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Or maybe they only wanted to screw me

Either way, I didn’t need it

“Hey Busy ork tonight Maybe some other time”

A frowny-face reply came almost instantly Sorry to disappoint Well, not that sorry I had biggersure there was a war

As soon as I tucked my phone back into my pocket, my eyes were back on the screen I settled into the couch in ht out the largeoverlookingon the screen After what had happened to Dad, I needed an escape, and these flicks were always good for that

Things were getting good This ent nah-powered h-tihly publicized breakup with actress May Thorne, Hunter had an equally in-the-tabloids breakdown, complete with booze and an expensive sports car wrapped around a telephone pole on Santa Monica

No one had been hurt, but the daone froress that no director wanted to touch with a ten-foot pole

In the scene I atching, hi to brainstorm ways to mend his reputation And I was there for it, bowl of popcorn and M&Ms at hand

“The problem is you look like a wreck,” said Shannon, all serious-faced and power-suited as she sat on the edge of her desk “Who wants to hire an actor who ht screw up production with another screw-up like that?”

Hunter ran his hand through hishis head “But that’s not the man I am I’ve been in this business since I was a kid—why should this one thing ruin my whole damn career?”

“Looks like you’re learning the hard way that all it takes is one mess-up to undo what you’ve worked so hard for And—”

“And?” asked Hunter, raising an eyebrow

Shannon sighed “Look, what you do in your personal life is none of my business Well, I take that back—it’s exactly my business”

“What’re you trying to say?”

“Hunter—you’ve been a fixture on the front page of every gossip blog in this town, you and whatever up-and-co your fun with that week”

I snort-laughed Pretty relatable protagonist, if you asked me

“I know, I know—”

“And it doesn’t help that, as Matthew McConaughey once said, you get older and they stay the sae”

“What, I’m not allowed to date?”

“Of course you’re allowed to date But when you date like that, people are going to have their opinions on the matter”

“But what does that have to do with this?”

“Point is that people have been expecting sory for it”

Hunter stood up and stepped over to theof Shannon’s office, the view of the sweep of Hollywood “Happy to give them some meat to chew on, in that case”

“Well, I’m not—I’m the one who has to clean up your messes”

“Isn’t that what I pay you for?”

Shannon narrowed her eyes “Keep up that attitude, and you ent”