I can guarantee that I care about her more than many of these so-called “real fans.”
After three more takes,Troy’s mood isn’t getting any better, and when Peter Dryden suggests that all four of us—me, Bertram,Tanner, and himself—take a moment to re-establish our bond with a group Hug Connection,Troy tosses the script in the sand and tells us to take an hour break.
Thank god. I may be willing to run in these boots forever for my paycheck, but I’m not about to participate inthat. I can see the headlines now:Kim cheats on Blake in on set four-way orgy.
I make my way back to the trailer, dying to take off these boots, even if it means I’m going to have to deal with Ivy pointedly ignoring me as she does her schoolwork.
I hear a muffled giggle as I draw closer, and catch sight of a mass of blond curls and two bodies pressed up against the side of my trailer—Kelsey. With Aaron, his hands in her hair.
Apparently our matchmaking scheme worked out, after all.
“Ms. Watterson,” Aaron says, seeing me and all but dropping Kelsey. “Sorry, I was about to bring you your updated schedule, but I didn’t realize the shoot was over, and—”
“No worries,” I say, fighting a wide grin, especially as Kelsey is giving me a big thumbs up from behind Aaron’s back. “We took an early break.”
“Well, um,” he says, looking around for his leather folder, then finding it on the ground where he must have dropped it when either he or Kelsey tackled the other. He dusts it off, his cheeks turning pink, and pulls out a sheet of paper to hand to me. “Two scenes got switched for this afternoon, and your massage therapist will be here an hour earlier.”
My muscles weep in anticipation of that woman’s magical hands.
“Oh, and Mr. Rios called,” Aaron continues. “He said he tried your cell, but wanted to make sure that you called him as soon as you were done filming.”
Uh-oh.That doesn’t sound good. Especially since I just talked with him last night about all the negative press. What on earth more could have gone wrong since then?
“Okay, great,” I say, though it’s likely anything but. “Thanks, Aaron. I’ll call him back now.” I smile at both of them. “Have fun, you two.”
Kelsey grins at me, and Aaron gives a sheepish smile back.
In my trailer, Ivy is typing away. Her earbuds are in, but she hears me open the door, because she swivels just enough to see it’s me and then swivels back. Costanza lifts his head, smelling me, and then jumps up from where he was chewing on a rawhide bone near her feet. He full-body wags his way over to me, and I give him a big hug. “Hey, you happy boy,” I say.
Then louder, to Ivy, “Hey, honey. How’s the report coming?”
She doesn’t respond. I sigh; I was expecting as much. I dig my phone out of my purse, and there it is—three missed calls from Josh and two fromTara. All in the last hour.
Shit. Something’s definitely up.
I pause. No matter what it is, it can wait another minute. I should at least try with Ivy.
“Hey, Ivy, what do you think about you and I going out to lunch sometime this week? Just the two of us?”
There’s a slight shift in her posture but not much more.
“Maybe on Sunday we can do some shopping? Or hit that wildlife refuge? I heard that they have—”
“No thanks,” she says, no inflection in her voice. Still not turning in her chair.
My stomach sinks. I pet Costanza one last time and head into the bedroom to call Josh back. Costanza starts to follow me, but Ivy jumps up. “Work’s done. Can I take him for a walk now?”
She doesn’t sound excited about it. Probably she’s just trying to get away from the trailer, if I’m going to be here. My heart aches at the thought, even though calling Josh back will be easier if I’m not worried about Ivy trying to listen in.
“Sure thing,” I say, giving her a smile that she doesn’t return.
She attaches the leash and tugs Costanza out the door without a backwards glance.
I sigh and call Josh’s number.
He picks up after one ring. “Kim.Thanks for calling back.”
“It sounded urgent. I’m guessing something more than another fan petition to thwart the movie.”
