian and me on our prom night. FYI, he froze for an hour. I’m not even kidding.
“I’m not jealous.” I say it more to myself, convincing myself.
She moves closer to me, placing both her hands on my shoulders. “It’s okay, Emily. It’s Adrian and Serena. We’re all jealous.” She pats my shoulder sympathetically.
I’m not bothered by this. I moved on, and so did he. We literally live in two different worlds now, but I’d like to think that we still have something that strings us to one another.
That something being the tattoos of each other’s names on our chests and the love that we shared. That’s all he ever truly gave me.
My door opens and Collin walks in. He looks between us suspiciously and then he sighs. “Gabby, please don’t tell me you showed Emily that fucked-up kiss.” He looks at her.
“She asked.” She shrugs.
I furrow my brows at her. “I literally didn’t.” I shake my head at her.
“Well, I felt like sharing with someone, so I shared. Sue me,” she says, getting up from my bed and trudging out of the room, shutting the door with a bang.
Collin looks at me with that worried expression.
I sigh.
“Is that a sad look on your face?” he asks.
“No,” I lie.
“You liar. It is.” He walks toward me. “You moved on first, remember?” He pinches my toe playfully.
“Yeah, but the memories are still there. I still remember the first time I talked to him, the first time he smiled at me, the first time he kissed me, and”—I exhale—“the first time he told me he loved me.” I look at him.
I feel them. The roller coaster of emotions that I buried, they’re crawling their way back to the surface.
“Yeah, but you’re with Josh now, and Adrian is just your ex, right?” He’s testing me.
Now I feel pissed off. “Things with Josh are so simple, okay? I literally don’t even remember the last time he and I had a fight, but with Adrian it was just screams, tears, heartbreak, good sex, love, more fights. Repeat.”
“Which is literally the definition of true love?” He says it more like a question.
“No, Collin, it was fucking toxic and it ended up breaking both of us,” I point out.
“Okay, I feel you, but if it was toxic and you both moved on, then why do you still have the journal he gave you? And why is his name still on your chest? And why is your name still on his chest?
“I mean, you’re both very capable of getting rid of all these things that still link you to each other.” He plops on my bed, looking at me.
Things that still link us to each other. He’s right. I hate it when he gets all smartass on me.
“I guess I just want to keep the memory of him. I mean, I loved him and he loved me, but we still didn’t end up together and we accepted it, you know.” I frown.
“I guess, but Emily, I know you think that you and Adrian will never meet again and all that bullshit, but stop using Josh as an excuse to say you moved on. I’m not saying I like Josh because, well, he’s way too good to be true. I’m a guy, so I know what I’m talking about, but just try to love the dude the way he deserves,” he tells me.
“I know.” I run a hand through my hair. “But what if Adrian shows up at the shoot tomorrow? What do I do then?” I ask him.
“C’mon, Emily, Adrian Mackey is booked and busy. I don’t think he has time to watch his friend pose and look sexy for the camera,” he says. He growls dramatically. “It literally burns my soul.”
I smile. “Drew is pretty sexy.” I nod in agreement. I burst out laughing.
