“Well, your health comes first, but the sooner the better, if you know what I mean. I also wanted to check in and tell you things are looking positive on the image front. Chloe’s been posting pictures from the set—with Patty’s approval—and making some kind comments about you. And since you’ve been laid up, I posted a couple photos of you two on your socials.”
“Thanks. What’s the scoop?” And what kinds of things had Chloe posted?
“Your fans are curious about Chloe. The gossip sites are mentioning her in a favorable light. This is all good, Liam. We’re only a couple weeks into it, and the conversation has already shifted.”
“Great news.” He sat up in bed. There was a tray of food beside him. Suddenly ravenous, he grabbed a bagel and took a bite.
“Once you’re feeling a little better, you’ll have to put out some fresh pictures of you and Chloe. Your fans are eating that stuff up.”
“Sure thing.” He put Spencer on speaker and started to jump over to Chloe’s Instagram page, but the sight of his mom’s text from the other day stopped him cold. Put that heavy weight back in his stomach. He’d completely forgotten about that. Or maybe he’d thought it was a dream. Wishful thinking. “Hey, could you send another check to my mom? Make it fifteen hundred.”
Nothing but silence met him on the other end of the phone.
“Spence, you there?”
“Yeah, I made a note. I’ll send it out today.” He had that tone he always used when they talked about Liam’s mom.
“Don’t even give me a hard time right now. I don’t have the energy to deal with it.”
“You got it, buddy.”
A few minutes later they ended the call and Liam clicked over to Chloe’s Insta page. She’d posted a close-up of Buttercup curledagainst his leg and had written,Lookslike I’m not the only one who’s smitten.
She’d also posted a photo of him from the set. The cast and crew had been joking around and he turned to flash a smile at Chloe. He read the caption:The right man for the job.??
It was possible he had a dopey grin on his face right now. It seemed Chloe was happy with the way he was handling the role of Ledger. Satisfaction swelled inside him at the thought. He’d been working hard to make sure she was pleased.
Also Liam had never asked her to avoid mention of his illness on social media. He’d been too wiped out to even think about it. But somehow she knew he wouldn’t want that broadcasted. Instead she kept the dialogue about their relationship fresh while he was under the weather.
He’d always said he would never date someone outside the industry because they couldn’t understand his life. But maybe he’d been wrong about that. Of course it was early days and they weren’t dating for real. But Chloe had adapted pretty well so far. Not that he was thinking of anything permanent with her. After all, they lived across the country from each other.
He took another bite of the bagel and washed it down with a swig of water. He was definitely feeling better. He didn’t want to sleep anymore. He was actually bored. Too bad Chloe was at work.
Chapter23
It was official: Chloe was sick.
She’d felt a little sluggish all day, but there were plenty of reasons she might be tired. For the past week she’d been working full-time, taking care of Liam, and appearing on set as much as she could.
But when she walked into the restaurant for her shift, Sean took one look at her flushed cheeks and sent her packing.
“But it’s Friday,” she said. “We have a band coming. There’ll be a crowd and who’s gonna run the front? You need me.”
“We need you not to share your germs with the staff. Go home.” Then, softening a bit, he added, “I’ll check on you in the morning.”
It was now morning and the filming at Holden Beach started in thirty minutes. Yesterday had been Liam’s first day back on set. And now she was stuck at home and feeling worse by the minute.
She rolled over in bed and whimpered. She needed Tylenol and an antiviral, and she’d better get those meds before the weekend rolled around. She didn’t have a set doctor and a studio staff at her beck and call. Mustering some energy, she called Dr.Angela, begged for the prescription, and managed to get one without an appointment. Now she just needed someone to pick it up. Too bad she didn’t have an Elliot. She grabbed her phone and made the call.
“Oh, good gracious, you sound awful,” Meghan said upon hearing Chloe’s greeting.
“I’m sick.”
“But you never get sick!”
“I know, right? I hate to ask, but can you pick up a prescription for me and drop it by on your way to work?”
“Of course, honey. I’ll bring you a few other things too. We’ll have you on your feet in no time. Rest up and I’ll see you shortly.”
