Page 96 of It'll Always Be Her
His eyes hardened. “No, we don’t always get what we want, but you’re not a quitter. You don’t cave when you hit a bump in the road.”
“This is more than a bump.”
“I told you I won’t let it happen.”
“I guarantee you that Marilyn already knows about the show’s conclusion, especially if she’s sleeping with Clyde. Even if you could get it changed, it might be too late.”
He muttered a curse of frustration and paced to the other side of the room. “I’m going to talk to the producers tonight. I’m the director of this episode. If anyone should have a say in the direction of the storyline, it’s me. Yeah, Constantine brings in viewers and advertisers, but that doesn’t mean—”
“Adam. You can’t start causing issues with the producers now. Not right when you have a chance to revive your career. Even if you quitHex or Hoax?, you need to do it on good terms. You don’t want another negative situation following you wherever you go.”
“Okay, look.” He faced her, his mouth compressed with a frown. “Postproduction and editing starts next Monday. We leave tomorrow morning, so after the meetings and my parents’ party, we’ll come back and—”
He stopped as if he sensed her sudden retreat. His frown deepened. “Bee?”
She took a breath. No, she wasn’t that forlorn little girl anymore, but her heart could still hurt. She could still be scared. She could still ache inside when her hopes broke apart.
“Adam, this thing between us happened fast,” she began.
“It’s not athing,” he retorted. “It’s a relationship.”
Her heart bumped against her ribs. “Well, it happened incredibly fast. We met last Monday. And we’ve been caught up in everything going on with the house and the show, so I think it would be a mistake if I went with you to meet your family.”
Darkness shadowed his face. “This doesn’t have to do with my family, does it?”
“You’ve been estranged from them for three years. And now things are finally starting to turn around for you. This isn’t the best time to bring home a woman you literally hooked up with in one week.”
“We didn’thook up,” Adam snapped. “And you’re backing off because of the goddamn show and because you think you need to be here on Halloween to reunite a couple of ghosts.”
Bee’s hands curled into fists at the caustic note in his voice. “The ghosts you think are bullshit.”
He flinched, almost as if he’d forgotten what he’d said.
Bee held up her hands. “I’ve known from the beginning that you don’t believe in the truth of what’s going on here. And that’s been fine. I’ve even admired your dedication to science. And while I’ve never thought our different worldviews are a deal breaker, I also know that people and lives don’t always fit together.”
Adam stared at her. “Bee, I’m trying to get the show on your side.I’mon your side. How is thatnotus fitting together?”
She couldn’t respond. Her chest ached.
“Please just come with me to Washington, and we’ll figure this out.” He dragged a hand through his hair, his shoulders tight with frustration. “I can’t cancel the trip because of the party and all the other stuff, but as soon as I get back, I’m going to talk to the producers in person and—”
“Hey, boss?” Harry’s voice, rising in urgency, carried through the closed door. “Rich Thompson is trying to reach you. He’s called me twice asking where you are.”
Adam stilled, his mouth compressing.
“I had my phone off,” he called to Harry. “I’ll call him soon.”
“I’d do it sooner rather than later,” Harry replied. “Sounds urgent.”
Adam pulled his phone out of his pocket and powered it on, then tossed it onto the table.
Bee met his gaze. Rich Thompson was the Explorer Channel vice president in charge of the “investigative show” division.
Even she knew that he wasn’t calling Adam at this stage in the game to praise his work.
“I’m so sorry,” she said.
He frowned. “For what?”