He frowned. ‘Don’t expect too much of me, will you?’
She laughed. ‘You’ll be fine. I just know it.’
32
CALLUM
Callum followed the woman who had come to take him to the make-up person and hoped he would find Erin there to see a familiar face and also check how she was doing. He was relieved he only had to pretend to speak to one of the women in the cast and then be in another scene where Riley was to act becoming angry with him.
Callum was led into the trailer and saw his sister hard at work, curling one of the actress’s hair and chatting to her, and judging by the glint in his sister’s eyes Callum could tell she was very happy to be working there.
She spotted him and smiled. ‘That’s my brother.’
The actress sat up a little straighter as Callum passed behind her chair. He sat down on the one next to her.
‘Are you one of the actors?’ the woman he vaguely recognised asked.
Callum shook his head. ‘I’m in the show, but only have a tiny part.’
Erin gasped. ‘That’s so exciting though.’
He thought so too but didn’t like to show too much enthusiasm, especially not in front of one of the professional actors. ‘It’s only two small scenes and I barely say anything in those.’
‘Still a fun experience though.’ The actress turned her head to address him. ‘I wonder if you’ll be in any of my scenes?’
‘I’ve no idea.’ He spotted Erin pressing her lips together, trying to hide her amusement and couldn’t think what she found funny about the exchange.
The door opened but before he had a chance to look and see who had just entered the room, he felt the actress’s fingers curl around his own.
‘I’m Beth, by the way.’ He was taken aback by the sudden depth in her voice.
‘Tasha!’
Hearing Erin call out Tasha’s name, Callum immediately turned to look at the doorway. He went to smile but just caught her eyes snapping back from where they had been focused on Beth and his hands clasped together. Not wishing Tasha to get the wrong idea, he gently withdrew his hand from Beth’s, surprised when she tightened her grasp.
‘How are things going?’ he asked Tasha, wishing he could think of something more insightful to say but needing to show her he was pleased to see her.
‘As well as can be expected.’
Callum started to rise to walk over to Tasha. Erin pressed her hand on his shoulder. ‘No, you don’t. I need to change your hair slightly before you go anywhere. It’s too messy how you usually wear it.’
‘But I’ll come back,’ he argued.
Erin’s hand remained where it was. Aware he had little choice but to do as his sister told him, he turned his gaze back to Tasha. ‘Where shall I find you?’
She shrugged one shoulder. ‘I’ll be out there somewhere.’ Her expression softened and he wondered if it was because she could tell he was worried about her reaction. ‘I’ll look out for you.’ She smiled at Beth. ‘Morning, Beth.’
‘Tasha.’
By the sound of their polite but cool reaction to each other, Callum surmised that the women didn’t think much of each other. Deciding it probably wasn’t wise to ask Tasha about Beth, he pushed the thought away.
‘I just came by to say hi to Erin.’ Tasha kissed his sister on her cheek. ‘It’s good to have you working here. How are you enjoying it?’
‘I’m really enjoying it so far.’ She cocked her head in Callum’s direction. ‘And as long as this one doesn’t let the side down in any way, I’m sure I’ll continue to do so.’
He was used to his sister making him the butt of her jokes. ‘I’ll do my best not to mess things up.’
‘I’m sure you’ll be brilliant,’ Beth said, stroking his forearm and getting a pitying look from Tasha.
