Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“Given up?”
“I would have moved into town if that was what she wanted. Where she lived was far more important than my address. I would have followed her to Toronto if it made her happy. Luckily, it didn’t.” He studied me. “You ever think of leaving LA?”
“I’m kinda stuck.”
“Are you?”
“That’s where my life is.” I ignored the voice in my head that scoffed and informed me I didn’t have much of a life. “The film industry is there.”
He nodded, sitting back as Quinn slid huge plates in front of us.
“As long as the film industry is what makes you happy, then I guess that’s that.”
I picked up my fork. “Yep.”
“Unless something else, or someone else, makes you happier. I’m sure you could figure it out.” He cut into his breakfast. “Lots of famous people live outside the bubble of Hollywood.”
Then he changed the subject.
But his words echoed in my head all day.
Life on set rolled along. Davis kept us going, one scene flowing into the next. Sheri kept her distance, but I did notice her attempts to be nicer. I even heard her thank a PA for something. He covered his shock well, mumbling “no problem” as he walked away, glancing over his shoulder, unsure he had heard her correctly.
Annie sat and watched, a silent sentinel in the corner, a constant plume around her head. She spoke with Davis, used my trailer for endless online meetings, and sat in on the daily rushes. On Friday, she sat with me, eating the delicious food Quinn and her crew served us and exclaiming over it.
“You need to do more films here,” she observed.
I chuckled. “I don’t know if Davis has more planned. Richton is sort of off the grid.”
She chewed a mouthful of chicken, wiping her mouth. Kassie came over, sitting with us, adding another sandwich and more chicken to my plate with a smile.
We ate for a few moments in silence, then Annie spoke.
“Mike called me today.”
I grunted as I chewed. I hadn’t heard from him or Vic since the incident.
“He wants you back on his next film.”
I gaped at her. “He cut me.”
“He hasn’t found the right fit. He realizes he went overboard over the whole fountain thing. He wants to re-sign you. Shooting starts next month. He’ll make sure to work around any reshoots you have for Davis.”
I set down my fork. “I see.”
Annie glared at me. “What? It’s a good script. You were happy to be in it before all of this.”
“Why did he change his mind?”
“Davis let me show him a bit of the film. He thinks you’re brilliant.”
I met Kassie’s eyes and looked away. “I’ll think about it.”
“You’ll take it,” Annie replied. “This is exactly what you need. Between this film and Mike’s, you’ll be back on top. In demand. Your choice of any script.”
Kassie cleared her throat. “Sounds like a great opportunity, Oliver.”
Oliver. She called me Oliver, not Olly.
It felt as if we had suddenly taken a step back.
“We can discuss this later,” I said, shooting a glance at Annie.
“I’ll get the contract ready.”
I pushed my plate away, suddenly not hungry. Annie got up to get something to drink, and I turned to Kassie. “Sorry. She shouldn’t have brought that up in front of you.”
“Why?”
I rolled my head on my shoulders, my neck feeling tight. “Because it means…” I trailed off.
Kassie spoke quietly. “We knew this was a ‘just for now.’ I’m a big girl, and I know you’re leaving soon to go back to your world. It’s okay. I’m thrilled your time in Richton has maybe helped you.”
“My time in Richton has done more than help me. It brought me back to you.”
“And this time, we’ll part friends. All the bad stuff is in the past.”
“And we have to part?” I asked, my throat thick.
She paused, then nodded. “You have your life, and I have mine. Two very different worlds. And I have no desire to leave mine.”
I was shocked how much it hurt to hear her say those words.
“Right,” I muttered. I looked at her. “Not even for me?”
“Not even for you. I would be miserable and make you miserable. We’d end up back where we started—disliking each other.”
“I never disliked you. I hated myself for what I did to you.”
“I’d have to start over again, Oliver. I can’t do that. We have now. We agreed to now.”
I nodded and grabbed my plate. “Now. Okay. I have to go get ready for my scene. I need to get to makeup.”
I walked away before she could respond.
Kassie
Oliver’s agent was blunt. Direct. Bordering on rude at times. Yet, I liked her. I saw the way she watched Oliver. Listened to him. She cared about him, even though she pretended not to. She had insisted I stay with her to watch him film his scene this afternoon.