Aced Read Online Free Page A

as low as I could, and I had my usual Aviators in place. The constant surveillance I was always subjected to was never far from my mind, so I was wary even though this wasn’t a place the paps typically staked out.  
    Ahh, the life of a celebrity. So glamorous. Who wouldn’t love someone watching your every move, at any given hour? I loved my job, but sometimes I wanted to go to In-N-Out at one a.m. and get a cheeseburger without everyone wondering if I was overeating to put on weight for a role or eating my feelings after having my heart broken. Seriously, sometimes I just wanted a cheeseburger.
    “So how was the read-through this morning? You think it’s gonna be as epic as the first? You know what they say about sequels…”
    “Hey, shut it, asshole. I don’t need your bad juju out there in the universe. Plus, I wouldn’t have signed on if I didn’t think it was gonna kick some ass.”
    “Touché,” Kenny said with a laugh. “Speaking of ass kicking, drop and give me twenty burpees.”
    Coming to a halt, I glared at him and said, “I hate you. Just thought you should know that.” Then I dropped to the ground, yeah, right there on the dusty, steep trail, and did the combination of jumps and push-ups that was the bane of every exerciser’s existence. After twenty, I hopped to my feet and dusted my hands off on my pants.
    “Dick,” I muttered as I started walking up the trail, and Kenny chuckled behind me.  
    “Water?” he asked, holding out a bottle toward me. I grabbed it and, after taking a small sip, held it sideways in front of my dick for him to take. The guy wasn’t my type, or even gay, for that matter, but if he was intent on taking every opportunity to torment me, then I’d do everything in my power to make him even the slightest bit uncomfortable.
    Kenny rolled his eyes and snatched the bottle back. “I’m sure the paps would’ve loved that shot. ‘Ace gets serviced by new boyfriend at Temescal Canyon.’”
    “Catchy. Remind me to tip those guys off to our location next time we do this.”
    “I’d rather not be your first, but thanks anyway,” Kenny said, and then he cut his eyes at me. “Are there, uh…any potentials on that list?”
    “List?”  
    “Oh come on, Ace. We’re friends; we can talk about that shit. You haven’t dated anyone since that whole publicity stunt with Shayne, and I just figured since you’re out now, you’d be…you know…”
    “Fucking every guy I can get my hands on?”
    “That’s what most in your shoes would do.”
    “How do you know I’m not doing that already in private?”
    Kenny slowed his pace and stared at me. “For real?”
    “Just because you haven’t read about it in the papers doesn’t mean it’s not true. But no, that’s not really my thing.” I looked back over my shoulder to where he was eating my dust. “You gonna push me today or do I have to climb this shit on my own?”
    With a shake of his head, Kenny jogged back up beside me and nudged me with his elbow. “All right, who is he?”
    “Who’s who?”
    “You’re not out being a manwhore, though you sure as fuck should be, so that means you’re a relationship kinda guy. And from the way you look like you want to cut my dick off for even saying that, I’m guessing you’ve at least got your eye on someone.”
    Fuck having friends that can see the hell through you. Next time, I’m walking alone.
    When I didn’t answer, Kenny said, “Spill, man. Or you can drop and give me fifty this time.”
    “Jesus.” Wiping the sweat from my brow, I contemplated what the hell to even say. Yeah, there’s this guy I pass every day and fuck myself to, oh, and he showed up at work today, and now I’m trying to decide how not to have him in my bed by the end of the first day of shooting.  
    Maybe the burpees would’ve been easier.  
    “Look, it’s not a thing—”
    “I knew it. I fucking knew it—”
    “You know shit,” I said, and then shrugged. “Just this guy