The Roles We Play Read online

  Even though he knew Kelly should tell Trevor everything, she still refused. She was so damned stubborn. The man was the real father of her child and she refused to acknowledge his existence.

  He’d tried every Kelly-worthy trick in his playbook to make her pick up the phone. Nothing worked. Now Trevor reached out to her and he missed her.

  Mark leaned over the bed they now shared and rubbed her shoulder gently. “Kelly, babe. Get up.”

  She grumbled and complained as she rolled over, her belly leading the way. “What?”

  “We’ve been asked to watch a certain broadcast.”

  He grinned when she sat up and tried to smooth down her unruly hair. His best friend was crazy pretty even when she was cranky and hormonal and had a basketball under her skin. As much as he didn’t want to get too cozy in his role as interim husband and father, every day he loved her a little more, cared a little deeper. At first it was easy to keep the distance between them. She was upset for weeks and he worked a lot.

  Everything changed the first time they sat in the doctor’s office and heard the baby’s heartbeat. Kelly gripped his hand so tight it cut off circulation. It sounded like a horse galloping. The quick thu-thump of a heart beating inside her made everything real for him. And wasn’t that a kick in the balls. It wasn’t an abstract thought any longer. Kelly was going to be a mother. A baby grew in her and that baby would need a father.

  A war raged within him ever since. It was unfair for Trevor to miss this experience, the heartbeat, the first sonogram, watching Kelly glow. He should have been the man sitting beside her getting the shit squeezed out his hand. Not Mark. Seriously, it had been painful. It should have been Trevor who brought her food when she was so sick she couldn’t get out of bed in the mornings. God knows he couldn’t cook. It should have been Trevor Jacobs who climbed in bed with her at night. As much as Mark had loved every minute of it, he was a substitute. Being second-string in the big game of life did a number on a man’s ego.

  Kelly loved Trevor. She was just too damned pig-headed to do anything about it. A couple days ago Mark had been working on her computer and found a file of pictures titled TJ. If a normal picture is worth a thousand words, these were worth ten thousand. The jealousy he felt had surprised him. As he scanned through the pictures of Trevor and Kelly making love, he grew angry with both of them, Kelly for pushing him away and Trevor for staying gone.

  Maybe this interview would show them both the light. Was Trevor planning to come clean about their relationship on national television? Mark almost hoped so. It would piss Kelly off, but he was tired of living in the other man’s place. It wasn’t fair to him and it sure as hell wasn’t fair to Trevor.

  “I don’t want to know.” Kelly huffed like a spoiled child.

  “Oh please. Don’t even act like you haven’t been stalking him online reading all the tabloids. Get your pissy ass up. We’re watching this show.” Mark hauled her out of bed and held her hand as they made their way into the den. Pops sat watching a western. “Hey, Pops. Can we change the channel?”

  “Sure. I’ve seen this one a hundred times. Don’t guess the ending is going to suddenly change now.” He tossed Mark the remote.

  Kelly curled up with one of the couch pillows. She and Pops had been distant since the night they sat him down and spilled their story about getting drunk and sleeping together resulting in her pregnancy. They never mentioned Trevor and never mentioned the fact she was too far along for their story to hold an ounce of truth. The old man had studied her, then Mark. His thick white brows dipped low as he exhaled slowly. He’d nodded, but said nothing else on the subject. All three of them had been living in a state of tension ever since. Pops knew, but no one said a word, especially not Kelly.

  Mark flipped over to the right channel and the Larry Quinton Show jingle played. He flopped down next to Kelly and grabbed a beer from the cooler he and Pops shared. It was hard to stay mad at her when she scooted over and cuddled up under his arm. His hand instinctively went to rest on her belly. They could feel the baby moving now and it tripped him out.

  Yeah, he loved her a hell of a lot. Too bad it wasn’t enough.

  “Tonight I have a man who has gone from Hollywood golden boy to Hollywood rebel,” Larry announced. “He’s no stranger to this stage. Please help me welcome back the one and only, Trevor Jacobs!”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Kelly despised the way her body heated as Trevor walked out for his interview. Dear God, he was every bit as handsome as she remembered. He looked so good with his fancy suit and charming smiles. The man knew how to dress the part as king of celebrities.

  As he stood on the stage, waving at the loud audience, Larry Quinton laughed when the ladies kept chanting and applauding. “I should have had more security. You’re going to cause a riot.”

  The two men shared a laugh and moved to sit down. Larry behind his desk and Trevor in a plush seat opposite him. “Wow,” Trevor exclaimed, his face beaming with pride and amazement. Her heart clenched. That face was made for the spotlight.

  “Thank you. Thank you so much. You guys are incredible.” His response caused more applause and he shook his head, laughing.

  “All right, all right, keep your panties on ladies, jeez,” Larry said and chortled. The audience finally died down and Larry turned to his guest. “Is it like this everywhere you go these days?”

  “Pretty much. I have enthusiastic fans.” Trevor smiled at the audience, who greeted him with more screams.

  Kelly watched his carefree laughter, listening to the opening banter between him and the television host. Part of her withered inside. That was his life. That was who he was meant to be. Not the father of an unwanted child. “Do we have to watch this?” she asked Mark.

  “Yep.” He took a drink of beer and never looked at her.

  She let out a huff and watched the screen again. This was going to be torture.

  “So tell me about this project of yours that has everyone in Hollywood so worked up. You’ve caused quite a controversy.”

  “Yeah, well. That’s Hollywood, all about the drama.” Trevor let out a deep breath and began his story. “A few months ago, right after we finished the promotional tour for Lethal Edge—” He paused as the crowd cheered for his latest movie. “Thank you. It’s a fantastic movie, great to do. Anyway, the studio hands me this script and says look it over, we think this could be your next big hit. I took it, ah, didn’t really know what to think about it at first, and I knew that I needed a couple weeks to regroup, get my head in the right place.”

  “Your work schedule has been grueling lately,” Larry agreed.

  “Right.”

  “So you disappeared?”

  “Best decision I’ve ever made.”

  “Where did you go?”

  “A military bunker.”

  “Really?”

  “No.”

  They laughed but Kelly let out a sigh of relief. “I will say it was…exactly the place I needed to be. I had the chance to look over the script, bounce it off someone who has a tendency to not hold punches.”

  “Someone outside the industry?”

  “Yes. After that new perspective on the script, I,” Trevor inhaled and exhaled, “I knew it wasn’t anything I wanted to be associated with as it stood. I told them to make some changes or I was out.”

  “What changes?”

  “What we ended up filming was nowhere close to what was presented to me. In my opinion, this film originally glorified the abuse of women under the guise of sexual exploration. Consensual or not, no woman should be treated like a rug to be trod on and beaten. I think when you strip it away to the bones of the film, that’s what it was telling women. Put up with a man’s abuse until he figures out how to love you properly. It’s crap. Women deserve better.”

  The crowd came out of their seats with applause. Trevor tipped his head to them, but his smile was tight.

  “How did the studio react to your demands?”

  T
revor laughed. “It took some negotiating, like I said. Once I shared my vision with them, they were receptive.”

  “I bet.” Larry looked down at his queue cards. “So after battling the studio, you decided to do something completely outrageous. Tell us about what happened next.”

  “I went on a mission to learn about the BDSM world, to figure out what it’s all about and how it started and why it’s so popular right now. Then I decided to show another side of the coin. The studio and I went back and forth daily for a couple weeks and in the end, we came up with something I’m quite proud of.”

  “You wrote, filmed, and edited in less than six months. That’s almost unheard of in Hollywood.” Larry was obviously impressed with what the actor had done.

  Trevor nodded. “Oh, it was difficult. I had some amazing actors, writers, and production assistants that rallied to the cause. We wanted to make a buzz with this film.”

  “I’d say you’ve succeeded with flying colors. We have a scene from the movie, why don’t you set that up for us?”

  “Yeah, this is a scene where the main character, Trish, is in the hospital after she experienced the negative side of this lifestyle and she’s realized there is something deeply wrong with her husband, who is the aggressor in their relationship. My character, Blake, is her older brother, who is learning all this for the first time.”

  Kelly sat up and watched the screen with wide eyes. A woman sat on a hospital bed with two doctors in the room. The doctor examined her wrists where she’d been tied up. There were burns from the rope. Excuses flowed from the woman’s mouth about how her sexual life was none of their concern. The scars on her back and neck were no big deal. They were some of the same excuses Kelly had given to her own doctors. Not that Trevor could have known that. Those were things she hadn’t shared. Trevor’s character was appalled, shocked by the revelation from his friend and comforting his little sister.

  Kelly’s heart raced and her breath quickened as she watched a scene from her own past being acted out on the screen. Only Mark’s heavy hand on her shoulder kept her grounded.

  “I’ll be damned,” Pops muttered from his recliner.

  When the scene was over, the cameras showed Trevor and Larry again. “I had the chance to preview the movie, as did our audience. That’s a powerful story. What was your inspiration?”

  Kelly, Mark, and Pops had moved to the edge of their seats. Would he tell the world about her past? Was he capable of such treachery?

  “Larry, I don’t believe in coincidences. While I was looking at that first script, I did some research and found so many cases where women have been abused and even killed when the men in their lives turn something sensual into something sadistic. I want to be the voice for these women.” A thoughtful smile crossed his face. “I want to be the kind of actor a woman would be proud of. Someone recently told me that I had more influence than I realized. It’s time more actors used that power to bring awareness to our nation’s issues. If it has to start with me, so be it. Anyone interested in getting involved to stop this kind of abuse can either go to my website or the movie’s website to find more information.”

  The audience went nuts. They cheered and applauded. Kelly felt her bottom lip tremble. He’d heard her. He’d heard every word she said and he was making a difference.

  “I have to ask,” Larry began once the crowd was under control. “Because our female viewers want to know, is there a woman in your life?”

  Trevor smiled brightly as the female audience members reacted to this question. “Not actively, no. But I’m waiting for that special woman to come around. Until then, I’m perfectly happy waiting until we both know it’s the right time.”

  Kelly bit down the inside of her cheek to keep from crying. The taste of her own blood tinged her tongue. Larry finished up his interview and went to commercial break. She sat still, unable to move. Mark and Pops were silent beside her until her grandfather walked to the cabinet and pulled out a DVD.

  “I guess we should watch this now. Jacobs sent it to me a couple days ago.” He handed Kelly the case. It was Trevor’s movie.

  “Why didn’t you tell me about this?” Kelly spit out with more volume than she intended.

  “You’re the one who set the tone here, Kelly Renee,” he scolded. “You wanted to ignore his existence and I have. Don’t get your knickers in a twist because I’m following your instructions.”

  Kelly went to argue, but shut her lips. He had a point. And he’d used her middle name, a sure sign he was in no mood to argue. They hadn’t spoken about anything because she’d told him not to bring it up. This was all her doing. Truth be told, she was dying to see what Trevor had done.

  “Fine. Let’s watch it.”

  She put it in the player and sat back down on the couch next to Mark.

  An hour and forty-three minutes later, the three of them were once again speechless. Kelly had tears streaming down her face. Mark was tensed and ready to combust. Pops had his mouth covered with his fist as he stared at the carpet.

  “Son of a bitch.” Mark wiped a hand down his face.

  Kelly’s stomach soured. Acid churned and rolled in her gut. She couldn’t find the words to speak.

  “The boy made a damn good movie,” Pops said. Mark and Kelly whipped their heads around. “No one will ever know where he got the inspiration. Face it, he made a point with his film. And he played the noble role of hero.”

  “Are you serious?” Kelly screamed and popped to her feet. “He took my story, my history, my pain and humiliation and made a damned movie about it! The only thing he left out was the miscarriage. I can’t believe him. And I can’t believe you for sitting there and liking it.”

  “Kelly, he showed that bastard getting what he deserved. He brought attention to the fact that women can get hurt and no one should overlook it. It’s a perfect example of how dangerous that bondage nonsense can become. Not even you can argue with that. You’re letting your personal feelings get in the way.”

  Their conversation was cut off by Kelly’s cell phone ringing. “Perfect. Just perfect.” She pressed the answer button and spoke to her caller. “You bastard. How could you? Do you have any idea what a betrayal this is?”

  “What? Did you even watch the movie? The interview? I’m trying to do what you told me to,” Trevor argued over the line.

  “No, you’re trying to profit from my pain. I can’t believe I trusted you.”

  “I’m not making a profit off your pain. Jesus, Kelly. Why are you acting so crazy about this? Didn’t you read the letter that came with the movie? A portion of the proceeds are going to women’s shelters and towards organizations promoting awareness of abuse.”

  Kelly stopped short. Too bad his motivations were trumped by the fact he’d taken her trust and thrown it away. “Good for you, Trevor. I hope that helps you sleep at night. But now every time I see your face, I’ll remember that you took my personal life and plastered it on the screen for the world to gawk at.” Her breath became labored and her head spun.

  “Your story could help so many women, Kelly—”

  “I can’t do this.” She hung up the phone and threw it at the wall. Pain streaked up her side and around her stomach. “Crap.” She grabbed her side and Mark rushed over.

  “Sit down, babe. This stress isn’t good for the baby. You know you’re high risk. You need to relax.”

  “I just pulled a muscle, Mark. I’m not dying.” She fought off his hold.

  “Hey. Don’t take out your frustrations on me. I’m here, remember? Not him, me.”

  Kelly fell back on the sofa and pinched the bridge of her nose. It took a moment to let her cramp subside and she eased back into a sitting position. “I’m sorry. You’re right.”

  “Why don’t you go run a warm bath? You need to chill out.” Mark helped her up and hugged her close. “I’m sorry, babe,” he whispered in her ear.

  “I should have expected as much.”

  “Kelly, come on.” Mark sighed. He p
atted her hair and kissed her forehead. “I think he had good intentions.”

  “I have more important things to worry about. I’m going upstairs.” Kelly tiptoed and kissed Mark, something they had begun doing for Pops’s sake. He kissed her back, putting as much into it as he could. It really was a shame his body didn’t stir with desire.

  “I love you,” he whispered before he let her go.

  “I love you too.” Kelly touched his cheek and turned away.

  * * * *

  Mark cursed and sat back down on the couch. Pops watched him and he knew it. Pops finally huffed and groaned and grumbled until Mark asked what his problem was.

  “Damn kids, must think I’m a basket full of stupid. You think I don’t know that girl’s in love with the movie star? Think I bought that bullshit about you two parenting that baby? You two couldn’t create a romantic spark if you had a lighter, gasoline, and box of fireworks. That child is going to come out looking like that boy on the television and not a hint of you anywhere. How were you going to explain that one, genius?”

  Mark chuckled. Of course the old man knew. He was nobody’s fool. Even if they had been treating him like one.

  “You know what really confounds me, son? I can’t figure out if you’re a sucker or a saint. How far are you going to go with this charade?”

  “There’s not too much I wouldn’t do for her.” Mark hung his head. “I’d stay with her forever if she needed me.”

  “I know you love her, son. But I have more passion for my morning coffee than what you two share. Guilt is a terrible foundation for a life together. You won’t be doing that baby any favors either. How do you think it will feel when he or she finds out who its father is? It’ll hate all of you. Use the brain God gave you, punk. After a few years you’re going to grow bitter and wonder what your life could have been. What happens if you meet the girl of your dreams, Mark?”

  “Believe it or not, Pops, before all this happened, Kelly was the girl of my dreams. We hung out, we went places together, she understood me, and I understood her. There was nothing and everything all in one. We had companionship without complications.”