Brooklyn Monroe Wants It All by Karen Booth

Chapter Thirteen

Alec loved movies,and could admit that getting to attend opening weekend events was one of the best perks of being well-known, but he despised the red carpet. There were always too many cameras flashing at one time, he never knew which way to look, and all the while his mother’s voice was ringing in the back of his head telling him to stop slouching.

In theory, the event for Lavaman would be right up his alley. No tuxes, no long line of limos, and a red carpet that was far more egalitarian—for a sea of superhero film fans and a handful of VIPs early on a Friday evening. Of course, Brooklyn and Jason were going to be there together. But there were only so many problems he could think about at once.

Alec decided to go as Everyman as possible, forgoing a taxi or even driving himself and instead walking to the theater. It was the end of a beautiful late October day, the last strains of sun casting the city in an orange glow. This was what made living in Manhattan so magical. It was on days like this that New Yorkers fell back in love with the city.

Since it was a fan event, he didn’t dress up—just a pair of khakis, a blue cashmere V-neck sweater, and a pair of sneakers. But as he got closer to the theater, he quickly realized that his otherwise pedestrian attire was about to stick out like a sore thumb. Everyone—absolutely everyone—was in full-on cosplay. Grown men were wearing wigs that looked like flames, kids were carrying homemade versions of Lavaman’s magma bow-and-arrow, and there were women wearing the catsuit version of Jason’s superhero suit.

“Fuck.” Alec stood to the side, not wanting to venture anywhere near the red carpet. The press was going to murder him alive. Because of his job, he was already perceived as a mayonnaise sandwich on white bread in many circles. This urban dad look he was sporting was not going to make him seem any cooler. Part of him wanted to escape, but he also knew that he wouldn’t get any credit from the network for attending unless he was photographed at least once.

And then there was Brooklyn. He’d told her he’d be here. And he wanted to keep an eye on Jason.

He texted her. Are you here?

Almost there. Why? Where are you?

At the theater. What are you wearing?

Are you trying to sext me?

He grumbled under his breath. Invite said costumes encouraged, but optional.

You didn’t wear one?

Nope.

And now you feel like a dork.

Exactly.Alec seriously considered turning around and going home, but he had a second reason to be here—to see if there was a real love connection between Jason and Brooklyn or if it was something else. He had to do it for her sake. And selfishly, his own.

A serious journalist wouldn’t wear a costume. You’re a serious journalist. Even when you talk about guacamole.

Alec smiled at his phone. He and Brooklyn had their issues, but she could make him feel so much better. It was a big part of the reason he fell so hard for her the first time. And why he was struggling to convince himself that he wasn’t falling again. You’re right. See you inside.

He crammed his phone into his pants pocket and decided he was going to attempt to skip the red carpet. Ahead, a round and burly security guy was standing behind one of those steel barricades they use for crowd control. Beyond him was the end of the gauntlet of photographers, and the entrance to the theater. Alec pulled out his VIP pass. “Any chance I can skip the line and sneak inside?”

The man looked him up and down. “Why didn’t you dress up?”

“I stupidly thought ‘optional’ meant optional.”

“It’s a superhero movie. Everyone dresses up for the fan event.”

Alec’s shoulders dropped. “And now I know that. Next time.”

“You’re that guy. From the show. With the ladies. In the morning.”

“Yes. Are you a fan?”

He shook his head. “Not really. My mom loves you though.”

Story of Alec’s life. “What do you want? Signed photo? Good Day USA water bottle? Beach towel? Name your price.”

“A selfie. The two of us together. For my mom.”

“Yes. You got it.” Enthusiastic about skipping the red carpet, Alec slung his arm over the man’s bulky shoulders and smiled for his phone. “Good?”

He pushed the barricade forward enough for Alec to slink past him. “Yeah. Come on through.”

But Alec didn’t get very far. A hand was on his arm, pulling him back. He turned to see the last person he’d expected—Tilly Ann.

“Alec, what in the hell are you doing? You can’t skip the red carpet. The network will string you up, smear honey on you and release you into a pit of bears.”

Alec now had a chance to absorb what Tilly Ann was wearing—jeans, boots, a black blazer, and a Lavaman T-shirt underneath. Why hadn’t he thought of that? “Everyone else is dressed up. I was hoping to avoid the tabloid commentary about my blandness.”

She shook her head. “You act like an idiot sometimes.”

“Hey. The invitation said costumes were optional.”

“That’s not what I mean. You look hot. You always do.” She looped her finger in the air. “Turn around. Let me check out those jeans in the back.”

Alec spent so much of his life trying hard to not make waves, but he had to tell Tilly Ann how he felt when she treated him like this. “It bothers me when you make comments on my appearance.”

“What?”

“And when you touch me when we’re on set.”

“Touch you?”

“Yes. You rub my shoulders and put your hand on my lower back, although it’s practically my butt. It makes me uncomfortable.”

She cocked her head to one side and the creases in her forehead grew deeper. “Really?”

“Really.”

She looked around, then waved him over to the curb, where there were fewer people standing. “How long have you felt like this?”

Alec couldn’t remember the timeline. Tilly Ann was already a fixture on the show when he started, and as the new hire, he’d been eager to fit in and make sure people liked him. So things happened, and he let them slide. “I don’t know exactly. It’s been a gradual progression. Over the course of years.”

Tilly Ann kneaded her forehead. “Jesus, Alec. I’m so sorry. I had no idea I was doing that. Why didn’t you say something earlier?”

“Because I didn’t want to make a big deal about it.”

She managed a thin smile as someone from the network walked by. “And now it seems like a bigger deal because you waited so long.”

This was not what Alec had wanted. And now he appreciated on an even deeper level why women didn’t always speak up when things like this happened to them. There was no reward in bringing the unpleasantness to light. Instead, he felt like he’d opened Pandora’s box. The best he could hope for now was that things at work would be better. “Well, maybe that’s true, but now you know, so I’d like to move on. Let’s just enjoy our evening.”

“Okay.” He and Tilly Ann began making their way to the VIP entrance for the red carpet. “Do you want me to go first?” she asked as it was about to be their turn.

“We could go together. I’m sure it’ll make the network happier.”

“Sounds good. I’ll just keep my hands to myself.”

“Tilly Ann, I don’t want you to be self-conscious about it.”

“But I am now.”

“Okay. How about this? Is there anything I do that bothers you?” While they were clearing the air, he figured they might as well go for it and get it all out.

“Sometimes I catch you rolling your eyes at me.”

Alec swallowed hard. He was guilty as charged. And if he expected Tilly Ann to take him more seriously, he needed to extend her the same courtesy. “I’m sorry. I will stop doing that right away. Thank you for telling me.” He held his hand out to let her go first, then Alec followed behind her on to the carpet. The cameras clicked like crazy, and the flashes came so fast that it was like stepping out onto the beach without sunglasses.

“Can I ask you something?” Tilly Ann asked through grinned teeth as she planted one hand on her hip and expertly angled her body.

“Of course,” he replied, turning slightly so his best side was to the majority of the cameras.

“Is it true you’re making a move to news?”

Alec was caught off guard, but if Maddie and Jerome knew, it was probably only a matter of time before everyone else heard about it. “Trying to,” he said as the next person in line grabbed the photographers’ attention and they were able to inch toward the end of the carpet.

“Good luck with that. Just don’t let them pull a bait and switch.”

“What do you mean?”

“They want something out of you, so they give you a shot at something new and shiny. Then they tell you you’re not right for it, when the truth is that they were never really interested, but they were willing to take the chance since you’d already given them what they wanted.”

“Sounds to me like you’re speaking from experience.”

“I’ll tell you the story someday.”

Alec’s stomach soured. “Okay. Thanks for the advice.”

“I’m going to hunt down a drink. I hope to hell they have wine at this thing,” Tilly Ann said as she headed for the door.

Alec was about to follow her inside, but he spotted a massive black SUV pulling up to the curb. There was an immediate commotion, with photographers jockeying for a better view. It had to be Jason, which meant it had to be Brooklyn, too. Alec hung back, doing his best to blend into the background while craning his neck to see. The car door opened and Jason was out first, wearing a sleek all-black ensemble—designer suit, dress shirt, and tie. No, he hadn’t worn a tux, nor had he gone with a costume. He’d dressed like a total badass, and Alec was the counterpoint. Bland vs. Badass. No contest, unfortunately.

The fans outside began shrieking and rushing the car, kept back only by a line of broad-shouldered security guards. Jason held out his hand for Brooklyn, who emerged in a skin-tight black bodysuit and red thigh-high boots. Alec found it very hard to swallow. She looked insanely good. And he’d never, ever seen her wear anything like that before. He had to admit that he liked it. A lot. But as stupid as he’d felt about his clothing choices before, that feeling was tenfold now.

As they walked up to the center stretch of the carpet and the publicists herded everyone else aside, Jason and Brooklyn were able to take center stage. They were holding hands like they’d been a couple for years, not minutes. Their easy rapport was evident in the way Brooklyn kept tossing her head back and laughing. Meanwhile, the photographers shouted at them both to get their attention. Jason, over here. Smile for us, Brooklyn. It wasn’t merely Jason’s moment, it was hers, too. Just as Lela had let on, Brooklyn had become a hot commodity. This was Alec’s first time witnessing it in person, and it made him question all of his motives for being there. Brooklyn didn’t need him to look out for her. She was doing just fine on her own.

Alec ducked inside and beelined for the VIP concession line, intent on getting the biggest popcorn he could so he could drown his sorrows in butter and salt. But he didn’t get far before Brooklyn was tapping him on the shoulder.

“There you are.”

Alec turned, nearly eye-to-eye with Brooklyn in her sky-high heels. “Here I am.”

“You don’t look like a dork. I like that sweater. It’s very Mr. Rogers.” Brooklyn had her hair in this retro teased style that made her look like a Bond girl, and her eye makeup was thick and black. She looked dangerous. And not like a woman who wanted to spend time with Mr. Rogers. Even so, Alec couldn’t have been more turned on if he tried.

“Thanks. I think.”

Jason came up behind her, placing both of his hands on Brooklyn’s waist and settling his chin on her shoulder. Alec wanted to kill him. But he didn’t. Murdering the star of the movie at his own fan event was a sure ticket to the slammer. “Alec. Hey. I don’t know why you think you look like a dork.”

Alec had now become an adorable inside joke between Jason and Brooklyn. Great. “Very fun event. Thanks for inviting me.”

“Yeah. It’s so much better than the regular premieres. I get to hang out with my fans,” Jason said. Behind him, a couple tapped his shoulder and asked for his autograph. “Over there on the table are a stack of signed 8-by-10s. You can grab one of those.”

“Is Lela here?” Alec asked, by way of conversation.

“She wasn’t able to come. She and her husband went to Connecticut to visit his mom,” Brooklyn said. “I should probably go pee before the screening starts. I’m guessing it’s going to take me twenty minutes to peel off this thing and jam myself back into it.”

“Don’t be gone long,” Jason said, giving her a little squeeze and making Alec reconsider his vow to not kill him.

“So… you and Brooklyn,” Alec said as soon as she was out of earshot. “Didn’t really see that coming.” Alec hoped he sounded completely nonchalant and in no way paranoid.

“Yeah. You could have witnessed the whole start of it if you’d been there that morning. I was surprised you weren’t there that day.”

“I was upstairs in a meeting. I’m making a move into our news division.”

Jason nodded. “Cool. It wasn’t my idea. But you know how these things go. Somebody in the marketing department comes up with a half-baked idea, but your publicist thinks it could end up being great, and then your manager gets involved and all they care about is the money side, and well, let’s just say that I’m not going to look like this forever. I need to cash in while I can.”

Alec still wasn’t entirely sure what Jason meant, but he had a pretty good idea. And he didn’t like it at all. He looked back over his shoulder and there was no sign of Brooklyn. It was time to put his interview skills to the test. “So they suggested you invite Brooklyn?”

“Turns out the movie has tested through the roof with women. That’s not always the case with these franchises. That’s why we’re doing the sequel about the baby. And that’s also why they asked me to take Brooklyn tonight. They wanted someone who was high profile, but still an everyday woman. Someone other women could relate to.”

Alec choked back his anger, knowing he had to keep it in check. “You two seem to be hitting it off though.”

Jason nodded. “Of course. I get along great with all women. And Brooklyn’s pretty easy on the eyes, if you catch my drift.”

Oh, Alec caught it. He wanted to ball up Jason’s drift and launch it right back in his face. With spikes attached. Also, fire. “Right.”

“Plus, I’m an actor. I can make my way through anything.”

Alec turned back again and this time he spotted Brooklyn walking out of the women’s room. She stopped to take a photo with two teenage boys who needed to put their eyes back in the sockets.

“My agent just got here. I need to have a chat with her,” Jason said. “I’ll see you around, Alec.” Like a superhero, he was gone in a flash.

Alec knew this was likely his only chance to get Brooklyn alone so he could talk to her and warn her about Jason. He hustled over to her and grabbed her arm. “Can I steal you for a minute?”

She glanced over at Jason, who was immersed in conversation with his agent, presumably. “Sure. But just a minute.”

Alec took her hand and led her to the only private spot in the lobby—behind a large potted ficus tree. “I need to ask you one favor. As a friend.”

“A favor? Now? Can’t this wait?”

“No. It can’t.”

A low grumble left her throat. “Your timing sucks, Alec. I’m on a date.”

He was well aware his timing was the absolute worst. It was the one constant in his life. He looked into her warm eyes, his heart beating hard, and decided that he couldn’t hurt her feelings and tell her the truth of what Jason had said. He didn’t have it in him. But he did have to warn her of the one thing she should not do, even when he knew she would be angry with him for injecting himself into the situation. “You have to promise me you won’t try to make a baby with Jason Adams.”