Page 28 of Double Standard

Because the what-ifs from before haven’t disappeared, but I have no doubt that she’s right here with me. And maybe that means we can keep each other safe.

Access LA

Levi Stephens’s Sister Speaks Out! The Shocking Message From His Family

By Jessica Anders

Trouble at home? Rebekah Stephens, sister of Hollywood’s newest man on the scene, Levi Stephens, bares the truth about his fame in a new TikTok video—the sibling’s first, and currently only, appearance on the app.

In the seventy-second clip, Rebekah, the third of the family’s four children, delivers an impassioned plea from a written script held in front of her.

“On behalf of the Stephens family, we understand there is growing interest in our son and brother, Levi Stephens. While we recognize that his work invites attention, the intrusive media requests, fan visits to Stephens Dairy, and unsolicited phone calls to our homes must stop.”

She goes on to say that the family desires a smaller life than Levi has chosen for himself, and while he may consent to being a public figure, the family has no interest in joining him.

To that effect, Rebekah dropped a bombshell by disclosing that Levi left to filmAthena’s Warwithout telling the family and that their lack of preparation for his new fame has made the situation even more difficult.

She closes the video by addressing the star directly, saying simply, “Levi, please call Dad.”

As of Tuesday morning, the video has been viewed 2.8million times, but the comment section has been disabled.

XVIII

Ana

The fluorescent overhead lighting has been left off in favor of lamps to make my trailer feel “warmer,” and Levi and I are sitting, thighs touching and hands held, feeling more on display than we’ve ever been, while we wait for Monica Frank fromPeopleto get mic’d up for the video that will accompany the story.

I withdraw my hand from his to drape it over his thigh, my fingers skating across the inseam of his pants. It’s a comforting, not sexual, gesture, but still he pulls in a sharp inhale.

“Hey.” Lips next to his ear, I plant a kiss on his skin before whispering, “We’ve got this. Just be yourself. Everyone loves you. Once we’re finished, we’ll get out of here and do something fun.” His eyes meet mine, and they’re soft, a bit timid. Shards of light brown and green reflect the artificial light. I know he’s more nervous than he would have been if his sister hadn’t just, in a case ofabsolute shit timing, taken to the internet to throw him under the bus.

He covers my hand with his.

“This...” He gestures vaguely around the room as a producer tests for shadows on Monica’s face. “This isn’t normal for me.”

Despite our initial plan to be coy with the press, my publicist, Marie, was all too pleased when this opportunity came across her desk, and his agent—accustomed to dealing with media for stunt doubles only when something goes wrong, I’d guess—was elated to conspire with her to make this happen. It would’ve been great for Levi to start with a smaller outlet to get his bearings and shake off some of the nerves. Alas.

“We’re ready!” Monica drops onto a stool directly across from us. “So, we’re hoping to keep this casual—chat back and forth, talk about the movie, your relationship, what’s next, all that good stuff. The interview will be edited and condensed into a two-page print spread and digital feature.”

“Understood.” I toss a section of hair behind my shoulder.

“Let’s start withAthena’s War. Ana, this is your first lead role in an action film, and Levi, this is your first full-length film credit. How are you both feeling?”

“Excited. Grateful. Proud.” I jump in. “This movie is special—and not just because of what it’s meant for the both of us.” I turn to meet his gaze for a brief moment.“It’s a story about being uniquely qualified for the task ahead of you and claiming it boldly. Most action films prioritize male dominance, and the female lead—if there is one—shows up in a skintight outfit and exists solely to support the male lead.”

She nods with understanding as I continue. “InAthena’s War, my character is a visionary—a woman who is both goddess of warfare and keeper of order. She represents wisdom and strategy—traits we often ascribe to men—but also historically feminine pursuits like weaving. She’s a woman as complex as any of us, and I’m excited about the impact this will have on audiences who haven’t seen that reflected in a movie like this before.”

“An action movie is outside of your usual repertoire. Most of us know you for projects like Timmy Gray’s pre-Gatsbycomedies and rom-coms, likeMade from Scratch,” Monica says.

“It is new for me, but a role like this is something I’ve been working toward for years. Levi has too.” His palm squeezes mine, and I squeeze back, an attempt to pass the figurative baton.

“Absolutely.” He sits up a little taller. “I’m new to films of this scale, but I’ve been building up to this for the last six years. If you count doing tricks in my backyard as a kid, a lot longer.”

He grins, but as Monica’s eyes flash with interest, the color drains from Levi’s face. He’s one sentence in and has opened the door to a topic he wants to avoid.

She knows it too. “Your childhood, based on what I’ve read, seemed rather idyllic.”

“Well, there’s a lot to be said for growing up in a small town and learning the value of hard work and manual labor.”