The Roommate Equation

As if I wasn’t already disappointed about Exact Match, Ash’s text message guts me. She’s bailing on me to eat with the wife of the man who’s trying to screw me over. The timing couldn’t be more convenient.

Chapter Twenty

Ash

I gather a handful of new scripts I picked out for Nico Chase, hoping Vinnie approves of my choices. Nico is on his last leg with Brenton-Lake. If I can keep him from losing his agent, I will. Knowing the brutality of this business firsthand, I don’t want to see a once bright star burn out because he fell on hard times.

Vinnie summons me with an attitude, his deep voice booming through the speaker on my phone.

“Ash, get in here!”

I clasp my hands in front of me and lower my head, jokingly whispering, Yes, master. My voice is low enough that Vinnie doesn’t hear me. Not like it matters. Vinnie usually barks his orders and then slams down the phone before I can answer.

When I enter his office, Vinnie is tugging at the ends of his dark hair. He looks as if he has aged ten years in the last week.

“Five different studios,” Vinnie groans.

I set the stack of scripts on his desk and stand there, waiting for him to elaborate. He glances over at the top screenplay and sighs.

“No one wants to work with him.” He shakes his head. “I hate to say it, but it’s time to let Nico go.”

“Give him one more chance.”

What am I doing?

He’s the hotshot agent.

I’m his assistant.

I need this job if I want to move back to my apartment. Well, that’s not looking too hopeful at the moment. I still owe the landlord two months’ rent, making my stay in Malibu more permanent than I had anticipated.

Vinnie’s eyes are red-rimmed and glassy. The smell of vodka wafts off him, burning my nostrils. I have never seen Vinnie so distraught over a client. He hasn’t been himself the last few days.

“You believe in him,” Vinnie says. “Why?”

“Because Nico was considered one of the top actors in the world. He’s still the same person, and he needs our help.”

Vinnie’s eyebrows rise. “You think you can help him?”

I shrug, unsure if someone in my position can help anyone. “I don’t know, but I would like to try.”

He shoves the stack across the desk toward me. “Get a studio to work with Nico, or I’m letting him go.”

I stare at him, slack jawed, and he waves his hand to dismiss me. Why did I have to stick up for Nico? Now, I’m assigned an impossible task. Studio execs won’t speak to a nobody like me, which means Vinnie has already made up his mind.

He knows I will fail.

Once I’m at my desk, my cell phone dings with a new message from Savanna Carter, reminding me that she’ll pick me up in an hour. I was shocked when she offered to take me to lunch. Until the other night at the club, I hadn’t heard from Savanna in over a year. Her entire life has changed for the better, while I’m still struggling in every aspect.

It’s not her fault you’re a hot mess.

You’re jealous. Get over it.

Lately, I have to remind myself that this moment will pass. I will get through this rough patch and get my life back on track. One day I will land a role or sell a screenplay that will make all of my struggles worth it.

I shove a slice of pizza into my mouth, and my stomach growls like it’s possessed. I drank way too much last night and didn’t eat breakfast. I rolled out of Dylan’s bed a few hours before the alarm clock, unable to sleep. For most of the night, I had nightmares about Sloan finding us together. I imagined both of our lives falling apart because of yet again another mistake.

But was it a mistake?

I don’t know.

“Mmm,” Willow groans as she chews her pizza. “This is so good. The last time I ate here, Harley surprised me with a birthday dinner and told me to order everything on the menu.”

“How’s it going with Harley living in Philly with Nate?”

Willow rolls her shoulders. “Harley said I can live in her house for as long as I need, but I don’t want to take advantage. I’m looking at apartments in your neighborhood.”

“At least you won’t have to move in with your brother and his friend who keeps organizing your stuff.”

“It could be worse. And at least you get to enjoy the perks of living there.”

Savanna leans forward, one eyebrow raised. “What perks?”

Willow wiggles her eyebrows. “The all she can get orgasm buffet.”

My mouth falls open in shock.

Savanna gasps, turning her head to look at me. “Wait, you’re with Dylan Banks?”

Shit.

I shoot Willow a warning look that says not to push the subject further. No one can know about Dylan and me. Savanna is an old acquaintance, not someone I trust with my secrets. Her husband is in the middle of a merger with Date Crashers. I won’t feed her information that her husband can use against Dylan.