Unwanted Stars Read Online Free Page A

I worked my ass off last week!"
    "I know, I know. I just—"
    "This is about Germany. You're punishing me."
    "No, I'm not." His voice was gruff.
    "Then what? What did I do wrong?" I snapped.
    "Look, I was irritated. I saw you talking to that Canadian guy the night we got back. And I didn't like it."
    "Douglas? Are you serious? He's gross!"
    "I know! But you were flirting with him."
    " Ex-cuse me? I was not! I was letting him down easy." I shuddered at the thought of actually flirting with that man.
    "That's not what it looked like to me," Tom said. He was jealous. I could hear it in his voice. Dickhead.
    "I thought what happened was just a one-night thing," I said. "Why would you be jealous? You haven't even spoken to me!"
    "You practically kicked me out of your room, Auden. I was into you and clearly you didn't feel the same. I've never done that before. I risked my job for you."
    "I'm sorry. I didn't know."
    "It's fine. I mean, whatever. I'm over it."
    Silence.
    "So, what did you tell Michelle?"
    He sighed into the phone and I rolled my eyes in response. I really wanted to kick his ass.
    "I told her your professionalism could use some work. I mean, c'mon—the water bottle incident, making bets in front of the tour members—"
    "Hold the fuck on. You made that bet with me . Did you tell her that?"
    Silence once again.
    "Yeah," I said, "I didn't think so."
    My cheeks were growing hot with anger and frustration. I had no intention of flying back to America with my tail tucked between my legs. I'd wait tables, tend bar, whatever I needed to do to avoid that humiliation. No way was I going to give Charlotte and Stanford Kelly the satisfaction.
    "I'll talk to her," he offered, but I didn't believe him. His voice was too impassive, too indifferent. I was no longer his concern.
    "Too little, too late. She wants to see me this afternoon."
    "Fuck. I'm sorry. Let me see what I can do, alright?"
    "No, it's fine. I'll handle it," I said before slamming the phone down on the counter and downing a glass of orange juice.
    "Gross," I said, wiping my mouth. "How do you fuck up orange juice?"
    Everything in London seemed to taste different than what I was used to. I had a cheeseburger at McDonald's the day before and it was the greasiest thing I'd ever put to my lips. I threw it away after two bites. This orange juice was bland, and the cream cheese I'd gotten at the local convenience store was almost rubbery. The upside? I probably wouldn’t gain any weight while I was here. That was definitely something to celebrate.
    I wanted to call Hadley so badly, but it was the middle of the night back in Chicago. I couldn't do that to her. Her son, Marty, kept her busy enough. In a few hours, he'd be up and they'd be starting their day. Thinking of that little guy made me smile, no matter what was happening in my life. No matter the drama, no matter how badly things sucked sometimes, all I had to do was think of that little face. Sixteen months old and the kid had me wrapped around his little finger. Those hazel eyes and dark floppy hair made him a spitting image of Hadley's ex, and his father, Tucker Montgomery. But his personality? That was all his own. He's a fantastic combination of Had and my brother.
    Jason and Hadley had been engaged since Marty's first birthday. They finally set the date, and I had plenty of time to request days off—if I still had a job, that is. I'm the maid of honor, so it's pretty important that I be there.
    Yesterday, when I spoke to Hadley, I warned her that I wouldn't be able to plan her shower. I really thought she'd be upset. I mean, seriously, if it was my wedding shower, I'd want her there. I'd need her there, and I wouldn't be able to hide it. But she's different. She's level-headed and sweet. Always taking care of me and everyone else in her life. So, what was her response?
    "The day you told me about this job, I knew that wasn't in the cards. Don't you worry about a thing."
    Isn't she incredible? Sometimes I