To Love Jason Thorn (Page 40)

“So far the only thing Megan has leaked to the media is that you were childhood friends and you’re playing in the movie adaptation of her book. Everyone is running with their own version of the story. If Olive says yes, you’ll have to be seen together a few more times and start playing the happy couple in front of the cameras. Then we’ll leak the news of the marriage after it’s all done.”

“Are you my publicist or my agent?”

“I seem to be doing everything for your sorry ass these days.”

“Yeah, well hopefully they won’t be talking about me for much longer. I’m tired of reading my name and seeing my face in the tabloids.”

Our waiter came by and picked up our empty plates.

“Is there anything else I can get you?”

“I’m good, thank you.” I looked at Tom. “You?”

“I’ll have an espresso,” Tom said.

“Were you able to get in touch with Jackson Merritt?” I asked when Tom was sipping his espresso.

“You know you lost another contract after the interview with the Canadian girl. Your next year is wide open right now. Maybe we should consider the offers you’re currently getting instead of going after the directors and movies you want to be a part of. They are not bad offers.”

“Nothing happened with the damn Canadian girl. How many times do I have to repeat myself?” I growled, getting the attention of people close to our table.

“Keep it down.”

“I worked hard to get where I am, Tom,” I said, lowering my voice. “Just because I messed up in my personal life doesn’t mean I’ll lay down and let everyone pull me to pieces. I’m damn good at my job. I’m getting married and keeping a low profile, aren’t I? If it’s not going to help my situation, why am I doing it?” I reclined in my seat and looked right into Tom’s eyes. “Since my schedule is open, I want to be in Jackson’s movie. Just a few months back, they were after me for the lead role and we had to decline because it was clashing with my schedule. Now it’s not. I want that part. Make it happen.”

“Easy there,” he said, pushing back his espresso as he leaned toward me. “We still have time before we go after it with all we have. Let’s just see how everything settles down in a month or two. If they don’t come on their own, then we’ll go after them. You used to trust me, Jason. That’s why we work well together. I won’t come to you with a role that won’t take you a step ahead of all the others, but you have to let me do my job.” His eyes hardened on me. “We can’t let others see how all this crap is affecting your career and you. Just keep it in your pants, get Olive to marry you, and we’ll get you back on track.”

Tired of my own damn life, I rubbed my forehead and decided to listen to Tom.

My eyes fell to my phone when it started vibrating on the table, Olive’s name flashing across the screen.

“It’s Olive,” I muttered to Tom, my eyes briefly meeting his.

“O-kay. Why are you not answering?”

“What?” I looked up at him with a frown on my face.

“The phone. Aren’t you gonna answer it?”

“I will,” I replied, but made no move to answer it. Instead, I picked up the phone and glanced at Tom again. “What’s happening right now?”

He looked just as confused as I felt. “You tell me, buddy.”

I thought about it for a second or two, then laughed. “Fuck me, but I think I’m actually afraid to hear her say no. I’m not sure I’ll go through with this genius marriage plan of Megan’s and yours if Olive isn’t in.”

The phone stopped vibrating in my hand.

When Tom laughed, it was a big, ‘hey people, look at me, I’m having the time of my life’ laugh. The bastard!

“You like her, don’t you? You actually like, like her.”

He was starting to get on my nerves. “Of course I like her. She’s always been important to me.”

He lifted both his hands up, his laugh dying down to a chuckle. “I should’ve known… You didn’t even put up a fight when her name came up, not like you did with all those other girls. You son of a bitch. Oh, this is going to be fun to watch.”

“Shut up,” I snarled at him.

Rising from my seat, I walked away from our table and dialed Olive’s number when I was standing in the little garden that served as the café’s backyard for smokers.

“Jason!” she answered in a terrified voice.

My entire body locked. “What’s wrong?”

“Jason, I…I’m stuck here. There are people outside the café.”

“Calm down, Olive. What do you mean there are people outside?”

“I mean there are ten or maybe more people camped right outside of the café. I’m mortified, Jason.”

“Okay, sweetheart. Take a deep breath, and start from the beginning.”

She did as I said, took a deep breath, and seemed to calm at least a bit. “Okay, sorry. I’m at a café called Dreamers, it’s near campus. I was supposed to meet with Lucy and Char for lunch between their classes, so I brought my laptop and came here early, hoping to get in a few words while I was waiting. I’m sorry I’m rambling.”

“It’s okay. Tell me who is waiting outside.”

“Well, Lucy and Char couldn’t make it, so I decided to head back home since I couldn’t get into my story, but the paparazzi is here, Jason. I didn’t even notice them before I walked outside, but one of them yelled my name and started snapping pictures and asking questions. I’m back in the café right now, but they are still out there.”

“Fuck,” I muttered, turning to head back to the table. “Did you see the news about us?”

“If you mean the stories where they describe what we ate last night, then yes, Lucy shoved them in my face this morning. What does that have to do with this?”

“Give me a second,” I said to Olive once I reached Tom. Then I told Tom, “I need to leave. Paps are camped outside the café she is in, and she can’t leave.”

“Do you need me?” Tom asked, his business face back on.

“No, I’ll handle it. I’ll call you later, okay?”

“Fine,” he nodded. “But don’t forget to call Megan after you have your answer from Olive. She has to handle all this and start spinning.”

I grunted, grabbed my car key, and left the café as quickly as possible.

“I’m on my way, Olive.”

“Thank you. How did they even know I was here?”

“Someone must’ve recognized you and tipped them off. There is already a hashtag on Twitter going on for us.”

“Perfect.” She sighed. “I don’t have a car, Jason. I walked down here. It’s a ten-minute walk, but I can’t just walk with them trailing me.”

“No. You stay put, I’m coming to get you. I’m sorry Olive, I should’ve known this would happen. Text me your exact address. Now.”

Ending the call, I got into my car and floored it.

***

I entered the café in a big commotion. Olive was wrong. There were at least twenty paps waiting outside and I knew more than anyone how relentless they were. When they saw me coming in for the save, they knew they had struck gold.