CEDAR CREEK SERIES

Dylan

‘Love Triangle Brewing?’ Was the headline to go with a photo from the premier. Carter and I were holding hands and Jace was whispering in my ear with his arm around me and I faked smiled through the awkwardness. I rolled my eyes at my Instagram feed as I waited for the show to start shooting. I tried to not read stories or comments about myself but it was hard.

“Where is he? Are we just expected to sit around all day and wait for him?” My costar Ava Brown was pissed because it was our last day of filming and Jace was 2 hours late. “If he doesn’t show in the next five minutes I’m leaving.” 

“Chill drama queen. I’m right here.” He slurred coming onto the set. He slumped onto the couch next to me and smelled like a brothel. He put his hand on my knee and I immediately stood up.

“Jace. What the hell? It’s the last day man.” The director Rick yelled.

“What? I’m ready!” he yelled back. “Which one do I get to fuck today?” He pointed at Ava and I, we both rolled our eyes. Season 1 he was with me, season 2 he got to be with her, and he’s spent the whole season going back and forth between us.

“Dude. It’s just the intro, we filmed everything we can, we just need you in these two scenes.” Rick had aged 10 years working with Jace these last three years, we all had. 

“I said I’m ready.” He growled even though he was clearly not. 

Filming took twice as long as it should have because Jace kept slurring his words. The writers rewrote the intro on the fly so now it was more Ava and I. I showered the day off of me and was glad to be finally done with Flawless. It was bittersweet, it opened so many doors for me. I filmed 5 movies in the last three years that were 100% because of my connections on Flawless. 

I stayed at the wrap party as long as I felt was required but I left the crew to party it up. Ava and I had gotten them watches as a thank you gift for a great few years. Jace was in the corner making out with some assistant. I went over and asked her to get me some water. 

“Aw, Dylan do you want me all to yourself?” he asked as I shooed the girl away.

“No, I just want to give her the option to come to her senses and realize she’s making out with a pig. Go get sober.” I stomped away before he could respond but I could feel his eyes burning into me. 

“Dylan here’s your water.” The girl handed me. She looked no older than 18 and I felt like I needed to warn her of drunken mistakes.

“Thanks. Hey, Jace has a reputation and not a good one. You could do better.”

“Do better than Jace Mathews? As if. I know what I’m doing. Thanks though.” she immediately skipped over to his lap and I had a nasty twist in my stomach.

I rolled my eyes and headed home. Maybe it was time to consider a move and get out of LA. It felt the same everyday, the same people at the same parties and I was over it and now that I didn’t have steady work I could move if I wanted. 

I got home and showered and crawled into bed. Everytime I let myself think about home I started to think about him. Jax Evans would be the one who got away. I thought about the night I almost fucked him but I wasn’t forceful enough. I was so paralyzed by his blue eyes burning into me. I started touching myself to the thought of Jax wishing I had the memory of the real thing to finish myself off. 

“What happened to you last night?” Carter asked, flopping into my bed. “We were supposed to meet up and you never showed.”

“Was over it.” I said honestly rolling over and laying my head on his shoulder. “How was the party?”

“Got a blow job in the bathroom so actually good you weren’t there.” He grinned at me. 

“You’re a pig.” I rolled my eyes and started getting up. “I’m going for a run you wanna come?”

“Nah. I got a game later. ” he said turning on my tv and kicking his shoes off.

“You know you have an apartment right over there?” I said pointing to my front door. I started changing my clothes and Carter stared at the TV. 

“Smells better here, pulse your bed is more comfy.” He settled against my pillows and stared at me. “Your ass looks good.” 

“Thanks.” I turned and looked at my ass in the mirror. Coming from Carter it was an innocent compliment and he was right it was starting to look good. “I’ll be back in an hour.”

I always went for a run to clear my head. Me, Taylor Swift blasting through my  headphones and just an empty trail in front of me. It was the only time I felt free. When I came back to the building there were 4 paparazzi photographers standing outside. It wasn’t completely abnormal; someone probably saw me leaving and they had waited for me to get back. I wasn’t in the mood and I looked like trash.  I tried to get past them and they kept insisting on a picture. I looked at the door man for help and he was trying to get past them. One of them grabbed my arm and I panicked instantly. Everything that happened next was a blur, all I remembered was Carter scooping me up and taking me inside as I was paralyzed against him.