"I saw her earlier today."
He pulled back, still holding onto me but no longer looking like he was about to ravish me. I missed the passion, but it felt good for me to get it off my chest. I knew I had to tell Henry some of it at least.
"She didn't want me to tell you anything, so you have to promise not to mention it," I said.
"Mention what?" Henry asked, his voice deep and his expression suddenly concerned, focused, and unwavering.
"Just trust me. She's okay. It's boy trouble, and she told me about it, but she has no idea I'm close to you, and she specifically asked me not to mention it to her family."
"What kind of trouble is she in?"
"It's just that she and her boyfriend broke up, that's all. You don't need to worry or do anything. In fact, it would be wonderful for me if you did nothing. I wasn't even sure about telling you. She begged me not to. So, please."
"It's just that she and that Aiden guy broke up?" he said with a shrug and a serious expression.
I nodded.
"I didn't like that guy, anyway."
"Yeah, I know. It doesn't seem like he's a good guy."
"What did he do? Did he do something to her?" Henry was protective, and while it was attractive and manly from my standpoint, I did not want him to tell her anything.
I stared at him with as much sincerity as I could gather. "He was cheating, but Henry, listen. We made friends, and she hasno idea me and you even know each other. She would be sad if she knew I was telling you any of this. I just wanted you to be aware that she was going through some stuff. She's got all sorts of feelings with that, but she's fine. She'll tell you guys about them breaking up. It's just still so fresh. She's figuring it all out. But she cares what you think. She loves you and doesn't want to disappoint you."
"How would she? I didn't like that guy in the first place. I want to crush him for doing that to her, but I'm glad they broke up. I hate that he did that, but think the result is good."
"Yeah," I agreed. "Just please pretend like you're hearing it for the first time when she tells you."
Chapter 16
Three weeks later
The role in the series was an intense undertaking for me. It was going well, but I was one of the main cast members, and I had a lot of scenes to be part of. It seemed as though I never stopped memorizing something. I was constantly going over lines, sequences, and blocking. Alex was a good director, and he had Judd and Cameron, who both had a clear sense of his vision and were good coaches. I was working hard, and I was thankful that what I was doing seemed to be enough for the team.
Ty was doing great as well. The two of us were supporting each other and drawing from each other's strengths. Ty was not a believer, but she said she admired the way I had changed since I started calling myself a Christian. Staring in the series was intense for us, and she saw how I was able to draw strength and encouragement from reading my Bible. She hadn't had a life-changing moment, but she and I had several meaningful conversations during the last month of filming. It was nice to feel like I was on the right track with something, and she was coming to me for advice and wisdom.
My life felt solid, and my secret relationship with Henry Sutter was about the most fun thing I could ever imagine. Henry and I saw each other and talked every day, and no one knew athing. It was fun, keeping it all to ourselves. And it forced us to calm down and slow down when it felt like both of us wanted to just get married and start having babies already. We hadn't said as much, but I could just feel that between us.
Neither Bailey nor Ty knew anything of it, which was crazy since we were both close to our sisters. I was getting to know Bailey, and he was getting to know Ty, and neither of them had a clue that we were special to each other. I was able to pass off any odd behavior as being the actress in a film for the first time in my life, and my sister easily believed it because she was also overwhelmed and doing a lot of new things. She had some drama with her boyfriend back home, so she was distracted with her own stuff.
As far as Bailey went, we had exchanged numbers that first day under the tree. We hadn't communicated by phone, but we had run into each other a few times on the ranch in recent weeks. She seemed to be doing well with friendships and had met a few new people. My plate was so full, honestly, that it was difficult to comprehend anyone else's circumstance. I did ask her how she was doing when we saw each other, and she said things were good.
Which was why I was taken aback to see her number flash across my phone at two-thirty in the morning. I thought it must be a mistake. We had been shooting at night, and I was used to the late schedule, but I had been sound asleep for over an hour, and I blinked at my phone. It was Bailey's name on the screen, and I thought for sure she would realize she had made a mistake and hang up. But my phone kept ringing and ringing. The ringtone was low, and it was vibrating in my hand. I pressed the button to answer it and held the phone to my ear.
My sister and I shared a trailer, but her bed was on the opposite side, and she was sleeping soundly with white noise.
"Hello?" I said, quietly.
"Amelia?" Bailey said my name with such a serious tone that I sat straight up in my bed.
"Yes," I said, getting my bearings, looking at my clock, wondering what was happening.
"Can you come get me right now? I need you. Can you give me a ride home? Please? I don't know who else to call."
"Sure. Yes," I said, without hesitating. "Where are you?"
"I'm gonna send you a p-pin of my lo-cation."
