Punk Me Up

By Sheri L. Williams

Punky Petra and nerdy Everett find themselves stuck together on a Hollywood film set. Everett is feeling lost and adrift, truly away from home for the first time in his life, and Petra's determination to burn his khakis isn't helping. The longer they work together, the more feelings develop, but neither of them think the other is their type.

When things start happening on the set that seem an awful lot like sabotage, they end up even closer together in the newly put into effect buddy system. Thrown together even closer than before, lust flares. Will they make it off the movie set together… and in one piece?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bryant Street Shorts
• Release date: Oct 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9781094421421

Sheri L. Williams

N/A

Book preview

Chapter 1

Everett

Everett Michaels was not what anyone would consider an action star. He knew this. He had been told this. By more than a few people. Broadway actors could be mean, in the same way that high-school cliques were. Despite this fact, he was about to sign his name to a contract for a hot new action franchise, starring him. He was petrified.

And you’re absolutely sure you think I can do this? he asked his agent, Virgil. The older man was sitting opposite him on the terrible leather couch of his office. Virgil had been his agent for six years now, and Everett had been telling him the couch was terrible the entire time. Virgil had decided that an agent needed a leather couch, no matter how uncomfortable it was.

Trust me, Ev, you can do this. It’s less singing than you’re used to, but you can do this. And your costar, Axel, they are going to be your roommate, so you’ll have someone who knows the area. I’ll hire you an assistant, and you’ll be fine. He leaned forward, and pushed the pen into Everett’s hand. You need a break from New York. Go see LA, try something new.

I’ve never left New York, not for anything, Virgil, you know this.

Which is why you’re leaving now. You’re twenty-seven, Ev, it’s time to spread your wings. And this kind of opportunity isn’t going to come every day. They wanted you specifically after they saw your last run.

Everett signed his name and then pushed the papers toward Virgil. You’ve not steered me wrong yet.

No, I haven’t, and I’m not now. Virgil slotted the papers into the envelope and tied the little loop. Now, the movie starts in two months. You are done with your last show in two weeks. That gives us time to find a place, confer with Axel, and find you an assistant.

And tell my mom, Everett added. That’d be the hard thing, he knew.

And tell your mom. Which, I will stand next to you if you need me to, but honestly, I think she’ll be happy for you.

My mom, be happy I’m leaving New York? I doubt it. Everett downed the rest of his lukewarm coffee. The only time she leaves the city is for a conference or a new teaching offer.

Well, like I said, you’re twenty-seven, kid, time to stand on your own two feet. I know you can do it.

I can do it. I’m not saying I can’t, just that it’s gonna be a fight. Pretty much the same fight we had when I chose Juilliard rather than Harvard. He dropped his head to the table, knocking it once, twice, thrice. I love her, ya know, but she just doesn’t get me. She never has.

She doesn’t have to get you, kid. Lord, are you melodramatic. As long as she loves you and supports you, which she has, always. That is enough. She’s your mom, not your friend.

Did you call me melodramatic? I’m an actor. That’s like my baseline personality trait.

Yeah, yeah, kid. Now, go rest your voice. Two more weeks of this show and then it’s a real break for a bit. Virgil stood, waiting for Everett at the door to the office, and Everett followed him, taking his agent’s advice as always.

I’ll tell her at brunch on Sunday. That way if we fight, which we will, I can have a drink and still have time before my call time that afternoon.

Smart boy. They hit the elevator together and then parted, Virgil heading for the car waiting at the curb for him, Everett walking the few blocks to his apartment.

When he let himself inside, his cat, Raven, wound herself around his ankles, meowing as if she’d been left alone for weeks rather than a few hours.

Hey girlie, I’ll get you some food in a minute. That meeting wore me out. He plopped onto the couch, a much comfier one than Virgil’s.

Mreow.

I know, I know. It’s my ‘big break’ and all that. But do I want a big break out in LA? What’s so wrong with New York, huh girlie? Raven hopped up into his lap and bumped his chin with her head, purring all the while. Yeah, I know. Well, you’re coming with me, so if LA sucks, at least I’ll have my best girl.

He scooped her up and walked to the small kitchen to get a can of her stupidly expensive cat food. His ex had made fun of him for spending so much on a cat, but Raven was his favorite creature on earth and she deserved the best food. That had been one of the flags that he’d ignored for too long.He’d been stubborn about his ex; both his mom and Virgil had warned him and he’d wanted to prove them wrong. In the end he’d proved them right, and lost six months to a harpy.

It’d been a year since that whole mess and no matter what the guys in the crew at the show said, he was happy single. His life was too busy to try and find space for someone else. Or that was what he told his mom and Virgil. In truth, he was a bit gun-shy after Kells. And maybe Virgil was right, maybe it was best to get out of the city that had seen so much angst.

While Raven chowed down on her fancy kibble, he made himself an egg scramble and toast. He ate leaning up against his counter, scooping Raven up when she was done. After switching out his slacks and button-down for shorts and a tee, he flopped onto his bed. Raven made her way over to her pillow, and together the two of them whiled away the rest of the afternoon before he had to be at the theater for that night’s show.

Section Break

Everett and his mom had a standing brunch date for every other Sunday. It had started when he was at Juilliard, a way for her to see that he was eating well enough while not at home, and had turned into a catch-up since both of them had careers that kept them busy. Clinton Street Baking Co had become their go-to place to spend an hour enjoying a great meal and trying to talk without arguing. They loved each other, there was no doubt about that, but they were night and day personality- and career-wise.

But this time his mother surprised him. I received an offer to speak at Oxford in three months’ time, she announced once their dishes had been cleared away.

Oh? Everett’s heart started to race. This was exactly what he needed.

Yes. It is a fantastic offer, it would be churlish of me to turn it down.

That’s great, Mom! He cleared his throat. I, uh, have news too.

Yes, dear? She sipped her tea and he tried to not hunch his shoulders under her gaze.

"Yeah, I, uh, I just signed a contract to do a Hollywood action movie. They asked for me specifically. I guess they liked how I did in Hadestown."

An action movie? And that was her disappointed voice. Really, Everett. You do not have the training for that sort of thing.

I know. They’re going to train me. I’m going out to LA in a few weeks to meet my costar and together we’re going to get a ton of fight training and stuff like that. He knew there was no way she would ever approve, but the closer it got the more excited he got.

Are you serious? This is something you really want to do?

Yes. I talked to Virgil about it for weeks before I agreed to sign the contract. I love the stage, I love the city, but trying something new will be fun. And honestly, the money they are giving me is stupid. Neither of us will ever have to worry about our finances ever again. Micah was all but salivating when I was allowed to tell him what the pay was.

Your choice in accountants never ceases to amuse me.

I am glad that it amuses you, Mom. Micah is a good guy. Yet another conversation they had had more than once.

I will never get past seeing him at ten years old with his mother’s panties on his head because you dared him to. She giggled so hard she snorted, covering the whole lower half of her face with a hand.

He’s been my best friend for years, and I wanted to pick at least one part of my team since you picked Virg… ugh. We’ve rehashed this a ton of times. Either way, I’ll miss you when you’re at Oxford.

And I shall miss you as well. You will be taking your cat? Or should I be looking for a sitter for you?

Nah, Rave is coming with. I’ll be out there around four or five months, I’m not leaving her that long.

You and that beast. I shall never understand. Well, it seems you and Virgil have got this all planned. Is there anything I can do for you?

Bring me a souvenir? I’ll grab you something tacky that you’ll hate from LA. He winked and she gave him a small smile. They left their table and made their way through the crowd.

As long as you are happy, Ev, she said at the door, turning to him. I know that we don’t always agree, but I do love you and I am so, so proud of you.

I love you too, Mom. And same goes. I’m so proud of you. You’ve worked so hard to make your reputation, and it’s well deserved. Oxford won’t know what hit it. He pressed a kiss to her cheek before they separated on the sidewalk.

He watched as she slid into a cab, most likely headed to her favorite bookshop rather than straight home. As for him, he had a call time. Brunch had gone better than he’d expected, he wasn’t drunk, didn’t need to go home and lie down before his call time, so he headed to the theater. There was no such thing as too many hours spent rehearsing his lines, and he did not want to end this run on a bad note.

He was almost at the theater when his cell rang.

Hey, Micah, your ears burning? Me and Mom were just talking ’bout you.

"Ah, no. I was actually hoping to know if you’d finalized that contract. I’m looking at your quarterly numbers and I want to compare what you’ve made during your Broadway career versus what you’ll make signing on