Only in Your Dreams (Gossip Girl #9)(34)

The taxi made a wide turn onto Twenty-third Street and Serena felt her heart start to pound a little faster—in just a few minutes she’d be at the hotel. She’d been with handsome guys before, but she’d never fallen for anyone quite like Thaddeus. Of course he was gorgeous, but there was something else about him. Serena felt like they could be more than costars, more than lovers—they could be best friends, too.

Not that she needed a new best friend. Or did she? She could never remember.

When they reached the Chelsea at last, she stuffed a twenty-dollar bill into the driver’s hand, burst from the backseat, and dashed into the lobby of the hotel. Even though filming had begun at Barneys, Ken had said she needed as much off-set practice as she could get. The familiar dark hallways lined with famous paintings gave Serena a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, but she tried to forget about all the negative things that Ken had yelled at her in the building and focus on what was about to happen: she was about to get together with Thaddeus Smith.

She knocked softly on his door and he pulled it open almost immediately, a startled look on his face. His very baggy cargo shorts had slid down to reveal his simple gray boxers.

“Serena,” he exclaimed. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” she breathed, brushing past him and into the room. She tossed her khaki-colored Marc Jacobs drawstring beach bag on the floor and plopped onto the couch.

Thaddeus closed the door and pulled his shorts up, blushing slightly. “So,” he said. “What’s happening? Were you just in the neighborhood?”

“Something like that.” Serena laughed. It was cute to see the world-famous actor squirming. God, she loved flirting with him.

“So,” Thaddeus mumbled, picking up his discarded T-shirt from the floor and pulling it over his head. He sat in the armchair and placed his feet on the coffee table. “Have you been rehearsing on your own?”

“It’s such a drag,” Serena sighed. “But Ken acts like I’m never going to get it right.”

“I always say it’s harder work than people think,”Thaddeus agreed. “People think it’s all glamour, all parties and premieres, but I f*cking earn my paychecks. I guess I don’t need to tell you that.”

Making three million per movie must be hard.

“I wish someone had warned me.” Serena picked her bag up off the floor and dug her hand inside. She’d gotten so worked up on her way over, she needed to relax. “Mind if I smoke?”

“No, of course not.” Thaddeus gestured lamely at the coffee table, which was already set with an ashtray and several lighters. “The thing is, Serena, this isn’t a great time. My friend Serge is supposed to stop by.”

Serena stayed where she was. Why was it so hard to get a minute alone with him?

“Well, your text message didn’t sound like you were that busy.” She smiled nervously. His coy act was a little confusing.

Only a little?

“Shit,”Thaddeus exclaimed.“You got my text message?”

“Uh-huh,” she murmured breathily.

“Well, I’m glad you did,” he stammered. “I thought that we could, um, well, I thought that maybe we should get some work done.”

Why was he so nervous? It was hard to believe that someone as gorgeous and successful as Thaddeus Smith could be so shy around girls! “Work .” She pouted. “I thought you might want to, you know, have a little fun?”

“Fun,” repeated Thaddeus. “Work can be—” His chirping cell phone interrupted him. He glanced at the display. “Serena, I’ve got to grab this. I’m sorry. I’ll be just be a second.” He scurried into the bedroom, so all Serena could hear was “Hello.”

She stubbed out her half-smoked cigarette. Thaddeus’s freaky behavior was starting to make her nervous. Was she coming on too strong? Not strong enough? He was the one who’d sent her a sexy text message. Why would he invite a friend over? Maybe Thaddeus was kinky? That wasn’t really her thing.

Oh, really?

“Sorry about that,” Thaddeus apologized, shuffling back into the room. He tossed his phone onto the coffee table, where it landed with a bang. “Anyway, as long as you’re here, let’s run some lines.”

“Lines?” asked Serena.

“You can use my script,” Thaddeus said, sinking into the armchair with a sigh. “I’ve got my lines down.” “Let’s start with scene seventeen,” she offered hopefully. “You know, the love scene?”

Rehearsing a love scene might be as close as she’s going to get.





Gossip Girl 09 - Only in Your Dreams

tea for two

“You okay?” Vanessa asked Dan. He was sprawled across his bed, wincing in pain. There were Camel butts all over the worn brown carpet, as if he couldn’t be bothered to get up and get one of the half-empty coffee mugs he usually used as an ashtray.

“Fuuuuu-uuuck,” he muttered. “I think I pulled something.”

Vanessa picked up the dog-eared beige copy of the Bhagavad Gita from his unmade bed. She knew it was some sacred Indian text, but she’d never had any interest in finding out any more about it. Then she noticed Dan was working on a poem in his big black notebook. He rolled over onto his back.