"What was that about?"
"Nothing," I say and then redirect quickly. "I hope you have good news about the budget."
"Good and bad. You have time now?"
"I don't. I'm about to start shooting. It's a full day. I can swing by after dinner if you don't mind if I interrupt your home life with work stuff?”
"Not at all. Swing by once you get home."
Home.I don't even think he realizes that he's said it—like it's our home and we're living there together.
"Will do."
He pulls his phone out of his pocket and lifts it to his ear, giving me a wave as he walks across the lot back toward his office.
I head back to the set, ready to channel this unrequited crush into my next scene. At least someone will benefit from all of these feelings.
twenty
. . .
Grant
"Dad!Check this out! Aunt Sarah helped me make the planet Mars!"
The kitchen island is covered with Styrofoam crumbs, glue, paintbrushes, and what I think is molding clay, but I can't be sure with all the disaster that surrounds my little STEM genius.
"Hey, G. Sorry about the mess. I'll get it cleaned up before I go."
"Don't worry about it. I can pick it up after Hazel goes to bed." I glance at my wrist, noting the time. "Something must be wrong with my watch because it says that it's PJ o'clock, but I don't see any PJs."
Hazel leans on crossed arms resting on the counter, trying not to smile. "Your watch doesn't say that."
"Are you sure?" I hold it up to my ear. "Uh, yep. It's whisper-singing to me right now.PJ time, PJ time, Hazel missed her PJ time."
She climbs up onto the island, crawls over to me, and reaches for my arm, trying to get a listen.
"I don't hear anything."
"Listen really close."
I wait for her to put her ear on my arm and then grab her and throw her over my shoulder. As she releases all the giggles and screams from her little body, I sing really badly, "PJ time, PJ time!" and bring her upstairs to her room.
"Ok, then. I'm heading out!" my sister yells from the bottom of the stairs.
"Thanks, sis!"
"Bye, Aunt Sarah!"
My sister has been a huge help lately, and I don't know how I'd be surviving without her right now. I love that she moved out to LA for a fresh start. She's a cybersecurity analyst who contracts with companies to ensure that their data is protected. She's a genius, and the shit she sees is fucking scary. Thankfully, it's a job she can do from anywhere so she can accommodate my desperate pleas for help. Josie's been gone for three weeks, and it looks like she'll be staying at least three more. I'm happy she's getting this time with her daughter, but some days, we sure do miss her.
I slide my shoes off and slip onto the edge of Hazel's bed, and she darts from the bathroom right after I settle. She pounces on me, fully dressed in PJs.
"We're on Chapter Thirteen," she tells me as she grabsThe Martianfrom the side table. Yes, I know she's six, but she's smart, and I'm not going to baby her with kid books if she wants to read above her level. Although, it does mean she's slightly obsessed with Mars now, and I've yet toconvince her that she can't really move there when she grows up.
"Alright. Do you want to try and read, or do you want me to take this one?"
"You take it. I'm tired from creating a whole planet."
