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Quinton sways closer, a beer in one hand, the other outstretched "You can’t give out now It’s early!"

"It’s 1 a started!" Meredith says

"I have to get up to and run"

They both look horrified "What, before shooting?"

I wave to Jenna, who’s dancing nearby, but I don’t look for Reid "Yeah, it’s a uys tomorrow!"

The valet calls a taxi while I wait in the shadow of the building, watching the e students pass I’ve never told anyone except E ability to co I could never express the emotions of so many various people, some of whom I can’t stand even if they are fictional, if I didn’t constantly watch people interact

"They’ll have a taxi over in a couple ht drawl

"Thanks," I answer, handing him a tip

"No problem" He smiles back and stuffs the bill in the front pocket of his vest

As I peel a breath las exits the club alone and arette So up is curiously attractive This allure can probably be traced to the old black and white movies Mom and I used to watch, where everyone smoked: Cary Grant and Clark Gable and Bette Davis, arettes loosely held like insidious little props

Lighter back in his pocket, Grahah everythe stress of the day with the hazy strea to see if he’s noticed theh his dark hair and tapping on his cell He seeaze and I’ and pushing away frohta break from the club scene, or are you just that addicted?" I ask, teasing

He glances at the cigarette in his hand like he has no idea how it got there "Er… both?"

"Ma’a back to the hotel?" he asks, and I nod "Mind if I tag along?"

"Sure, no problearette into an ashtray atop a trash can and follows ive the name of the hotel to the driver

"I’m Graharip is fir

"Emma" The cab driver otten into a cab bound for a hotel, and we’re exchanging names My face fla momentarily to the cabbie He clears his throat "So how did fil to observe, but decided I could use a day to go over the script and, you know, oversleep"

"It went really well So off-caroupies just off set"

He shrugs, s "Yeah, if fans discover his location, he’s oes"

"Huh," I say

His phone buzzes and he checks the screen, types a reply and returns it to his pocket When we arrive at the hotel, he brushes off my effort to pay half We’re both silent as alk to the elevator I think about hi his room in his pajamas to play sleepover with someone, probably Brooke, from their postures in the club… But he left the club, and Brooke, and came back to the hotel with

The elevator’s low-key ding announces the fourth floor, and I nearly stop breathing as I realize what hecome back to the hotel withas alk down the carpeted hallway, I hear nothing beyond the swish, swish, swish of the blood racing through my ears I recall Emily’s tales of Hollywood hedonism Shit I didn’t plan to stand out as the cast prude quite so soon, but there’s no way I’uy I just met, I don’t care how hot he is

As we approach his door, he pulls out his wallet, retrieves his key card and turns toyour cab"

"No problereen and he opens the door "Well, goodnight," he says, while I stand there like afor lance back, and I’, "Idiot," to myself

Chapter 10

REID