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‘Okay, I’ll move them over now, if Lucas doesn’t mind me going in and out of his trailer for a bit?’

‘He won’t give a shit,’ said Emma in an uncharacteristically grumpy tone. Emma seemed to realise her slip-up, because she gave a self-conscious chuckle. ‘I mean, well, he’s with Bianca in her trailer tonight, so he won’t mind. You guys might as well take his for the night. There’s a sofa bed and a king-sized bedroom. So, probably nicer than the motel in Birdsville, to be honest.’

‘Are you okay?’ he asked gently. ‘Did something happen?’

Emma shook her head, but the glisten of her tears indicated otherwise. ‘I’m fine. I’ve spoken with Lucas, and after this movie finishes…’ Her words dried up, and she rubbed her eyes with the sleeve of her top and then gave a brave smile. ‘This will be my last movie with Lucas.’

Hannah stepped forward and rubbed her arm gently. ‘Well done. Sometimes you’ve got to do what’s best for you in the long run.’

Caleb blinked. He’d not expected Emma to quit. Yes, of course she’d mentioned it as a possibility, but he’d never imagined it would happen. He felt as if the rug had been pulled out from underneath him. Lucas, Caleb and Emma had been together for years; it didn’t seem possible to think of Lucas employing someone else to replace Emma. No one could replace Emma.

Things change, said a voice inside his head that sounded suspiciously like his mother.

Caleb sucked in a breath and tried to grapple with his emotions. A lump formed in his throat and he swallowed it down. ‘It’s not going to be the same without you,’ he said, and then because he couldn’t stand to see her cry, he pulled Emma into a bear hug and squeezed her tight.

His heart broke when he heard Emma mumble, ‘I can’t keep living like this. Loving him and knowing he won’t ever love me back.’

‘He’s an idiot,’ Caleb said, and then, clutching at straws, he added, ‘But he’s our idiot. One day, he’ll realise how important you are to him.’

‘I doubt it, but thanks anyway.’

Caleb couldn’t even look at Hannah right now.

How was he any different to Lucas?

At the end of this film, he was going to leave her too. He’d not appreciated until now how much it was going to hurt to say goodbye.

‘Maybe you need a break, take a vacation instead. Then see how you feel?’ he asked, more in the hopes of changing Emma’s mind than because he actually believed it himself.

All of his hopes evaporated as she shook her head. ‘I can’t keep waiting for one day. I’ve wasted so much of my life and self-respect on him already. But don’t be a stranger, yeah? Keep in touch?’

Emma began to pick up the many bags around her feet.

‘Let me help,’ said Hannah, and they each took a bag and helped Emma into one of the remaining jeeps.

There was nothing he could say to comfort her. Emma was right. Lucas had never given any indication of caring for her as anything more than a friend. She was torturing herself by remaining and hoping for something to change. Besides, Caleb was the last person to talk about ‘sticking things out’.

‘Make sure to help her in with the bags when you get to the motel. Lucas’s order,’ said Caleb to the driver, and a short time later, Hannah and Caleb were waving goodbye as the headlights bounced away into the distance.

The sounds of the desert flowed around them as the jeep rattled away. Crickets, chirps and squeaks combined with the soft hiss of shifting sand. Above, the spectacular night sky glittered, beautiful and endless.

Hannah’s hand slipped into his and she gave it a light squeeze.

Caleb let go. ‘Let’s sort out those medical supplies.’

They ferried the medication to Lucas’s trailer, using their torches to guide them in the dark. After a couple of trips, they were done, and waved good night to the security guards, who were eating their evening meal in the entrance of the medic tent.

The trailer was like a smaller version of their hotel suite, and the fridge was stocked with healthy microwavable meals, and even a few beers.

‘Thai green curry and rice, sound good?’ he asked, as Hannah placed the last of the medicines in the fridge.

‘Great!’ She grabbed one of the frosted beer bottles and opened it with a satisfying crack and fizz.

‘Oh, I’ll have one too,’ said Caleb. ‘I need one after today.’

‘It’s been intense,’ agreed Hannah sympathetically, grabbing one from the fridge and handing it to him.

He was still in costume and was swimming in sweat – the only respite being the fact that he was bare chested. He leaned against the counter and cracked open his beer. It had been a few months since he’d drunk alcohol, and usually he didn’t miss it, but occasionally, like today, he fancied an ice-cold beer.