Page 35 of Broken Romeo
He hands me a container. “Dinner’s on me.”
I narrow my eyes at him. Like hell it is. I don’t want to owe Holden in any way, shape, or form. Hell, I already owe him for giving me this part, don’t I?
Without a word, I toss the ten-dollar bill on the floor beside him, knowing it’s probably not enough to even cover the meal, but it’s better than nothing. And it’s the gesture that’s more important, regardless.
I read the receipt on top of the plastic lid. Cashew chicken and bok choy. NO SHELLFISH.
A smile curves my mouth. “You remembered.”
“You think I could forget nearly killing you?” He chuckles and shakes his head. “Clearly you haven’t gotten very far in my journal.”
My smile grows, and I hide it by burying my face in the piping hot dinner, inhaling the spices. Trying to use the chopsticks, I pinch the first bite and carefully bring it to my mouth. Most of the rice and cashew fall out of the pinching hold, but at least I get a bite of chicken.
God, it’s good. I haven’t had takeout in months. I’ve been surviving on ramen, hot pockets, and peanut butter and jelly for almost every meal.
When I open my eyes, Holden’s offering me a plastic fork.
Dammit. I never could get the hang of chopsticks. I’ve finally managed to use them for sushi, but that’s a hell of a lot easier than trying to scoop up bites like this.
Begrudgingly, I take the fork.
He slides my ten-dollar bill back over to me. “Dinners will be comped in our production costs. Union rules regulate that we have to feed our actors if they’re at work for more than a set amount of time.”
I roll my eyes. “Actually, union rules state that you have to give your actors a sufficient dinner break. Not that you have to feed us. Unless we run into overtime.”
Still chewing, Holden brings his wrist dramatically to his face to look at his watch. An expensive looking leather band shifts against his arm, and the platinum edge winks at me from the reflection of the stage lights. “Huh. Look at that. We’re in overtime.”
I narrow my gaze. “We’re only at five and a half hours.”
He shrugs. “Potato, pot-ah-to. Do you want the free meal or not?”
“Does the free meal mean I don’t get my union specified break and that I have to sit here and eat with you?”
He glances up at me, and for a moment, there’s a boyish hope in his eyes. “What if it does? Would that be so bad?”
Yes. “Depends. Do I get your scintillating conversations, too?”
“If that’s what you want,” he says. Again, hopefulness creeps in at the edges of his voice.
A noise outside the theater causes his attention to shift to the door.
Maggie comes in with a wave. “Sorry, I know I’m interrupting! I just forgot my binder!”
Holden’s entire body language changes. The casual guy, leaning forward and looking intensely at me for answers, is gone. Instead, he slides back, stiffening. “No problem, Mags. We’re just on our dinner break, discussing the character.”
My brow twitches at the lie that tumbles so easily from his lips. It’s easy to forget how damn good he is at those lies.
“Ah, yes,” I say, my voice chillingly cold. “My character. Right, right. I was just saying how I really see Skyler as a manipulative bitch. She knows exactly what she’s doing when she lies to Zach. She makes a choice. And it’s the wrong choice.”
The hope in his eyes evaporates, and a stony resolve hardens in its place. “No one’s the villain of their own story, Kate. Skyler would never see herself as a manipulative bitch, even if that’s how Zach sees her. That statement just shows me how little you get… Skyler.”
The overtones of how he clearly meant to add the word ‘me’ to the end of that sentence hangs heavy between us, and I know if Maggie hadn’t been in here with us, this fight would have escalated fast.
The theater grows silent as we glare at each other over the scent of fried rice and MSG.
“Aha!” Maggie exclaims. “Got it! Carry on.”
Once the door slams shut behind her, I exhale long and slow. “So you’re happy to eat with me as long as no one knows it’s personal. Just like you’re fine directing me, so long as no one finds out we used to date.” I narrow my eyes at him. “Real classy, by the way. Way to make an ex feel special, Holden.”