Page 37 of Love On and Off Set

“I don’t leave the vase.”

“Don’t you, like, gotta piss or something?”

Oh, sure, mention that and—

“Well, now I do. But I’m not leaving the vase alone.”

Myles scratched his stubble-laden jaw.

My libido kicked up a notch.

“Okay. We go to my shop, and I’ll watch the vase while you, uh, do your business. Then you come back, I’ll grab us food, and then we can eat in the prop room together.”

“Would you normally eat in the prop room?”

“Sure.”

I arched an eyebrow.

“Okay, if I’m not working on a critical project, then I like to sit and eat with everyone else. I don’t do a lot of socializing outside of work.” He winced. “Forget I said that.”

His admission surprised me. He was so…loud. Outgoing. Extroverted. I pictured him in gay bars and nightclubs every night of the week.

Whereas I was always tucked into bed with a book by nine at night so I could get up at five to do my run, weight training, and then shower before my healthy—and boring—breakfast. Still… “I’ll forget you said anything if you promise to eat with your friends. I’m fine and don’t require anything.” I hadn’t thought to make myself a lunch, but I’d definitely do that in the future.

“Grab the vase. Let’s go.”

His words were abrupt, but I sensed no malice. I tucked the vase into the box, nestled in the bedding, and followed him back to the prop room.

Once inside, he pointed to the table.

Reluctantly, I placed the box on the table.

“Now, go pee.”

I hesitated.

He glared.

I retreated, orienting myself and quickly locating the washrooms that Seamus had so helpfully pointed out. I pissed in record time, washed my hands thoroughly, and practically ran back to the prop room. Myles was one of those guys. Some things he took seriously while other things were clearly a joke. I wouldn’t put it past him to hide the box, then flutter those impossibly long lashes at me and claim innocence. Because of that image, I was nearly breathless when I arrived back at the prop room.

To find Myles buffing his nails with an emery board.

The box lay exactly where I’d left it.

Before I could say anything, he handed me a bottle of water and then vanished.

Okay, then. He’d said he’d find some food for me. I supposed I could’ve followed him with the box…but that felt too weird. I yanked out my phone and sent Amal a quick update text.

She texted back a thumbs-up.

I fucking hate thumbs-up. What does that mean? Good job? Keep going? I sighed. Staring at the phone wasn’t going to find me any ready answers. As curious as I was about the space, I opted not to snoop. Well, I did check out the naked brass woman lampy thing.

Weird.

Since all of three minutes had passed since Myles left, I opened the mail app on my phone.

My breath caught.