Page 17 of Wandering Wild
“Since you’re deflecting,” I say, “I assume you’re not going to sharewhyyou have a problem with me, despite never having met me before today?”
“And he’s smart, too,” Charlie murmurs, plucking at a thread on her pajamas.
It takes effort to keep from reacting. Instead, I implement my idea. “Then in that case, I propose we make a deal.”
That brings her eyes back to me. “A deal?”
“You help me with my image problem,” I tell her, “and I’ll give you something in exchange.”
Charlie snorts. “You don’t have anything I want.”
“You said you’d do anything for Ember. You also said Ember’s dream was to meet me, but that’s not entirely true, is it? Because Ember told me today that her dream is to become an actress.” I fortify myself against the way Charlie stills in the moonlight, and continue, “You might not think I’m much of an actor, but most of Hollywooddoes, which means I have the contacts to help Ember get a foot in the door.”
Charlie shakes her head. “She doesn’t want help.”
“She told me that as well, and I admire her immensely for it. But she’d also be a fool to turn down any advantage she can get, especially from someone like me”—just saying that makes me want to punch myself in the face—“and deep down she has to know it. As, I’m sure, do you.”
When Charlie looks torn, I go in for the kill: “I’ll put in a good word for her at the drama school she’s applied to, and if they offer her a place, or even if they don’t, I’ll talk to Gabe about getting her some auditions. We can connect her with local agents, or ones abroad, if that’s her desire. Whatever she wants, I’ll do what I can to open doors for her.” I drive my point home by finishing, “As unfair as it is, in this industry, it’s as much who you know as it is what you know. And I happen to be someone worth knowing.”
Charlie’s skepticism is clear. “With all the bad press you’ve had lately, how can you help her, when you can’t even help yourself?”
“That’s where our deal comes in,” I say. “It’s mutually beneficial. Once my public image is back to where it should be, I’ll be better able to help Ember reach her dreams.”
I can see Charlie struggling with this, her love for her friend warring against whatever problem she has with me. But, finally, she grits out, “What would I have to do?”
Hope blossoms within me. “Not much. You’d just have to rein in the attitude a little.”
She splutters. “Attitude?”
I send her a look. “What would you call it?” When she says nothing, I continue, “You don’t have to act all fangirl-obsessed, but it’d help if you didn’t glare daggers at me while the cameras are rolling. No sarcastic comments, no passive-aggressive remarks, no ignoring me. Treat me like... like...” I think quickly, and settle on, “Hawke. Treat me like you’ll treat him.”
“IlikeHawke,” Charlie says.
“Exactly.” Under my breath, I add, “Though, I find it supremely unfair that you haven’t cast judgment on him like you did me.”
“Hawke didn’t give me a reason to hate him,” Charlie states.
“And I did?”
Her eyes are flinty. “Yes.”
“But you still won’t tell me that reason?”
She turns away from me. “It doesn’t matter. After this week, we’ll never see each other again.”
There’s a strange burning in my chest, as if her words pain me, but that doesn’t make sense, since I’m just as eager to be rid of her as she is me.
“Do we have a deal?” I ask.
“Of course we do,” Charlie says, huffily. “I’m already stuck with you. I might as well get something out of it.”
“Technically, what you got was Ember meeting me today.”
“And now that that’s happened, what’s to stop me from flying home tomorrow?”
I freeze, realizing she’s right—there’s nothing stopping her. She and Ember could vanish in the night and I wouldn’t know until we’re due to meet Hawke’s producer.
“Relax, Zander,” Charlie drawls. It’s the first time she’s said my name, and a different kind of warmth fills me, making even less sense than the earlier burning sensation. “I might not want to be within a thousand kilometers of you, but I agreed to see this through, so you can lose the look of fear—I’ll still be here in the morning.” She sighs, then forces herself to say, “And I’ll try my best to make you look good. At least while the cameras are rolling. I can’t promise about the rest of the time.”
