I can kiss her tomorrow.
I did the right thing. Only, I’m not supposed to kiss her at all. I’m supposed to be just friends with her so I can keep my job. This role could really put me back on track: more awards, fewer memes.
And what about all the fan mail stuff? I need to call Jake.
The bathroom door opens, and Ava walks out, a small towel wrapped around her. What is with the half-naked women everywhere tonight? I move away from Skye’s door like it’s electrified and am about to duck into my room when Ava spots me.
“Miles.”
I give a half wave. “Goodnight, Ava.”
She pads over lightly, her satin slippers smacking against the stone floor. “Wait.”
I freeze, my hand halfway to my doorknob. I don’t want to wait. I want to try to call Jake. Then go to bed and dream about Skye’s armsaround my neck until I fall asleep. But I already started this whole production on the wrong foot, so I turn to her and put on a large smile. “What’s up?”
“Where were you this morning? I thought we agreed to talk more about that thing.”
Thing? I have no idea what she’s talking about. “I’ve taken up running again. I’m trying to get out there every morning around six-ish. You know, stay in shape.”
“Running?” She looks deep in thought before she smiles. “Okay. That’ll work.”
“Work?”
“Right. My process, you know? Getting close with each other so it translates on screen.”
“We can be running buddies, then.”
I’m on the phone dialing Jake before the door is completely shut.
“What’s up?”
“You know that little box I have where I keep letters and trinkets and things?”
“You have a box of trinkets?”
I sigh. He doesn’t know about the box. It’s not like we go through it together while wearing face masks and drinking wine. “I think it’s in the closet. Can you look for it?”
“Sure. I’m out at dinner right now.”
“It’s no hurry. Just let me know when you find it.”
“Sure thing.”
I lie on my bed, my mind a mess. Trying my hardest to run lines to put myself to sleep, but my mind keeps wandering to Skye. She wanted to kiss me. She wanted me to stay. I can still smell her lavender scent in the air.
SKYE
The world is too bright. I must’ve slept in. Checking the time, I see it’s already after six. No. No. No.
I fly out of bed, the head rush that comes with it making me instantly regret my swift movements. Putting on clothes at a more measured pace, I try to show my hangover that I respect it, I will nurture it, and then it can kindly leave. I don’t have a lot of time to write before my chores and then meeting Miles.
How much did Elsie and I put away last night?
The end of the night comes back in small flashes. Miles walking me to my room. Oh Lord… Did I take my trousers off in front of him?
The rest of the night is pretty fuzzy, though.
I make my way to my writing library, going over the scene I want to get down this morning. Since I only have a short amount of time, I turn it into a pomodoro session. Twenty-five minutes later, I got a decent amount of the scene written. I stand to stretch, looking out the window at the horse barn, the roof catching the first rays of sun.
