“I don’t think it’s possible to do better than what we got today, so…”
The whole cast and crew hold their collective breath.
Lana finds her megaphone and calls, “That’s a wrap on Electra Two.”
Claps, cheers, and hugs ripple through the crew. Everyone stands and starts milling around, seizing this chance to breathe and celebrate before it’s time to break everything down.
Everyone except me.
I stay rooted in my seat, invisible sandbags piled on me, unable (or, more frightening,unwilling) to disobey Christine’s command.
I can only be so upset about it; she told me to relax, after all. My unease is distant, quiet, but there. I’ll be stuck here, forgotten as Christine becomes the center of attention, swept along to the wrap party while I?—
“Hey, Mai Tai. Good job.”
My eyes snap up.
Christine stands over me, hand extended. I take it and let her pull me to my feet.
“You okay?” she asks.
I shake my head, trying to clear the fog. “Yeah, I just…”
“Have some fun before the wrap party, okay?”
“Right.” My breath deepens as her new suggestion takes priority.
“I’ll see you there, won’t I?”
“Yeah. Definitely.”
“Alright. Stay out of trouble ‘till then.” Christine’s hand brushes my shoulder, seeming to clear away the cobwebs, leaving a crackle of heat behind.
But I know exactly whatstay out of troublemeans: don’t be a horny mess.
And her words seem to actually work, letting me settle into my skin again.
Haley finds me shortly after, wrapping me in a warm hug that I return.
“Oh god, I can’t believe it’s over…” She leans back, tears welling in her eyes.
“It’s not over until the wrap party’s over,” I counter.
She levels a finger at me. “That is… genius-level coping. You’resoright. And oh, we have to get ready! You’re not gonna flake on our matching outfit plans, are you?”
I offer her a genuine smile for the first time in days. “I wouldneverflake on outfit plans with you, Haley.”
CHAPTER
THIRTY-SIX
CHRISTINE
The wrap partysprawls across a local tavern, skillfully scouted and booked by the production team. The space is just large enough for the crew, ushering us all into cozy proximity as we drink beer and wine from the open bar and shoot the shit.
There’s plenty to distract me as I wait for Mylo to arrive: receiving Lana’s musings about future projects, catching up with a camera grip I bonded with on the first Electra film, discussing the perfect souvenirs to bring back with Lisa.
When Mylo and Haley finally arrive, I’m leaning back against the bar, beer in hand. I glance up mid-sentence to wave to them, and then my brain ceases to function.
