I don’t stop her as she walks out the door, leaving it flung open.
Well. That’s fucking that, isn’t it.
How the hell did I fuck this up so badly that she went fromkiss me and show me I’m queertorun away with metoI’m going to ruin your lifein less than twelve hours. Not that I know what time it is because there’s no fucking clocks here!
Jesus, this must be a lesbian drama world record.
Whit appears in the doorway. ‘What’s with the gob?’
‘Did you hear any of that?’ I ask nervously.
‘Not the content, just the tone.’
Hopefully no one else heard anything. I want to explain everything to Whit, but I spot the mic immediately. Anything I say, production would hear. God forbid someone heard us arguing and sent her to get the details.
We’re out of sight of the cameras, though.
I shake my head, as I slowly say, ‘A stupid argument about Patrick.’
I have to hope that her surgeon training means she’s used to improvising with communication.
She watches me for a moment like I’ve grown a second head, but then nods. I hope that means she understands I’ll explain it to her another time. ‘Ah, I’m sorry. Let’s get some breakfast in you. Don’t want you hangry.’
Whit takes my arm and leads me to the kitchen. Carys is nowhere to be seen, and we’re apparently the only women dressed and ready.
She said she was going to ask for a room swap, didn’t she? I just have to trust that she’s not telling them anything else.
Would she do that? The Carys I thought I knew wouldn’t.
Whit lets go of me to pour us both cups of coffee from the dispenser, and I scramble for a reason for our argument. Do I go scorched earth like she has, or take the higher ground? The public love the former, but you can easily be spun as a villain. Grown-ups tend to do better long term.
‘Basically, I’m worried Patrick isn’t that into her,’ I say finally.
Whit looks over her shoulder and gives me a searching look. ‘Because… he’s intoyou?’
‘No, no,’ I insist. ‘Did he ever mention his ex to you? They were together for years and only just broke up before he came on here.’
‘What?! No, he never mentioned her but we only had one date.’
Whit hands me a steaming cup. It’s not good coffee, but it’s drinkable. I live for the day I can brew my own again, rather than this burned filter stuff.
‘Well, he told me a lot. Things with his ex-girlfriend seem kind of messy, recent and serious, which is not good for Carys.I was trying to warn her about it, but I think she thought I was making a play for him.’
‘To be fair, weren’t you dating him up until yesterday?’
‘Yeah, but I was trying to suss him out. We’ve got no more dates. Urgh, she’s a sweet kid. I don’t want her to get her heart broken.’ I do realise the irony of this statement. ‘I think he does like her, but if he’s hung up on someone else, what if he regrets the process? I wonder if I should speak to her again, but I don’t want to upset her.’
I worry I’m hamming this up so much I’m going to smell like bacon.
‘At least he’s no Jackson,’ Whit scoffs.
‘Which is that one?’ I say, trying not to look at the door that leads out to backstage.
‘The alpha male. The one Bridget is gone on.’
I can’t help but pull a face. ‘Well, don’t look at me; I already fucked up my first attempt at talking someone round from a red flag. I’m not volunteering.’
Whit pats my hand. ‘You’re such a good friend.’
