Chapter 14

I need a wingman tonight because I'm not a smooth talker, and my plan tonight will involve making Jack Williams feel guilty. I can't help Layla get child support from him, especially if she's wary of asking. But I could plant the seed that if he doesn't want bad press and if he wants to keep his deadbeat dad status under wraps, he might want to write a few checks to Layla. I would never out her daughter to the world to guilt Jack, but I'll low-key act like I might.

Anthony Hurley was 100% on board to do this with me, and it helps that it's no secret he's a huge Phantom Hex fan, so his interest in Jack isn't going to feel weird. We mingle for a few minutes when we arrive, even though I know right where Jack is. Anthony's the one who makes it look natural when we walk by him, doing a fake double take and then getting all excited.

"Jack Williams," he says, acting like he's trying to stay calm. He shoots out a hand, which Jack takes, his face lighting up. From what Landon and Eli have told me about him, Jack thrives on people recognizing him.

"That's me." He grins.

Anthony and I both introduce ourselves, and even though Jack doesn't know who we are, he seems impressed with our status and with us being his fans. I refrain from mentioning that I'm not a fan. The opposite of it, but that won't help what we're doing tonight. Anthony does his thing from here, talking Jack up, raving over the Phantom Hex movie and pumping him for information on when the next one is going to start filming and when it will be out and who's going to play his rival, Silver Specter.

Jack mentions the storyline of Phantom Hex discovering the child he didn't know he had and who will play the pre-tween that the superhero suddenly has charge of, giving Anthony the perfect opening. If I didn't know the storyline was pulled straight from the comic books, I'd wonder if the writers knew more about Jack's life than he's letting Hollywood in on right now.

"It's too bad your actual daughter isn't quite old enough." Anthony nudges him in the arm and gives a hearty chuckle. "She's a doll."

Jack's eyes widen in shock. "Daughter …" he says. It's not exactly a question, but it sounds like one. When I realize it's because Jack has either forgotten about Layla or that he doesn't know that Margot is a girl, I tense and then force myself to take a breath.

Anthony laughs like Jack's making a joke, and I join in. "Come on, man. I've met her. Definitely a looker. You can brag to us."

Jack forces a laugh, and I'm going to have to step in to save him, in a sense, so we can keep up this act. I pull out my phone and grab a picture of Layla and Margot from moving day. I hold it out to Jack like I'm showing something off rather than clueing him in to his kid.

"I'm betting you have a hundred of these," I say with a grin. Over Jack's shoulder, I catch Anthony swallowing back a laugh. Guess I wasn't as genuine as I thought.

Well, I'm not the actor here.

Jack stares at the picture and blinks at it. "Yeah …" he murmurs.

I have a new plan. It's to drag Jack out into Nick's backyard and throw him in the pool.

Anthony must see the look on my face, because he swoops in and pulls Jack's attention back to him. "That little girl is lucky to have a dad like you," Anthony says, pouring on the admiration. He's the guy that Coach always makes sure is in front of the media when we have a bad game, because he's a pro at turning anything in his favor, and his joking and charm make him likable no matter what.

"I don't get to see her a lot," Jack mumbles. We've rattled him. Everything about this is forced right now.

Anthony claps a commiserating hand on his shoulder. "Making sure she's taken care of is probably the best you can do for her. I know it must be a tough situation not being with her mom anymore."

Jack nods and doesn't say anything.

"You must be taking care of her well," I say, nudging him in the arm. "We all know she'd be coming after you for money, dragging your name through the mud if you weren't, right?"

Anthony catches my drift, and wiping away a cringe, he mutters, "Gold-diggers," just loud enough for Jack to catch.

"Yeah, yeah, of course." Jack's head bounces so fast he's going to rattle something out. The worried contemplation dancing through his eyes says this thing is working.

"It's annoying how the press gets whiff of one mistake and they just cancel you, no questions asked." I scowl at the floor. At least there's a part of that statement that's not a lie. Just not when that mistake concerns not even knowing you have a daughter when you were well aware that a woman you slept with was pregnant. I want to give Jack an actual talking-to, lecture him up and down about the way he's ignoring that he has any responsibility, pushing it all on Layla. He's fulfilling every stereotype of love-'em-and-leave-'em. His privilege is on display, and Layla's letting him get away with it all because she's worried he'll want custody. That's a laugh. Jack is the type of guy to throw money at a problem—now that he has it—rather than deal with it responsibly.

And I don't blame Layla one iota for not wanting to share Margot with a guy like him.

"Yeah," Jack says again. We've made him uncomfortable, and considering that was the goal, I'm okay with it. Hopefully it leads to him covering his bases and sending Layla some money. "Well, it was good talking to you guys," he says, patting me on the back and then grinning at Anthony. "Good meeting you." He excuses himself and walks away.

Anthony and I share a look. "Touchdown," Anthony says under his breath. I smile in agreement.