Page 5 of On Set
2
I love my friends.
They are my soulmates. The ones I turn to when something bad happens. They’ve been there for every failed relationship. Every fight with my mother. Every time I’ve been let down by someone in my life.
They’re the people I text. The call I make. They’ll sit with me on the phone in silence or rush to my side to hug me.
My rocks. They pick me up when I fall. Cry with me when my emotions get the best of me. Find ways to make me laugh after a long day. Celebrate every one of my victories as if it’s their own.
Hayden and Austin are my sisters by choice, not blood. We love each other unconditionally.
The bad parts of life sting a little less because of them, and the good parts … they are better because they’re by my side. Their friendships have saved my life a time or two and vice versa.
Which is why I forgive them for every inappropriate comment. Even when they irritate the hell out of me. Try to live vicariously through me. Insert themselves into every aspect of my life.
Even when they’re not welcome.
Or, today for instance, when they try to make more of a situation than there is.
The text messages didn’t stop coming as the day progressed. I thought about reading them before I left the set but decided against it. Instead, I jumped in my car and raced home. I’ll read them later. Tomorrow morning. After I’ve gotten a few hours of sleep … which is probably all I’m going to get considering I’m expected back at the studio by six o’clock in the morning. With coffee.
Five hours of sleep will be fine, right?
Probably not. Meaning I won’t even bother to read their messages until I have time to respond. You’d think they had nothing better to do with their time than to annoy the hell out of me and message my phone every five seconds.
Nope.
As I pull through the wrought iron gates of my mother’s estate, I roll my shoulders and do my best to keep my eyes open. Five more minutes and I can shower and then crash. I’m so close I can almost feel the hot water cascading down my back, massaging my aching muscle. The weight of my duvet covering me. My silk sheets against my bare legs.
As I pull to a stop in front of the three-stall garage, I shut off my car and let out a sigh. After gathering my things, I skirt the side of the main house and slip into the shadows as I make my way around back. The pool house is completely dark as I pull open the French doors. Dropping my bag at my feet, I suck in a deep breath and let it out slowly.
It’s good to be home.
No cameras. No one yelling. No light blue eyes following my every move.
Because I felt him watching me as I scurried around this afternoon. Even when he was on set. When he was supposed to be focused on the scene.
And every time I looked over my shoulder, his eyes found mine, causing a shiver to run up my spine.
Damn actors. With their stupid, godlike bodies and perfectly straight, bright white teeth. And don’t even get me started on the smile that had me wishing I’d brought a backup pair of panties today.
Shaking away thoughts of Eli and the physical reaction my body has to him, I move farther into the house, not bothering to turn on any lights. I could walk the path to my bedroom blindfolded if I had to.
My phone vibrates in my hand as I’m plugging it in to charge.
UNKNOWN: I’ll take a large mocha, almond milk, fat free chocolate, no whip.
Who the hell is placing a coffee order with me at midnight?
ME: Who is this?
UNKNOWN: Celia. Steve said you were getting coffee in the morning and to place my order with you.
Well, this is fun.
ME: Sounds delicious.
It’s not what I want to say but I hit send before I reconsider. It’s only day one and I have to keep my cool if I want to make it to the end.