Idolized (Hollywood Stardust Book 3) (25 page)

“I signed it too.” He scooted his chair over and opened the manuscript.

CC – you are making my star shine brighter. RS

“Oh.” She ran her fingers over his handwriting. Fine, his signature topped what she won. “I don’t know what to say.”

He leaned into her ear. “I was hoping that you would say later I would get lucky.”

Though she hated the relief that washed over her, she also relished in it, and faced him. “Trust me, you’re getting lucky.”

“Excellent.” He pulled her into his lap.

At the sudden movement some loose pages fell out of the script.

“Ah.” Ryder scooped up the papers. “Now these I cannot give you as these are the ones I need for work.”

She glanced at the papers, then at Ryder. “Read something.”

“You have plenty of books, go pick one and we can go read in bed.”

“Are you shy?” At his reluctance, she had to laugh. “Read something from the famed William, our rock star. Your main part of the story is first.” She thumbed through a few pages and stopped at one and pointed.

“I’m not singing for you. You’ll have to get the voiceover artist for this scene.” He reached for the script.

She held the script back. “Don’t tell me my superstar has stage fright.”

“Fine, I’ll read.” He took the script. “But only with the caveat that no matter what you think of my voice, we’re still having sex.”

“I’ll go one further and say we won’t have sex unless you sing me these two little lines.” At her challenge she raised her eyebrows.

“All right, but only because it’s you.” He cleared his throat.

She watched as his eyes darted over the page and his demeanor completely changed. The bit of playfulness that always seemed to grace his face vanished. He took a breath and started with the dialogue.

“Roxanne, look at what we’ve built. We have the dream.” His voice came out deep and strong with a bit of longing. He gave her a little nudge and pointed to Roxy’s line.

She paused, but having a feeling he wouldn’t continue unless she played along she read the line. “We do, we have everything, who would have ever thought we would end up here, but…” Without a doubt she didn’t sound anything like an actress.

“But nothing.” Ryder continued and sat up. “I know you’re nervous with everyone coming to the concert, but this is your chance. You are a star, my star, maybe not in the way you thought, but this is it, we made it.”

“Do you think so, really?” Cora read the cue and ran her hand over William’s, wait, Ryder’s cheek.

“I do.” Also keeping in character, Ryder took her chin, and turned her toward him and finally sang.

Since the day we met I knew it would be us two.

The love we have together is experienced by so few.

With his lines out, he gave her gave her a light kiss.

His untrained voice possessed something, something he’d been taught to ignore or stifle, but something that needed to come out.

They pulled back and stared into each other’s eyes.

In an instant, William disappeared, leaving Ryder and she bit her lip.

“You look a little star struck.” He laughed and brushed her bangs aside. “Actually, you look a little confused. It’s my voice I know.”

She shook her head. “Did William always love Roxy like that?” The emotion in the words or the way Ryder delivered them made her heart sort of ache.

“What?” He narrowed his eyes.

“That’s what I heard in your song.” In truth, she felt a little breathless.

He stared into her face. “That’s what you heard?”

“Were his feelings always that deep?” She had to have the answer.

“You said you saw the movie, and you made the second one, don’t you know?”

When she didn’t answer, he stood, taking her with him. “Well, while I planned a different one of my movies for tonight, I think we’re going to have to go back to our roots.” He brought her into her rarely used living room and sat them on the couch. “I have dessert, be right back.”

Still a little taken with the song and watching Ryder act, she didn’t have a chance to protest before the man disappeared into the kitchen once more. Maybe they needed to make a musical.

In less than a minute, Ryder returned with an assortment of chocolate covered fruit and joined her on the couch. At last real food. Well, it would have been real food if he ditched the fruit. She still wanted her steak.

In a move straight out of a family made-for-television movie, Ryder settled in the corner of the couch and gathered her up to lay against him. He leaned up enough to retrieve his phone out of his pocket and fed her piece of chocolate covered banana as he took a selfie of them. “Always nice to document the evening.” With a little laugh he shoved his phone back in his pocket.

“Let’s get this going.” Using a remote, he pressed some buttons and put his feet up. “Try to really watch it this time.”

Suddenly the apartment was filled with that godforsaken theme music to
Hollywood Stardust
that to this day made more than half of the female population in the world drop their panties.

The credits rolled over the screen and the establishing shots of high school and road maps set the stage, and rather than the first time she watched the movie, where she barely saw any of it due to her giggling girlfriends, or the second time where she spent more time watching her phone and making sure the sequel would be a sound investment, she did as Ryder requested and actually watched the movie.

If she were ever on a game show and quizzed about what
Hollywood Stardust
was about, she would have said four kids in a car, sex and a spoiled brat girl who had three guys panting after her. The reason the movie was a success was every female wanted to be Roxy, every teenager wanted to escape, and the movie came out at exactly the right time.

Then she truly watched the movie.

Watched a girl who wanted to go on a quest to the Hollywood Stardust theatre, but more than that, she wanted to go a quest for her heart, and her place, and her life, but she was a teenager and didn’t really know where to go searching. Hell, Cora was an adult and she didn’t know the answers either.

She watched the three guys each on their own path of self-discovery. Charles the brain needed a relief valve before he headed into his tests. He knew he wasn’t going to get the girl and never even tried, but instead he made a lifelong friend. Steven slept with Roxy. He represented the unattainable guy, and once Roxy attained him she lived out the fantasy.

Then there was William.

The proverbial good guy. The one every girl said she wanted to be with, even though deep down she wanted Steven. The one who, above anyone, loved Roxy.

As the end of the movie approached, Cora sat up. She knew the end—everyone knew the end. The end was one of the most famous endings in movie history. Still, her heart raced. Charles went home, where he needed to be, the right decision for him.

Steven drove William and Roxy up to the Hollywood Stardust theatre and Cora’s heart pounded as William took Roxy’s hand and led her toward her destination.

Steven went the way of all the bad boys every girl wanted to change and drove off.

William pulled Roxy into his arms, gave her a hug, then Roxy opened her eyes and watched Steven drive away.

The screen faded to black and her adrenaline getting the best of her Cora jumped up. “Oh my god!” At her own outburst she clasped her hand over her mouth and turned toward Ryder.

“I know, I know, Steven drove away. She should have ended up with Steven.” Ryder shook his head.

“Are you nuts?” She stomped her foot. Then unable to discuss it, she crossed her arms and paced the length of the living room.

“Wait!” Ryder went to her and took her by the shoulders. “Cora.”

Jaw jutted out, heart still pounding, she looked into his eyes.

“Give me your view of the end.” His tone came out as serious, as if he were playing a neurosurgeon in a movie.

“I think we should go have sex now.” She tried to get away, but he held her in place.

“First tell me.” He widened his eyes.

No question, Ryder would bug her until she told him. “William brought her to her goal. I think in many ways he was her goal, but just like any end, you wonder what else could be, but…” She huffed and let the rest out. “…William loved her.” Her voice did not crack when she said that last part. Damn, yes it did.

Suddenly, Ryder pulled her in and kissed her, a hard kiss where he wrapped his arms around her and even bent her back. He broke the kiss, leaving her breathless.

“Ryder?” She practically panted.

“Before I have my way with you, I have to commemorate this moment.” Once more, he got his phone, positioned them in such a way to give them some great light and snapped a picture. “I’m going to put this up on my social media. It’ll be great for both of us.”

His fingers flew over the phone, and he even added a little caption.

Regular stay at home night with a private movie screening and yes, she would have picked William.
He tagged her and hit upload.

Off in the distance her own phone sounded off, letting her know Ryder mentioned her. By morning, the picture would be all over Chargge and everywhere else, like she wanted, and like she had to remember. Just the regular night with the normal couple.

HOLLYWOOD STARDOM

FADE IN:

INT. ARIZONA – INSIDE STEVEN’S HOME OFFICE - DAY

STEVEN – late thirties, hair pulled back dressed in a white shirt and jeans, is in his office at his computer.  Posters from the various movies he has directed hang on the walls.

STEVEN

Roxy!

ROXY

(Enters breathless)

Did you figure it out?

STEVEN

(Spins the chair toward her)

Stand right there and strike a pose.

ROXY

(Smiles)

Direct me first.

STEVEN

(Raises his eyebrows)

Stop.  Look me in the eye.  Give me a pose that makes me squirm in my seat and hold it.

ROXY licks her lips puts one hand on her hip and the other one on her collar, opening her shirt slightly and stands perfectly still.

STEVEN