Liam wrapped his arms either side of me and climbed behind me until I safely reached the window to my bedroom.
“Go.”He patted my cotton PJ clad bottom.
I swung my leg over and leaned out, smiling down at him.
“Jess.”
“Yeah?”
“I promise,” Liam said, then he disappeared.
A year later, Jayden and Liam joined the Air Force.I’d been furious.
Until three years later.
––––––––
THE GOLF CART bouncesaround Warner Bros, and I let thoughts of Liam fade away.
Savannah shows me where they filmed a couple of her movies, where her trailer was, and other famous spots.Celebrities wander around like it’s no big deal while my eyes pop out of my head.Some wave out to Savannah; some don’t seem to care about her at all.
Here she’s no big deal.
Or so it appears.
“Sorry, ladies, I have to get home to the twins,” Briar says, jumping off the golf cart.I learned she’s Aidan’s wife—one of the owners of Black Hawke Security—and then realize I saw her at the party on the weekend.
“Nice to meet you.”
Briar hugs Savannah and talks work for a quick minute.As well as working together, the two women are friends—part of the wider friend network Liam and Jayden belong to.
“How long are you in California?”Briar asks, leaning one hand on the cart.
“Um, if I can find some work, maybe a while.Jayden is away for a couple of weeks, so I need to find a place to live by then.”I shrug and smile.“It was a spontaneous decision to come to LA.”
“Well, make sure Liam brings you to the beach party this weekend.”Briar waves.
“Okay.”I cringe behind my smile, knowing that won’t happen after this morning.
I have some deep thinking about what I want to do with my life after leaving Texas.Being on the Warner Bros set has triggered a little PTSD, if I’m honest.That happens, I guess, when you’ve been taken advantage of.
Would we call it that?
“I hope you do come this weekend,” Savannah says as we head towards the studio she’s been recording in.“Now, I hear you’ve done some acting.”
“I had a small part inHigh Tops.We wrapped a couple of days ago,” I say, keeping it brief.
I doubt she wants to hear about my small part on a TV show.It’s small fries compared to her amazing career.
“High Tops!Love that show.This is season three, right?”
I nod, a little happy that she knows it.
“Yup, I play one of the female cops.It’s just a small part, mostly making coffee, eating a donut, or doing fake filing while the main characters are being filmed.”
“No spoilers.I’m excited to see it.”Savannah grins, not in the least judgmental about me being inconsequential.“Who’s the producer on the show?Is that Frank Bonito?”
His name makes my chest tighten and stomach churn.
