“He’ll show. He cares too much about his reputation.”
“Then why is he not here?”
“Chris is spontaneous. He probably went on some New Year’s adventure and got stuck. When we were doingHigh School Follies, he got this wild idea to fly to Australia for the weekend. Did he calculate the time change? Jet lag? Nope. Then he got food poisoning. Had to spend a week in a medical unit in Tahiti. We missed two weeks of filming.”
Buckskin cap in his hand, Jesse sat on the steps. “When I was home at Christmas, my brother offered me a job at his company.” He looked up at Chloe. “Can you believe it? On the eve of my first script being made into a movie, he begs me to return to DiamondBros. Guess it’s a good backup plan in case this flops.”
She joined him on the stoop and tapped her arm against his. “First of all, this film isn’t going to flop.”
“We’re not off to a good start.”
“Second, you’re a screenwriter and an actor. You’ll write another screenplay. Act in another movie. You may think your career is doomed on this auspicious start, but what about me? I need this film to succeed or I’ll forever be the queen of dying.”
“Things are going to change for you, Chloe. I can feel it. You’re too good to stay under that moniker.”
“Hey, at least you have a fallback plan. If I’m not acting, I’ve got nothing. Your brother must think you’d be an asset if he’s asking you back. Isn’t it good he values your ability?”
“I suppose.” Sunlight moved over the window, spilling a golden light at their feet. “Man, I wanted today to start with a bang.”
“Better to finish with one. Don’t worry, Chris will show up. You’ll be a success, win awards, and your brother will realize you’re doing what you’re called to do.”
He looked at her. “Can you just move into my head, be my constant cheerleader?”
Yes. “Ha, you don’t need me in your head.”
“I don’t know, maybe I do.” He raised his hand to her cheek. “Chloe, maybe we are—”
She gently lowered his hand. “Jesse, you are making it really hard to just be friends.”
But oh, how she wanted his touch this morning. His kiss.
“Youare making it hard... to be just a friend.” Slowly he drifted toward her, his eyes searching hers.
The front door opened and closed with a bang. Jesse jerked away, scrambling to his feet.
“Painter is on his way,” Jeremiah said, nearly catching them in a kiss.
“Good news,” Jesse said.
“But we’re still rearranging today’s shoot.” Jeremiah motioned for the two of them to follow. “The light is perfect for the barnyard scene. The child actors are here, so we might as well shoot their scene. Jess, this is a long shot, so we’re dressing you up as Hamilton.”
“Me? You can’t. People will be able to tell.”
“Not when I’m done. Teach Painter to miss the first day of a shoot. You’re his size and build. It’ll be fine, just fine.”
Chloe exchanged a glance with Jesse.Well, here we go.The barnyard scene was the last scene. The final shot. The summation of the story. But scenes were never shot in sequence. So today the end would be the beginning.
Jeremiah stopped walking and turned to Chloe and Jesse. “I didn’t interrupt anything, did I? Back there on the porch?”
“No.” Jesse cleared his throat. Too loud. Too deep.
Chloe shook her head.
“Good. I don’tneedany more drama. Let’s go. Chloe, remember, your on-set romances end in disaster.”
And... thank you for that, Jeremiah.
“That’s what I get for working with a family friend,” she muttered to Jesse.
