Asha: And I’ve never seen even the slightest hint that he thinks he’s too good for us
Mackenzie: Whiskers is very upset and worried about what may happen to Alex
Marcus: I can’t share any specifics, but I can definitely tell you he had just cause to be very, very angry at Ron in particular
Carah: I knew it
Carah: We all knew it, except fucking Ian
Maria: As far as our careers depending on the success of Gates: our show has been a blockbuster for years now, and if you haven’t already capitalized on its popularity to help your career, that’s on you, Ian, not Alex
Peter: The final season of the show can’t make or break our careers, and Alex never said one word about our acting
Peter: Just about the scripts and Ron and R.J. as showrunners, and like Carah said: fair enough
Carah: FYI, everyone: I just put out an official statement saying that Alex is not only a good friend, but also a valued, talented colleague who has always behaved with impeccable professionalism on set, and I hope to act alongside him in many future projects
Carah: I didn’t even use profanity, because I too am a goddamn PROFESSIONAL
Ian: Another fucking traitor
Carah: I didn’t insult the show, I just defended my friend, so fuck you very much, Ian
Summer: Should we all put out the same statement, to show our solidarity?
Maria: YES
Peter: Solidarity. I’ll do it right now.
Asha: Same
Mackenzie: Whiskers agrees that solidarity is the way to go here, and we’ll match Carah’s statement
Marcus: After that Bruno Keene shitshow, this is going to mean the world to him
Marcus: Shit, I can’t believe you assholes made me choke up
Marcus: Thank you, everyone
Ian: You’re ALL fucking traitors, and I hope your careers tank because of this
Marcus: To quote a great leader, and I think I speak for all of us here: fuck you very much, Ian
Carah: Marcus, please tell Alex I want to talk to him about all the pegging, because I am fucking INTRIGUED by that shit
Mackenzie: Whiskers also has pegging-related questions
Maria: I love all of you SO MUCH
Maria: Except Ian, naturally
18
IT TOOK FIFTEEN MINUTES FOR ALEX’S HAZE OF FURY TO dissipate.
The march back to his room, Marcus at his side, passed in a blur. When his best friend pressed a familiar-looking phone in his hand and told him to call his camp, he did so automatically. The opening conversations with his horrified lawyer, agent, and publicist seemed to happen at a distance, to someone else entirely.
Then, when Lauren still didn’t answer his tenth or twentieth text, it hit him.
He knew why she wasn’t responding.
The world around him snapped into focus, and he could suddenly hear something other than his own deafening heartbeat. Only then could Alex do what Marcus always advised, and play the film to the end. The advice seemed especially prescient today, because yes: the end. That’s what he’d brought upon himself in all his righteous rage.
He’d burst through the wall, all right. Waiting on the other side?
Disaster.
He didn’t regret what he’d said and written. He didn’t even regret the possible consequences for his own career, although he’d devoted his adult life to that career and—with several notable exceptions—loved almost every minute of it.
The camaraderie. The cameras. The way different roles immersed him in different, fascinating cultures and forced him to learn and hone new skills. If he couldn’t land another role, he’d miss all of that. Still, his conscience was worth his career.
But he bitterly regretted the consequences for all the people around him.
He’d fucked over nearly everyone in his orbit. His agent, who relied on the income from Alex’s work. His castmates, who would rightfully shun him for shit-talking their final season, the project to which they’d devoted so many years of their lives and love and labor. His mom, because after this, he might not land enough work to continue supporting her as he wanted—or he might get sued, and not be able to support her at all. His charities, which also needed the money his work brought in. Abused women and children, who might not have a safe space to rebuild their lives if his savings ran out.
Lauren. Fuck, Lauren. The woman he’d meant to defend and avenge.
He’d fucked her over too, because there was no way Ron and R.J. would keep her on their payroll after this. Not when her entire job description entailed keeping Alex out of trouble, and he was currently in a shit-heap of that.
An indeterminate amount of time later, his phone dinged, and there it was. The text he’d been waiting for. Confirmation that his worst fears had been realized.