Vicious Circles - By Leann Andrews Page 0,18

piece of his clothing. Somehow, we were there, together. All our clothes had been littered along the floor with the burger wrappers. Mason and I stopped our exploring and just took a good look at one another.

“It’s okay,” I whispered and rolled so he was hovering above me.

With the blessing I assumed he was waiting for, his lips met mine once again. He sighed and flipped us so I was on top of him. I didn’t move right away. Instead I looked down and studied the lust written all over Mason’s face. His hands never stopped roaming my body and it was almost too much. How could I ever let another man touch me after he had? I felt ruined.

Chapter 7

One mistake almost always leads to two more. From there it multiplies until your life is unrecognizable. Mason and I met at such a sensitive time in my life. On one hand he helped me out but on the other, he unknowingly invited a whole new life form into my already unstable world.

July 2009

I stared at my reflection in the mirror as I sat in the little trailer on set. The transformation from the me months ago was astounding. I’d made it through my first acting experience; a top rated crime show. When they called me to come back, I almost shit myself. Mason, couldn’t have been prouder.

Things hadn’t really changed since Mason and I slept together, the night I found out I had my first job. Sex just showed up at our door every now and then. Of course we let it in and never spoke of it afterwards. Talk about your red flags.

The best thing about the whole situation was that I didn’t have to sleep in a shelter anymore. Yeah, I didn’t make enough to get a place of my own but that was a pipe dream anyway. I did, however; make enough to rent a room at a decent hotel.

Overall, I looked like a functioning member of society, by Hollywood’s standards and no one would ever be the wiser.

Someone knocked on the trailer door. “Come in,” I called not willing to let my own gaze go.

“Hey, are you ready? I was waiting in the car but I thought maybe your day ran long.” Mason climbed the steps and came all the way in the door.

“Shit, I’m sorry. No, I’m ready.” I grabbed my things and I followed him out.

I waved at people I worked with along the way. I knew most of what went on around me was superficial but damn if it didn’t feel nice to be noticed for good things.

“How was your day?” Mason asked, hitting the button on his keys to unlock the car.

“Today was amazing. I had this really wicked makeup…” My words caught in my throat. Across the street, a pair of familiar eyes had apparently followed my every move since walking off the soundstage.

“What’s the matter?” Mason followed my gaze. When he realized who it was he turned back to me. “Just get in the car.”

“Fallyn! Long time no see!” Jill yelled over the passing cars. She checked the street and crossed. She didn’t look any different, except she did.

Her hair was black and it had grown out a bit. She reminded me of a snake as she slithered across the pavement in her impossibly high heels.

“We’re in a hurry,” Mason said, trying to save the situation.

Jill smiled sweetly. “I won’t keep you. I just wanted to say hello.” Her eyes burned into mine and I knew she was pissed. “So, you’re working here at the studio?”

I held my hand up to silence Mason who was about to open his big mouth again. “Jill, you have a lot of nerve. You left me to rot in Philadelphia.” I was practically yelling and I made sure to point my finger right in her face to get my point across.

I expected so much more from her, the bitch, but her reaction was pitiful. She smiled and left; just walked away.

“What the hell was that?” I asked a wide-eyed Mason.

“She disappeared. That’s what you said.”

“I…she…fuck I can never tell with her,” I sputtered. “This is bad. Really bad.”

Mason started the car but instead of putting it in drive he turned to me. His jeans made weird sounds on the leather seat so I concentrated on those to keep me in the moment.

“This doesn’t change anything, right?” He flailed his hand back and forth between us. I assumed he was referring to our unspoken