No Stone Unturned (5 page)

“What just happened?” she finally asked, though the boys were too busy leaning across the table to execute some elaborate handshake that Gemma had to assume was universal male knowledge.  Damian patted Tyler’s back before sitting down and pointing at him.

“I like this guy,” he decided.  “You’re meaner than I thought – you know, for a froufy teen idol.”

Tyler clutched his heart, feigning hurt.  “Well, hey,” he grinned.  “You’re a pretty good sport – you know, for being on one of the worst teams in the NBA.”

Damian shook his head.  “You know what, man? I’m gonna hook you up with some tickets and before the game, we’re going one-on-one.  See how much trash you talk after that.”

Tyler grinned.  “Deal.”

~

Penelope stared at Gemma, disturbed. 

“Please stop laughing to yourself.  It’s messing up the makeup and you’re scaring me.”

Gemma ignored her.  She still smiled when she thought about dinner the night before.  She had hoped to get to know Nicki, but she didn’t mind handing their bonding time over to Tyler and Damian.  She was fairly certain that they needed it more. 

“So are Tyler and Damian all BFFL now or what?” Penelope asked, applying an azure blue mascara to Gemma’s lashes.

“They definitely like each other,” Gemma said brightly.

“Well.  This could be the start of a very powerful bromance,” Penelope said seriously as she grabbed some eyeshadow.  “Can the world even handle the beauty of Tyler Chase and Damian Evans in one room?”

“They’re gonna have to try.  Damian’s on board for our charity.  We might invite Zoe now too.”

Penelope dropped her makeup brush.  “You’re kidding.  You guys are dragging
Damian
into all this? Your fans are entirely too crazy for you to be bringing some innocent into this picture.  He has no idea what he’s in for.”

Gemma laughed.  “He’s only going to make appearances when he can, which isn’t often considering he’s in season,” she reasoned.  “But I
am
hoping that he’ll develop his own fanbase.  They’ll call themselves the Damianators.”

“Honestly, that will probably happen,” Penelope said, just as Tyler’s voice called up the stairs.

“How you girls doing up there? Ready to go?”

They had been getting ready in the bedroom that Tyler had essentially assigned as Gemma’s, for when she was over and needed space to prepare for going out.  The walk-in closet was already filled with Lanvin and Rodarte, the adjacent bathroom already littered with NARS lipstick and Stila compacts. 

“He’s not allowed to call me ‘girl’, he’s younger than me,” Penelope grumbled.

“Coming!” Gemma called down.  She took one last gaze in the mirror, pleased with how she looked in her multi-colored reptile print dress and thigh-high boots. Tyler raised his eyebrows once Gemma came down the stairs, smiling at the strands of white-blonde hair that fell around her face from the messy bun atop her head.  She loved that despite having known Queen Bee for years, Tyler never got used to her. 

“You… look incredible,” he breathed.  “Come here.”  She did, allowing him to pull her close and kiss her gently on the cheek.  “How about we just skip this whole thing and stay home?” he asked with a grin.

“Tyler, this is
your
movie premiere,” Gemma laughed.  While he wasn’t the star, he was certainly a main attraction.  After helping the independent drama
The Current
reach mainstream success last year, scripts began piling up at the offices of Tyler’s management.  Since he was still concentrating on his music career, he accepted just another small role, this time in the star-studded ensemble comedy,
Love Lost
.  Oscar-winners were scattered about the cast list, but most of the fans outside Grauman’s Chinese Theater were there just for Tyler.

Upon their arrival, Gemma scanned the red carpet before stepping out of the car.  Aside from searching for Zoe, it was part of a habit that she had grown a taste for – getting a sense of where everyone was, which spots of the carpet were safer than others.  Gemma herself had no idea what she meant by
safer
, but she was still hellbent on the ritual before every event.  It comforted her.

“Bee! Tyler!”

The hollering began once the door opened, including shouts of the media’s new nickname for them, “
Beeler
.”  Gemma appreciated Tyler’s protective arm at her lower back.  Once upon a time, their people would rush them away from one another to cover more ground with separate interviews.  However since becoming a couple, they had become accustom to doing them together – it made sense considering all reporters ever asked about was their relationship.  The questions frequently ranged from professional to completely inappropriate.

“How proud of each other are you?”

“What’s the key to a successful relationship in the spotlight?” 

“With your busy schedules, how do you find time for intimacy?”

“
O
kay, now,” Perrin interrupted, pulling both Gemma and Tyler away from the gossip rag reporter.  “I
told
you not to stop for Pop Dinner, didn’t I?  Never again.  They’re disgusting.”

As Perrin herded them both towards the E! cameras, Gemma peered at Tyler.  Though he had laughed at the question, she couldn’t help but wonder if it made him think.  It certainly made
her
start to wonder.  After all, they had truly yet to find the time for intimacy.  Gemma began to silently speculate about his past love life and whether he had found the time then.  Probably.  He wasn’t a virgin, and the only ex-girlfriend she knew of was Desiree Silver, the former D Network actress who voluntarily left the company to pursue better roles and a sexier image. 
She
had no doubt slept with Tyler.

“What about you, Bee? Will
you
be doing that any time soon?”

Gemma blinked herself out of her thoughts.  She stared into the face of the jolly reporter and wondered in awe if he had read her mind.  Before she could ask for clarification, Tyler answered.

“She
does
have limitless talent, so I could definitely see an acting career in her future.  Maybe a collaboration,” he said, charming as ever.  Gemma smiled up at him, his comment helping her to swiftly recover.

“Absolutely.  I’d love to do it with him,” Gemma said.  “To co-star,” she clarified. 

With that final comment, the two began to make their way towards the entrance of the theater, signing autographs and posing for cameras along the way.  As if her thoughts had manifested into reality, Gemma spotted Desiree Silver amidst the crowd.  It appeared to her that Desiree had indeed achieved the sexier image she had so famously sought.  In a long-sleeved mini dress with a V-neck plunging halfway to her navel, Desiree basked alone in front of a large crowd of lascivious photographers.  It was clear that she didn’t mind receiving attention over placement on any best-dressed list for the night.  Gemma hoped that Desiree would continue posing as she and Tyler passed by, but as if she were anticipating them, Desiree spun around the second they reached her. 

“Hey!” she said brightly as she reached for Tyler, managing to briefly grab his hand.  A single camera flashed to capture the moment, and it suddenly seemed as if the carpet fell to a hush.  All eyes were on the teenaged heartthrob, his famous girlfriend, and the seductive ex in her barely-there dress. 

“Hey, Desiree, how are you?” Tyler put a hand on her shoulder and immediately gestured to Gemma.  “You’ve met my girlfriend, Bee, right?”

“I haven’t,” Desiree said, turning to face Gemma.  They shook hands as dozens and dozens of cameras flashed.  “It’s so nice to meet you, Bee.  Such a pleasure.”

“The pleasure’s mine,” Gemma smiled graciously.  The three of them exchanged a few more strained pleasantries before finally entering the theater.  When the cameras were no longer in sight, Gemma allowed herself to sneak a peek at Desiree’s impressive cleavage.  She had to admit that while mostly trashy, the dress did look good and she
did
look sexy.  When Gemma finally forced herself to avert her gaze from Desiree’s daring
décolletage
, she noticed with chagrin that Tyler was doing exactly the same. 

~

Something had become rather obvious after the premiere of
Love
Lost
.  It was the first time that even Gemma had noticed it, but Tyler’s fan base seemed to have expanded beyond just tween and teenaged girls. 

His love interest in the film was the beautiful Angelica Moss, an actress eight years his senior.  He convincingly romanced her onscreen, particularly during a scene in which he taught Angelica how to tango, his lean muscle looking irresistible as he donned just a pair of dark-washed jeans.  Gemma recalled what Tyler looked like when she had first met him.  Only with those memories in mind did she realize what a boy he was then, and what an absolute
man
he was now.  Two years certainly made the difference, and it was apparent to all the women in attendance.

“Shit, I can’t believe I missed that,” Zoe groaned as the two girls adjusted their makeup and wardrobe in the bathroom mirrors.  She had arrived late from the Bond set, dressed to show off her combat-trained body in a halter dress from the film’s wardrobe department.  She applied a coral lipstick as she mused about her former D Network co-star.  “Well, Desiree has always been very… what’s the word? Slut-tastic.”

Gemma snorted.  “Weird, I don’t think I learned that word in school.”

“Slut-tastic.  It means, ‘to rock slutty ways, while not necessarily
be
ing a slut,’” Zoe explained.

“I see.”

“Though Desiree might actually
be
one now that D Network isn’t holding her virginity hostage.”

“Oh, like you?” Gemma grinned.

“Hey!” Zoe objected.  “I was a slut even be
fore
I left D Network.”

The girls exited the restroom in giggles, but they quickly fell silent upon returning to the ballroom and spotting Tyler.  He was trapped in a doorway, completely encircled by female fans.  It was hardly surprising, though upon closer inspection, Gemma realized that the women weren’t merely fans but actresses and co-stars.  Desiree, Angelica and several other flirtatious starlets surrounded him, all vying for his attention with batting lashes and bedroom eyes. 

“At least they waited till you left before moving in on him,” Zoe joked. 

Gemma laughed.  “So considerate,” she managed to say while watching closely.  Tyler’s hand grazed Angelica’s forearm as they laughed over something she said.  Angelica took the touch as a cue to take his hand and hug it to her ample chest.

“Hot damn, you should probably go get him,” Zoe suggested. 

“I kind of want to observe.”

“Girl,
no
.  He’s like a Gucci suitcase at baggage claim.  Belongs to someone but will definitely get snatched up if left out for too long.”

Gemma processed the analogy and then blinked at her friend.  “Zoe, you’re the weirdest person I know.”

“Gracias.”

The girls inched closer to the scene, subtly eyeing Tyler and the women from behind another doorway.  Using Andro as a human curtain, they observed from afar.

“That is some stellar use of tit tape,” Zoe murmured, staring at Desiree.

Seriously
, Gemma agreed silently and just a little bitterly.  She
had
caught Tyler looking at Desiree’s cleavage earlier, so she could only imagine how much his eyes were feasting now that they were inches away from each other. 

“Oh! Boxed out!” Zoe hissed, providing sports-like commentary as Angelica and the other girls dropped out of the running for Tyler’s attention.  Desiree followed Tyler as he began to walk to the bar for a drink.  She placed a hand on his shoulder and going on her tippy-toes, whispered something in his ear, her chest grazing his arm.  Gemma watched as Tyler spoke a few more words to her before gently removing her hand and excusing himself.  A smile involuntarily curled her lips, and she glanced at Zoe who gave a proud and approving nod.

“Hey, Andro,” Tyler approached Gemma’s security.  “Do you know where – ” His sentence stopped short upon noticing Gemma and Zoe hiding behind Andro’s three hundred pound frame.  He broke into a smile of amusement.  “What are you girls doing?”

“Checking out Andro’s ass, obviously.”

Tyler shook his head at Zoe before turning to Gemma.  “You,” he narrowed his eyes playfully, weaving his fingers between hers.  “You disappeared on me.”

“I’m sorry,” Gemma pouted, squeezing his hand and pulling him close to her.

“And… bye.”  Zoe blew a kiss before excusing herself.  Gemma laughed at her always-accurate radar for imminent PDA.

“Stay close to me, babe,” Tyler murmured, kissing Gemma on the cheek.  He smiled.  “I like looking at you.”

Gemma giggled.  “I like looking at you too,” she said.  It was rather obvious at that moment that she wasn’t the only one.  But as onlookers gawked at them, Tyler put his hands on her waist and kissed her smooth, bare shoulders with little regard for who was watching.  He squeezed her, his hands clearly desperate but too polite to wander.

“I want to go home, but they need me to stay for more interviews,” he said quietly in her ear, his smile somehow audible to Gemma.  “What do we do?”

She smirked.  “I don’t know.  What we always do,” she whispered.  He cocked a mischievous eyebrow at her.  Even before they were a couple, the two had always found ways to relieve their sexual tension without any actual
sex
, regardless of their surroundings.  

Tyler shook his head, laughing huskily.  “Uh, no.  I can’t touch you the way I want to right now.  That would be a bad idea.”

“Why?”

“Because everyone’s watching.  I thought you hated that.”

Gemma kept her arms draped around Tyler’s neck as she peered over his shoulder at Desiree, making brief eye contact before she looked away.  “Not
that
much,” she said.  “It was never enough to make you stop.”  She heard Tyler’s low, sexy laugh.