“Me? No. Not at all,” Jack said quickly. “It’s just we want you to focus on the task at hand and not what is going on outside the set. Just think of how it would affect Decker if he was bombarded with updates on his sex tape? It could change the whole mood of the show.”
A protective feeling arose in her chest. “Are you saying the situation has worsened and you haven’t told him? Because if that’s true, you’re a self-centered jerk who puts ratings over his relationships.”
“It was a hypothetical.”
Poppy wanted to call bullshit. But in order to do so she’d have to admit Decker called Brian, who spilled the beans about Holly being the leak. It would only prove Jack’s point and there would be no way he’d ever let Miles stay. And after listening to Decker be berated, then beg his brother to let Miles stay, she wanted to do whatever she could to make that a reality.
Decker always came off as larger than life, a boulder that was impossible to move. But earlier he was as vulnerable as one could get, and instead of shying away or lying his way out of the situation, he’d been honest. And that had touched her.
Then there was the way Miles had sounded when he talkedabout learning from his uncle that reached out and tugged at her heartstrings. She might not want to rekindle her relationship with Steve, but Decker was doing whatever he could to fix his family. And she’d do whatever she could to assist with that.
The time to save her own family had long ago come and gone, but she could help with his.
“You wanted a family affair or you would have told me about Steve. So how is this any different?”
“Your dad?—”
“Steve.”
“Steve is the executive producer. I do whathetellsmeto do.”
“Including hoodwinking me into a binding contract, then springing my long-lost father on me? Not cool, Jack. Not cool.”
“Take it up with dear old Dad. As far as the kid is concerned, it’s a hard no.”
Poppy held her hand out with authority. “Give me your phone.”
“It’s against all rules.”
“So is you showing up at ten the other night unannounced to tape us in a private moment.” Jack had the decency to look embarrassed. She snapped her fingers. “The phone, Jack.”
He handed it over and she held it up to his face to unlock the screen. Then she fumbled through his contacts until she found Steve’s number. How sad was it that she had to use another man’s phone to call her dad since she didn’t know his number.
She put it on speaker and dialed. It rang exactly one time and then a sleep-roughened voice answered. “It’s six in the morning. This had better be good.”
“Sorry to call so early,” Poppy said, and she could feel the shock and tension on the other side of the phone.
“Don’t apologize. I’d take your call any time of the day,” Steve said.
“Funny, because you never took my calls when I was a kid.”And once again, Poppy felt like that confused and lost little girl, desperate for his love and approval.
“I was a selfish, insecure prick who most nights found himself in the bottom of a bottle of Johnny Walker,” Steve said.
“So you were a shit dad because you were a drunk?”
“No,” he said, his tone filled with sincerity. “I was a selfish prick because I let my ego run my life. When your mom and I?—”
“Nope,” Poppy said sternly. “You mention one thing about my mom and ‘Go to hell’ will be the last thing you ever hear from me.”
She could hear him release a pent-up breath. “You’re right. That ship sailed long ago. I didn’t think I’d hear from you,” Steve said, a sliver of cautious hope in his voice.
“I didn’t think I’d ever call,” Poppy admitted, and suddenly she was regretting the call. But she was on a mission to help a family heal, so she squashed the instinct to tell him to fuck off. “I need a favor.”
“Anything,” Steve said.
“Decker’s nephew broke onto the set last night, and he wants to stay and work alongside his uncle. And before you say no, think of it as a way to add those warm fuzzy family dynamics to the show.”
“Did he reveal anything about the show so far?”
