‘Okay, I’ll do it.’
Max claps a palm on my back. ‘Head over to costume.’ He points at a marquee next to the grey brick castle that wouldn’t look out of place at a circus. ‘Macy will sort you out. You’ll need to sign a contract, including a non-disclosure agreement. Welcome to the cast. You start tomorrow.’
I swallow hard, processing for a beat. With a baffled shrug, I take a step towards the marquee, with Tootsie squirming in my arms.
For the millionth time this week, I wonder if I’ve been transported to a parallel universe.
‘Wait a second,’ Nate calls, shuffling from one foot to the other with an unreadable expression furrowing his features. ‘Can I call over later?’
My ears are playing tricks on me. They have to be.
Nate’s oceanic irises bore so deeply into mine, I could drown in them.
I can’t breathe.
Can’t even think straight when he’s in front of me like this.
Why does he want me here? Why is he asking if he can call over? None of it makes sense.
The man is a goddamn movie star and the only thing I’ve starred in is an accidental Christmas viral video where I flashed my boobs.
He’s like the brightest star glittering on top of the Christmas tree, and I’m the discarded cracker joke that people toss into the trash after an eye roll and a short-lived chuckle. If he had any idea what a laughingstock I am, would he want anything to do with me at all?
I distinctly remember him saying he keeps his junk in his trunks.Some things are sacred.Meanwhile, the whole world is currently looking, and laughing, at my ‘sacred areas’ which pretty much render them not especially sacred anymore.
I wet my lips. ‘I…er…’
‘Please, Holly.’ Nate’s smooth voice drops. The scent of leather and cedarwood carries on the cool breeze and it’s a battle not to reach out and sniff his neck.
Every nerve ending revs to life inside me. My muscle memory remembers precisely what he’s capable of, no matter how many glasses of wine I had.
How can I say no?
Especially when I’ve forgotten any reason why I shouldn’t agree to it.
‘Sure.’ I shrug, feigning nonchalance.
I’m kidding no one, least of all myself.
His arms drop to his side and his shoulders sag in visible relief. ‘Does seven suit?’
I nod, because I’m at a loss for words.
‘You’ll be there?’
Why would he ask that? Did he come by? Because I wasn’t there the last couple of nights?
These past few days alone have been, well… lonely. I took Savannah’s advice and went to the art supply shop, Art Essence, reacquainting myself with the first friend I ever had, my paintbrush. While I was in there, I saw a sign for a local art exhibition and couldn’t resist. Even if it meant attending in my stylish bobble hat and a pair of cheap glasses I picked up in the Euro Shop because I have no idea what happened to my sunglasses.
I nod. ‘I’ll be there.’
I had planned on spending the afternoon and evening painting something for Savannah to hang on her walls. But I have a feeling I’ll be painting my face and nails instead.
Max steps forwards and pulls a small rectangular card from his back pocket. ‘We’ll see you on set tomorrow at eight am sharp. If you have any questions about the contract, here’s my number.’
Nate snatches the card and screws it into a pea-sized ball before handing it back to him. ‘She won’t be needing that.’
ChapterThirteen
