Wardrobe Malfunction

by Samantha Towle

  “It’s in my trailer.”

  “Convenient.”

  I step closer to her, and she steps back.

  I hate that so fucking much.

  I grit my jaw. “We need to talk,” I say in a whispered voice. “And we can’t do that here with Ava listening.”

  “Maybe I don’t want to talk to you,” she hisses.

  “I don’t care if you do or not; you’re going to. I won’t have you thinking something that’s not true when I can clear this up for you right the fuck now.”

  She laughs, and there’s not a trace of humor. “I’m not an idiot. I know what I saw, Vaughn.”

  “And I know what happened.” I step toward her again, and she doesn’t back away this time—probably because there’s nowhere for her to go. “I’m going nowhere, so you’d better come with me to my trailer if you don’t want me to cause a scene and let everyone know what’s going on between us.”

  Her eyes narrow to slits, and her lips pinch. “You won’t do that because you have more to lose than I do.”

  I fold my arms across my chest. “Right now, I don’t fucking care if the whole world knows about us. I care that you hear me out.”

  “Fine,” she huffs as she shoulders past me. “Let’s get this over and done with.”

  “Oh, we won’t be done,” I mutter behind her. “Not by a fucking long shot.”

  “I’m popping out for a few minutes, Ava,” she calls out before stomping out of the trailer.

  Arms folded, she marches her way to my trailer, ignoring me the whole way.

  The minute we’re inside and alone, I lock the door. “What you saw isn’t what you thought it was.”

  She laughs bitterly, her face reddening with anger. “You couldn’t have used a more cliché line if you’d tried. But whatever, Vaughn. You’re free to do whatever you want. We’re not together. We’re just fucking.”

  Well, if that doesn’t sting.

  I know she doesn’t really mean that. She’s hurt and angry, and she’s lashing out, but it still pisses me the fuck off.

  “That’s bullshit, and you know it,” I bite.

  “Do I?” Her voice pitches higher. “Because, from where I’m standing, that’s all we seem to be doing.”

  “I told you last night that I’m serious about you!”

  “And I thought you were just messing around!” she yells back at me.

  I grab her arm, crashing her into my body, and I slam my mouth down on hers. She fights me for all of a second before wrapping her arms around my neck and kissing me back.

  I break off, breathing heavily and pressing my forehead to hers. “Does this feel like I’m just messing around?”

  “No,” she whispers.

  I take her face in my hands, tipping her head back, forcing her eyes to meet mine. Knowing I have her attention, I say what I’ve needed to since she walked in on Piper and me, “Pins…Piper just turned up here and let herself in. I was in the shower, hence the lack of a shirt. I told her to leave, but she wouldn’t listen. She said she wanted me back. But I don’t want her, Charly.” My words are clear, so there’s no misunderstanding. “You just walked in at the worst moment possible. I was just about to shove her off me, I swear. I don’t want her. I don’t even fucking like her. Honestly, I don’t know what she thought she would achieve by turning up here.”

  “You loved her once, not so long ago, and she broke your heart. I saw the news stories, Vaughn, about how you were out nursing your broken heart with drinks and…women.” She looks away.

  “You’re wrong. I never loved her, and she definitely didn’t break my heart. What happened with her and Cain…it was his betrayal that hurt me.” Her eyes flash back to mine, and I know she’s still listening, so I continue, “With Piper, I felt humiliated because she’d been screwing around with my best friend behind my back, and I had no clue until it was outed on live TV. I never loved her. I know that for sure. But Cain…that fucking hurt. He was supposed to be my best friend. I trusted him. I’d known the guy for ten years. And, when it came down to it, I didn’t know him at all. That was what the partying was about. He broke my heart. Not her.”

  Her expression softens, and she touches her hand to my face. I close my eyes at her touch.

  “I’m sorry he did that to you,” she whispers.

  “And I’m sorry you walked in on that psycho trying to get grabby with me.” I open my eyes. “But I swear to you, it was all her, not me.”

  “I believe you,” she says.

  I can’t tell you the relief I feel at that.

  “Thank you.” I take hold of her hand and kiss the palm.

  “I’m sorry I acted like a jealous person,” she says.

  “Don’t be. If I’d walked in on the same scenario with you and an ex, I’d be in jail right now.”

  She giggles.

  “My trust took a real battering when all that shit happened, but I trust you, Pins.” And I do.

  “I trust you, too. I’m sorry I reacted badly. Just seeing her and you…”

  “Like I said, Pins…jail.”

  I grin, and she laughs again.

  “If I’d known she was groping you without permission, I would have stabbed her in the ass with a pin.”

  “And I would have really liked to see that.” I laugh.

  Then, I kiss her—because I can and because I have to.

  Honestly, I can’t imagine a day when I won’t be kissing her.

  Vaughn

  I’m running lines with Alex in my trailer when there’s loud hammering on the front door. Before either of us gets to say anything, the door flies open, and Charly comes stomping through it.

  “What the hell is this?” she asks, waving her cell phone around in the air.

  I’m getting the distinct vibe that she’s pissed off about something. I’m just not sure what the something is.

  “Um…your cell phone.”

  “I know it’s my cell phone, smart-ass! I’m talking about what’s on my phone.”

  “And what’s on your phone?”

  She glares at me. “You tell me!”

  I glance at Alex, and he shrugs. Lot of fucking help he is.

  “Pins, have you been drinking?”

  It’s a valid question but probably not the best one to ask because her nostrils flare, and she gets this crazy look in her eyes. I genuinely shit my pants.

  “No, I haven’t been drinking, you ass! A first-class plane ticket, West. What the hell were you thinking?”

  Ah. Now, we’re getting somewhere.

  I upgraded her flight to Vegas from coach to first-class and put her on the same flight as me. We leave in two days to go to Vegas to film the rest of the movie.

  I thought she’d be happy. Apparently not.

  “And I’ll take that as my cue to leave.” Alex gets up, putting the script down. “I’ll get some coffee.”

  “Deserter.” I glare at him.

  He laughs. “Go easy on him, Charly.” He pats her shoulder as he passes. “His intentions were good. He’s just a bit dim at times.”

  “Hey! What the fuck?”

  “Can I bring you coffee back?” He pulls his jacket on.

  “Where are you going?” Charly asks him in a nice-as-pie voice.

  “Starbucks.”

  “Ooh, I’ll have a caramel latte then, please. Thanks, Alex.”

  I buy her a first-class plane ticket and get yelled at. He offers to buy her a four-dollar cup of coffee—that I’ll actually pay for—and she’s all please and thank you.

  Honestly, I don’t understand women.

  “Black coffee, Vaughn?” he asks me.

  “Yeah.” I sigh. “And one of those toffee cookies.”

  “A Toffeedoodle?”

  “Ooh, I’ll have one of those, too,” Charly says.

  “Got it. See you in ten.”

  We both watch him leave. Then, Charly turns back to me, her face like thunder.

  Seems her happy moment left with Alex. Great.
/>   “Pins…I thought you’d be happy about the ticket.” I get to my feet, walking toward her.

  “It was a nice thing to do—”

  “I’m a nice guy.”

  “But it was also dumb.”

  “Hey!” I frown. “Go easy there, Pins. My ego is fragile. I wound easily, you know.” I slap a hand to my chest.

  Her lips crack into a smile. But she’s soon back to scowling at me. “Did you even think when you booked the ticket?”

  “I didn’t book it. I had the studio do it.”

  “Yeah, and nothing says we’re sleeping together like a first-class plane ticket on your flight.”

  Oh, yeah. She has a point there.

  “Do you want people to know we’re sleeping together?” she asks.

  “Maybe I do.”

  What?

  Her eyes widen with surprise. Honestly, I’m a little surprised myself.

  I didn’t know I was there yet.

  But…maybe I am.

  Is that why I had her ticket changed?

  “Vaughn…” She swallows, moving closer to me.

  I watch her closely. Her eyes…something in them isn’t sitting right with me.

  “Are you sure that’s what you want? Because I thought you wanted the focus to be on the movie right now. Not your sex life.”

  “Personal life. I thought we had established that you and I are more than just sex.”

  Even though we haven’t discussed exactly what we are. But I know I want her. I know I’m serious about being with her. I know I want more from her than just sex.

  “I know we are, but…” She looks away.

  “But what?” I ask, dipping down to look her in the eyes, my heart starting to beat just that little bit faster.

  She lifts her head. “I just think the focus should be on the movie and not us.”

  “It’s not just that though, is it?”

  “Of course it is.” Her response is too quick, and I know she’s not being entirely truthful.

  “Charly…if you’re not ready for us to go public or to have your life changed, then it’s fine. I do understand.”

  She stares at me for a long beat. Then, she bites her lip. “Are you angry?”

  “No.” I wrap my arms around her. “So long as you’re not ashamed to be with me.”

  “As if.” She laughs, fisting the back of my shirt in her hands. “I’m pretty sure the embarrassment should be on your part.”

  “What?” I pull back from her, looking at her like she’s lost her mind because she clearly has. “Why in the fuck would I be embarrassed about you?”

  “Because I’m just a wardrobe assistant.” She lifts her shoulder.

  “You’re an artist. I read lines that other people write and pretend to be a different person for a living. It’s not as big of a deal as people seem to think it is.”

  “I think it’s a big deal.” She slides her hands into my back pockets.

  “I think you’re a big deal. When we finally go public, I’ll be wearing an I’m Sleeping with Her T-shirt, you know, just so everyone knows we’re screwing.”

  “You’re so romantic.” She laughs, squeezing my ass.

  “And you love it.” I brush my lips over hers.

  “Mmhmm,” she murmurs.

  “I’ll have the ticket changed back,” I tell her. “I’ll have you stuck back in coach, if that’s what will make you happy.”

  “You make me happy, West.”

  “Right back at ya, Pins.” I slide my hands down to her ass. “So…Alex won’t be back for another eight minutes. I can do a lot in eight minutes.”

  She tips her head back and smiles. “Oh, yeah? You have me intrigued with that statement.”

  “I’m an intriguing kind of guy.”

  She pulls her hands from my pockets and steps back. “Guess you’d better show me then, Mr. Eight Minutes.” And she takes off for the bedroom.

  I’m seconds behind her, shutting the door behind me. Grabbing her around the waist, I tackle her down to the bed, making her laugh.

  Then, I’m lifting her skirt and pulling her panties off and pressing my mouth to her pussy, making her moan my name, and it has never sounded better than it does coming from her lips.

  I lick her and fuck her with my tongue until she’s coming around my mouth and begging for my cock.

  Moments later, I’m suiting up and slipping into her from behind, and then we’re fucking up against the wall and on the floor and, finally, the bed where we both come hard and together.

  I’m still not done because I can’t get enough of her.

  So, I flip her onto all fours and start to fuck her with my fingers, making her come again and again. Then, I’m back inside her, and I never want it to end.

  I never want my time with her to end.

  So, those eight promised minutes turned into an hour. Seems I’m Mr. Sixty Minutes.

  And our coffee is waiting for us when we finally emerge from the bedroom. It’s cold, and it’s the best fucking cold cup of coffee I’ve ever had.

  Charly

  We’ve been filming in Vegas for a week now, and it’s hot. Hotter than the summers I’m used to in New York.

  Things with Vaughn and I seemed to have moved up a level after the Piper thing.

  Neither of us has come out and said we’re dating, and we can’t exactly go out on dates in public, but it feels like we’re dating. It’s more than just sex.

  The fact that he wanted to go public with us said a lot. A hell of a lot.

  But it also reminded me of the difficulty of the situation that I find myself in right now.

  I never thought, when I started this thing with Vaughn, that it would move beyond anything other than sex for him. I knew I was falling for him; it’s impossible not to. But, when he said he wanted people to know about us, it made me realize that, when he’d said he was serious about me, he really meant it.

  Honestly, in that moment, I panicked. I acted like a coward. I used a half-truth to keep things the way they were, keep our relationship hidden from the world.

  I don’t know how to tell him the truth about my situation. If I can tell him the truth. I trust him, but telling him…explaining it is a whole different story, and it would also mean putting him in a position that I don’t want him to be in. But, if he finds out any other way, he won’t understand. He’ll be hurt, and I don’t want that either.

  So, for now, until I can figure this out, it’s best to keep our relationship as it is—between us.

  I need to talk to Nick. He’ll know the best way to handle it. I just don’t seem to have time to call him at the moment. Between nights spent with Vaughn and going out on the odd occasion with Ava and Logan to see the sights of Vegas, we’ve been filming nonstop.

  Filming has stepped up, as Vaughn has a three-day break in his filming schedule coming up.

  Apparently, it was written into his original contract. I found out about it from Ava when I got the shooting schedule for next week, but she doesn’t know why he’s off or where he’s going in those three days.

  And I don’t know because he hasn’t told me. He hasn’t even mentioned that he’ll be gone for three days, which has left me feeling a little weird. I mean, why hasn’t he told me where he’s going? But I’m not going to ask him. I’m going to wait and see if he tells me.

  I’m on set now. We’re out in the desert, and it’s nighttime.

  They’re filming a scene where Vaughn’s character, Drew, and Natasha’s character, Lexi, are burying a body in the dead of night in the desert. Natasha’s character killed someone, and she called Drew to come help her.

  We already filmed those scenes back in the hotel yesterday. Now, we’re filming the burying-the-dead-body scene. I spent most of the day getting Vaughn’s clothes ready for it. He needs sets of the same suit but in different degrees of dirtiness.

  As he won’t actually be burying the body, he won’t get as dirty as his character would, so I had to prepare five different suits
, dirtying them up to varying standards with blood from the dead guy when he’s lugging the body around and dirt from the digging.

  They’re getting ready to film. Vaughn and Natasha are in makeup, but I need to go get him from there, as it’s time to put him in his first suit of the night. I also said I’d retrieve Natasha for Logan, as he’s just putting some final touches on the dress she’ll be wearing for the first part of filming. I have no clue where Ava is. She went to go get coffee, and she hasn’t come back yet.

  I step out of the wardrobe trailer, and the heat hits me immediately. It’s nine p.m., and it’s boiling. I’m just glad I’m dressed in jean shorts and a T-shirt. I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like for Vaughn wearing those suits. He’ll be melting.

  I head over to makeup, knock on the door, and step inside. But Vaughn and Natasha aren’t there.

  “Where are Vaughn and Natasha?” I ask Grace, one of the makeup artists. “They’re needed for wardrobe.”

  “Oh, they’re out on set with Brandon. He wanted to go over some things with them before they started shooting.”

  “Cool. Thanks.”

  I head back out of the trailer and around the back, heading for the set, which is lit up with floodlights, and the car Vaughn’s character drives the dead body out here in is set in position.

  People are milling around on set, but I don’t see Vaughn, Natasha, or Brandon.

  I head over to John, one of the camera crew guys, who’s setting up his camera. “Hey, John.” I smile.

  “Hey, Charly.”

  “Have you seen Vaughn and Natasha? I need them for wardrobe.”

  “Coffee.” He jerks his head in the direction of the catering van.

  “Thanks.”

  I head toward the van, coming up to the side, where I hear Vaughn and Natasha talking before I see them.

  “So, not long till Sasha’s wedding then?” Natasha says.

  I know Sasha is one of Vaughn’s sisters, but I didn’t know she was getting married.

  “I bet she’s getting excited. I remember what I was like in the run-up to my and Carter’s wedding.”

  “Yeah, she’s driving my mom nuts. Bridezilla at its worst.”

  “Are you taking Charly with you?” she asks in a lower voice.