IT’S different riding to work with Bella this morning instead of Zayn. I’d gotten comfortable with our routine, and without him, my day already feels off.
“You all right?” Bella asks, jerking me out of my thoughts.
“I’m good. Why?” I ask her.
She stares out at the road through the windshield of her baby-blue Volkswagen. “You’ve sighed like five times in the last twenty minutes like something heavy is on your mind. Why can’t you admit you miss Zayn already and answer one of the fifty million texts he’s sent you?”
I open my mouth to argue there’s no reason to answer him, but she cuts me off.
“Don’t you dare try to lie to me again about what’s going on between you and Zayn. I know the two of you are fucking, and if you don’t tell me the real reason you showed up at my apartment five days ago all red and puffy like a man broke your heart, I’m going to throw you out of my car.”
My eyes widen. “Are we that obvious?”
“Vivi, a blind person could see the sexual tension between the two of you. It was only a matter of time before you both gave in to your primal urges and ravaged each other.”
I chuckle. “Ravage? Jesus, you sound like one of my grandmother’s historical romance novels.”
“It’s a damn good word.” She shrugs and then taps her fingers on the steering wheel. “So you going to tell me what really happened between the two of you and why you’re avoiding him?”
I know Zayn said no one can find out about us, but seeing as how he’s agreed to go on a date with Gia, it seems like he’s no longer banned from being with women. Fuck the Devils and their dirty fucking management.
“Remember how the Devils ordered Zayn not to date anyone?”
“Yeah?” she probes.
“Because of that, we’ve been on the down low messing around.”
“For how long? The entire time you’ve been here?” she questions.
“Not the entire time. Remember when we went to the Devils game?”
“Uh-huh. The game was amazing, but those creeps beside us put a damper on things a bit. Wait!” Her head whips over in my direction for a split second before she refocuses on the road. “You slept with Zayn after the game? How did it happen? What changed between the two of you that night? Tell me everything!”
Her excitement for gossip when it comes to our relationship is sweet.
“The hot dog-beer guy’s name is Taber, and not soon after you left, he approached me in the player’s parking lot. He called me some disgusting names after I refused to give him my number, and Zayn heard everything.”
“Oh, shit. I bet Zayn lost his mind. What happened?”
“Taber tried to punch Zayn, but Zayn was too fast and popped Taber square in the face and then forced him to apologize to me.”
“Damn. Good for Zayn. This story makes me like him even more. First this guy and then Gia? Zayn is good at putting people in their place. I respect that.” She’s quiet for a moment. “So what went wrong? Why are you moving out of his place then?”
“When the Devils higher-ups watched the surveillance video of the fight, they questioned who I was, and Zayn told them I was his niece.”
“Wait…I thought that’s what I heard him say to Gia—that you were his niece—after the two of you denied you were together. Did he lie about it because of the no-dating stipulation?”
I nod. “Exactly.”
“Wow. Gia thought she had a chance with Zayn until he shot her down.” She laughs. “I’m so glad I was there to see that. She’s such a spoiled brat who hates the word no.”
My insides twist as I think about just how much Gia is getting her way right now with Zayn. “Well, Gia is the one getting the last laugh.”
“What do you mean?” she asks as she pulls down the street where the set of Love in the Sands is located.
“Gia is the granddaughter of the Devil’s owner, and she convinced her grandfather to essentially force Zayn to date her in order to keep him from getting suspended following the fight with Taber. Gia believes it will help her climb some social ladders or some shit.”
Bella’s brown eyes widen. “What in the actual fuck? Are you serious?”
“Unfortunately, yes. Zayn and I fought over it because I don’t understand why he had to agree. I mean, I get it helps him with his job and all that, but if he cares about me, why wouldn’t he just breakdown and tell the Devils we’re together and he can’t date Gia.” I sigh. “I moved out because I can’t stomach the thought of seeing Zayn and Gia together, even if he’s only going on three dates for business purposes. You don’t do that if you’re into someone else.”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, Vivi, because I love you, but I can see Zayn’s side in all of this. Rich people hold a lot of power, and if all of Zayn’s problems can go away by taking Gia on a few dates, then it seems like a good deal. Zayn isn’t into Gia, we both heard him say it to her face.”
My lips twist. “Yeah, but Gia also told me she would be willing to do anything Zayn wants, and well, what if Zayn takes her up on that? I don’t think I can handle knowing they’ve fooled around or worse, slept together.”
“He’s not stupid, Vivi. Zayn won’t do that to you.” Bella parks the car and then turns to face me. “A man doesn’t go out of his way to bring a girl to work every day and make sure she has her lunch if he doesn’t care about her. Zayn has it bad for you. Gia is trash and doesn’t compare to you, so you’re going to have to trust Zayn’s feelings for you is strong enough to shut down any temptation of doing anything with Gia.”
Hopefully, she’s right. Zayn isn’t dating Gia because he wants to. He’s been forced into this situation, and I’m partly to blame for it, seeing as how he was defending me against Taber’s unwanted advances.
“Maybe you’re right. I think I was just so pissed at the idea of Zayn with Gia I haven’t thought all these things through. Zayn’s made it clear to me he wants nothing to do with Gia. I think I’m going to call him after work tonight and see if we can meet and talk.”
Bella smiles. “Good. You need to work things out with him because the two of you make a banging couple, and I’m here for it.” She smacks my leg. “Now, let’s get this party started. Season two, here we come.”
We both get out of the car and head toward the familiar trailer we worked in during last season.
I wasn’t here on the first day when season one began filming, but Bella said it was much more hectic and a total shit show because so much stuff was missing than today has been. I’ve run my ass off, and it’s only approaching our lunch break.
“Vivi, can you hand me the blush right there?” Cindy, our new makeup artist, asks.
I do as she asks and watch as Cindy works on touching up Gia’s makeup. Cindy’s new here and doesn’t despise Gia like the rest of us do, so she’s being friendly, and Gia is eating it up, talking nonstop about herself.
Cindy’s bleach-blond hair is buzzed on the sides while the top has some length and reaches just below her ear on one side. She’s older than us, in her early forties if I had to guess her age, but she’s still a knockout with her off-the-shoulder sweater and leather pants. So far I like her, but I hope she isn’t fooled into believing Gia’s a nice person.
“So anyway, I have a date with the guy tonight, and we’ve been sending sexy texts back and forth, so I’m excited to see where the night may lead.” Gia giggles.
My hand freezes over the makeup, and my heart beats so hard in my chest, I’m sure it’s about to explode.
They’re fucking sexting?!
It’s a good thing Zayn isn’t here right now because I’m ready to wrap my hands around his neck and squeeze. I can’t believe what I’m hearing. I thought Zayn wasn’t interested in Gia? So why in the hell is he texting with her?
My nostrils flare as I attempt to calm myself down so I don’t go postal on Gia and lose my damn job. I’ve got to keep a cool head.
I give Cindy the blush, but she’s still talking to Gia. “By the sounds of it, you’re in for a fun night.”
“I am.” Gia looks up at me in the mirror and then smirks. “Sorry you had to hear all of that sexy talk about your uncle, Vivi. I’m sure it’s gross for you to picture your uncle and me fucking, but I promise I’ll be good to him. Don’t worry.”
My hands clench at my side, and I open my mouth to fire some select curse words at her when my arm is yanked, pulling me back and putting distance between Gia and myself.
“Girl, don’t do it,” Bella warns. “I heard what she said, and as much as I want to see you mess up her pretty face, you can’t. She’s the host of this damn show, which means she has way more pull around here than you or me. So chill.” She takes a deep breath. “Besides, I think she’s lying.”
Could she be? “Let’s find out.”
I pull out my cell, and Bella’s eyes lock on in. “What are you doing?”
“Asking Zayn if it’s true. I’ll have my answer soon enough.”
Me: Did Gia send you dirty texts?
Three dots appear and I tap my index finger rapidly against the side of my phone, waiting for his answer.
Zayn: Yes.
More dots appear, but I’ve heard enough. I go to Zayn’s information in my phone’s contacts and block him. I don’t give a shit what else he has to say nor am I interested in listening to him try to defend his actions.
“What did he say?” Bella chews on the corner of her lower lip.
I stuff my phone into the back pocket of my jeans. “He said it’s true.”
Bella’s head tilts, and her bottom lip pokes out into a pout. “I’m sorry, Vivi. Men are real shits sometimes. Some of them need a taste of their own hurtful medicine so they can see the hell they put us through with their games.”
My head rises, and my mouth drifts open. “That’s it!”
“The crazy in your eyes is scaring me right now. What are you doing?” Bella questions and then gasps when she spots the name on the top of my text. “Vivi, no. If you’re done with Robert, there’s no need to drag him into this mess.”
“Why not? Robert’s here to win me back, and what better way for the two of us to talk and work out our bullshit than at the premier party? Besides, I need a date to the event since Zayn is busy taking someone else.”
Me: Are you free on Thursday evening?
Robert: For you? Yes. Want to get dinner?
Me: I need a date for a premier party for the show I’m working on.
Robert: Yes. Where should I pick you up?
Is it wrong to use Robert this way? Absolutely. But he owes me a favor for how shitty he treated me. It’s his fault I got involved with Zayn in the first place. While I would’ve found Zayn attractive when living with him, if Robert had come with me like we’d planned, I would’ve never jumped Zayn’s bones. I’m not a cheater and am faithful to the man I’m committed to. So no, I don’t feel guilty for using Robert to piss Zayn off because I know he won’t like seeing me with Robert anymore than I’ll enjoy watching Gia paw all over him all night.
“Done,” I say with a smirk as I shove my phone back into my pocket.
Both of Bella’s eyebrows rise. “Girl, I hope you know what you’re doing because you’re playing with straight fire.”
She’s right. This is a big dangerous move to make, but Zayn’s hurt me, so I want to hurt him back.
