Exposed (The Alpha Stranger) Book 2 by C.T. Sloan Read Free Book Online Page A

strange star sitting right on the corner. It appears that someone placed a fake “Star” right at the corner. I lean over and read the name, “Anonymous Girl.”
     
    “Until you get the real thing,” a familiar voice says behind my back. I turn around and see my anonymous lover. He has a wide smile on his face. I give him a hug.
     
    “That is so sweet!” I tell him.
     
    “I thought it would be funny,” he says. “And I am surprised no one stole it. It’s been sitting there on the corner for about fifteen minutes.”
     
    “So I quit my job,” I tell my lover.
     
    “Good for you. It’s probably not what you wanted to do in life.”
     
    “It certainly is not,” I say as I reach into my purse and proudly pull out the hundred-dollar bill with a phone number on it. “Check this out. I got a tip from this guy who left his phone number on it.”
     
    My anonymous lover looks at the bill and checks out the phone number. “Well, that’s what comes with eventual fame. Soon, you’ll have thousands of guys lusting after you.”
     
    “I never thought I’d be proud to have a stalker,” I say as we walk down Hollywood Boulevard.
     
    “Well, celebrities eventually date other celebrities. You’ll soon find yourself in the arms of some rock star.”
     
    I stop and look at the anonymous stranger oddly. Why would he say something like that? “I don’t want to date a celebrity. I want to be with you.”
     
    My lover looks at me. I don’t like the look. “You know what we have can’t last forever.”
     
    “What do you mean?! Are you going to dump me?!” I ask.
     
    “Look, we don’t really know each other,” my lover tells me as he grabs my hand. “You’re young. You are going to have wonderful relationships with really interesting guys. And you are going to be rich and famous. You are going to have your pick of guys.”
     
    “I don’t want other guys! I want you!” I yell.
     
    My lover begins to pull away. Oh fuck! I’m scaring him. I’m being weird. He backs away from me as though I were contagious.
     
    “Please don’t go,” I say softly. It’s too late. Before I can plead my case, my anonymous lover walks away. I can’t even move. My legs lose all feeling. I lean back against the front of a storefront. Then I start to cry. I fall to my knees and crumble on the ground in front of the stained stars on the Walk of Fame. I may be on my way to wealth and fame. But I have never felt so fucking empty in my life.
     
    ***
     
    I stagger around Hollywood Boulevard like a zombie. Some of the junkies look at me like I’m the one who needs help. Prostitutes and pimps fight and curse as I walk past them. Cops tackle some drug dealer. It’s all just white noise to me. I am numb. I walk to my car and slowly make my way back to my apartment. The thought of veering into oncoming traffic comes into my head one too many times.
     
    By the time I pull into my parking space, I just lose it. I cry. I scream. I slam the steering wheel. There is so much fucking emotion in me right now that my body can’t function. It’s really over. There is no way for me to contact my lover. I pushed too far and he pushed me away. Yes, I know I am only 21 years old. Right now, I feel as though my life is over.
     
    I struggle to climb each step to my shared Culver City apartment. I walk inside and slump over to the kitchen. I just want to get drunk. Alas, there is nothing in the fridge that will fuck me up. A half-full bottle of red Gatorade will have to do.
     
    As I take a drink, I hear my roommate’s door open. She walks into the living room and looks at me. Yes, I know I am a mess. I don’t say anything. I don’t even want to look at anyone right now. My body is slumped over the kitchen counter. My heart hurts.
     
    “He dumped you, didn’t he?” my roommate says.
    
“Fuck you!” I yell as I storm off into my room. I slam the door and lie in bed. I begin to cry into my pillow. I just want to fucking die