1
LILA
The hair and makeup trailer hummed with the usual pre-shoot chaos, but I was used to working around it. Two wardrobe assistants fluttered around the talent in my chair.
“Jade, hold still. Lila’s doing your lips,” one of them begged.
Jade Monroe sighed dramatically but obeyed, tilting her chin up. “Honestly, Lila, you’re a miracle worker.”
I smiled, blending the edge of her lip liner. “You’re giving me too much credit. That bone structure does most of the work.”
“There’s a reason you’re the best in the business.” She parted her lips so I could finish her mouth before adding, “My skin looks flawless, even in this lighting.”
I had the LED bulbs on a cool setting to match the natural sunlight she was going to be exposed to on set, but I didn’t explain the science. “You gave me a great canvas to work with.”
Jade’s PA poked her head through the door. “Wardrobe needs you in five. They’re having a meltdown over the emerald dress not sitting right.”
Jade rolled her eyes. “Tell them to breathe. Lila’s almost done.”
I stepped back to check the contour under the harsh lights, then leaned in for one final dusting of setting powder. My phone vibrated on the counter for the third time in ten minutes, but I ignored it.
Although I’d opened up a little bit about my situation to Serena Watts last week, that had been an entirely different situation. We’d been in the privacy of her home, I’d done the actress’s makeup many times before, and she’d been going through her own relationship difficulties. Breaking down on a bustling blockbuster set surrounded by people who needed me to be unflappable was something I couldn’t afford to do.
“Perfect.” I forced my tone to be light as I capped my brush. “You’re going to kill it out there.”
“You’re the best, Lila.” Jade grinned and squeezed my wrist. “I’m lucky they were able to get you for this film with how in demand you are.”
Her kind words were the balm I needed. This HMU trailer was my domain, and I wasn’t about to let Reid’s flirty paralegal intrude here.
The smile I flashed back at Jade showed none of the stress I felt. “And I’m lucky you accepted the lead role because you’re lovely to work with.”
“Your mutual admiration is sweet.” Jade’s PA pointed her thumb over her shoulder. “But you really need to get going.”
Jade thanked me one last time and swept out of the trailer, the door banging shut behind her. I had fifteen minutes before the next talent was due at my station, so I grabbed my phone and slipped outside for some air.
Besides a few social media notifications, a text from Reid was waiting.
Reid
Running behind. Meet me at my place around 8, and I’ll grab dinner from Oste? I won’t forget the tiramisu for my girl.
My thumb hovered over the screen. Part of me melted the way it always did when he remembered the little things. He was still the guy I fell in love with. And he wasn’t cruel or a cheater. He wasn’t even flirtatious by nature. Which somehow made this worse.
It was a safe bet that his flirty paralegal was doing whatever she could to make sure he was stuck in the office. With her.
Reid was a smart guy, but he was completely blind to Kaylee’s machinations. I wasn’t, though. From the moment she got assigned to his team, she’d been playing the long game with flirty smiles, late nights, and pointed glances at the rock on my finger. She wanted the lifestyle that came with being on the arm of a successful lawyer.
Not that Reid saw it the same way.
When I walked into his office a few weeks ago with takeout for lunch and found Kaylee perched on the corner of his desk, he’d acted like it was completely normal. After she left, I brought up how close she had been leaning in, and he brushed it off as her needing to point at something on his monitor. And when I pointed out that her blouse had the top three buttons undone, he insisted he hadn’t even noticed. Same with the adoring look she’d given him as she left.
I felt like he was drifting away from me, even when I was right beside him. A few nights ago, I spent the night at his place, but his phone kept lighting up with texts. While I tried to fall asleep, he answered Kaylee’s questions about a deposition.
I swallowed hard, staring at his message until the words blurred. He could still be thoughtful, but he wasn’t protectingour relationship from her. Which left me in a tough spot because pulling away would just give Kaylee the opening she wanted. So I typed back a short reply before I could overthink it.
Me
A mortadella pinsa sounds great.
