‘Being thrown through a window?’ the assistant said.
‘Again, I’m used to the various throws and know how to fall correctly.’
‘An explosion will throw you through the air.’
‘I will need to know the speed to manage my landing, but absolutely fine.’ Gabi was quick with her assurances.
‘And finally, we have some high diving scenes,’ the assistant said.
‘I dived from the waterfall inGardens of God,’ Gabi said. ‘I have no fear of heights and can dive from ten metres or jump from twenty. Normally CGI does the rest.’ She was comfortable with everything he was saying. It was nothing out of the ordinary in her life.
Relieved nods all round, followed by a sales pitch from the film director about the film itself, the location, the offer and the money. An eye-watering amount. It was all she could do to stop her mouth falling open. Gabi tried to keep a poker face, knowing that this was the pinnacle of her career to date. That it would surpass all of her lifelong ambitions. To work with big names, in Hollywood, for money that meant she might never have to work again. She took another sip of water and asked the next question she should ask.
‘Are you considering other stuntwomen?’
‘We are, of course.’ The casting director stepped in to reply. ‘But only as back-up if you can’t take the role for any reason. We did wonder if you’d already been approached for the new Spielberg that’s shooting in South Africa.’ Gabi smiled, but didn’t confirm or deny. The woman paused and then continued, ‘Which is why we’ve put such an attractive offer together. We want you to come and do ours.’
The discussions were all very promising. The film director understood that Gabi was currently incapacitated and was prepared to pay for a month of world-class physio in America before shooting began to ensure she was fully back in shape. An apartment of her own would be part of the deal. A full gym membership was of course included in the package to maintain fitness. At the end of the meeting, she hung up, a buzz of excitement building in her stomach. But also a slight sense of anxiety. She’d never felt so nervous about a job before. Maybe it was because she was so out of the game at the moment.
She could hear the radio playing and went to find Amber in the kitchen to tell her the latest, but that was forgotten when she found Amber glaring at her own phone as Gabi opened the door.
‘You okay?’ Gabi asked but Amber groaned aloud and slammed the phone face down next to her coffee cup.
‘Who’s botheringyou?’ Gabi asked, indicating the abandoned phone.
‘Everyone,’ Amber said, exhaling loudly. Her phone beeped and she turned it over momentarily before rolling her eyes and hiding it under the tea cosy.
‘Alex?’ Gabi asked. ‘I thought you two were getting on really well last night.’
‘Everyone but Alex, actually,’ Amber said. ‘But it’s all his fault in the first place.’
Jayden ran in, dressed for his rowing club, River Rats, and Amber stopped mid-sentence. He grabbed a juice carton, oblivious that he was interrupting anything, waved at Gabi and then disappeared out the door. Amber waited until it clicked shut before continuing.
‘Alex played a new song with the band,’ she said, scowling. ‘They made a big fuss about it, introduced it as new material, written by Alex, first ever public play, etc., etc.’ Amber shook her head. ‘He took lead vocals too.’
‘Was it not good?’ Gabi asked, not seeing any problem so far.
‘Oh, it was better than good.’ Amber pulled a face. ‘It was beautiful. Everyone loved it.’
Gabi shook her head, bemused.
‘It had this chorus, and the words were along the lines of: “You might not hear these words, but you know what I’m saying. . . You’re deep in my heart and that’s where you’re staying. . .”’
‘I don’t get it, Amber? What’s wrong with that?’
‘It’s the fact that when Alex introduced it, he said it was written for someone special.’ She threw her hands up in disgust and then, noticing Gabi’s confused face, pointed her thumbs at her chest and said, ‘Me. Obviously.’
Gabi laughed. ‘That’s romance right there,’ she said. ‘Most women would kill to have a song written about them. Me, I’ve never even had someone write me as much as a to-do list.’
Amber sighed.
‘The problem is, now all the gang are involved.’ She unearthed her phone from under the tea cosy and waved it in Gabi’s direction. ‘First it was Isabella; she was quick off the mark, probably because she’s all loved up herself. Then it was Etienne, the original love ’em and leave ’em, telling me relationships are worth it, and then Fox even took time out from being Hot Single Dad of Honeybridge to add his two cents. All of them suggesting maybe I give Alex another chance.’ She dropped her head to the table and banged it lightly. Gabi reached out to stroke her friend’s hair.
‘Is it such a bad idea?’ Gabi risked. ‘You two do really seem to have something.’
Amber lifted her head to look at Gabi in disbelief.
‘Okay. I admit it. The connection is definitely there. He’s attractive, intelligent, funny as fuck and hotter than hell. And now, I find out the arsehole can sing as well. So, yes, if I was a single woman with no commitments, I’d probably risk my heart and jump at another chance for a relationship with Alex Martin. But I’m not a single woman with no commitments, and I can’t do it. Because Jayden’s heart is way more precious than mine.’
