Page 21
Luna rolls her eyes as he pulls her upright. “Speak for yourself.”
“I am speaking for myself. You’re naturally radiant, woman.”
“Smooth bastard,” she mutters affectionately, leaning into his side.
He grins before glancing at me. “See you in the morning for our run, Jax.”
“Looking forward to it,” I reply honestly.
Luna smiles warmly at us as they disappear into their room, hand in hand. Moving with the easy closeness of people who’ve spent half a lifetime choosing each other.
A strange ache settles beneath my ribs. They don’t look exciting or dramatic. They just look... Safe. Like after thirty years they’re still each other’s favourite place to be. Maybe love isn’t the trap I always thought it was. Maybe, when the person beside you is also your best friend, it actually feels a little like coming home.
Bri swings her legs up onto the sofa, barefoot now, her boots abandoned. She’s talking with her hands as she describes her book, eyes bright in a way that make it impossible not to listen.
“It’s the first in a trilogy,” she says, leaning forward slightly like she is letting me in on a secret. “Book two is basically done, I just need to stop over-editing it into oblivion.”
“And what’s it about again?” I ask, although I already know the answer. I just love watching how she lights up when she’s talking about something she’s passionate about.
“It’s about witches and their dragon familiars, the romance revolves around a witch who never wanted her power and the vampire prince she’s supposed to be at war with. A true enemies to lovers, with slow burn energy.”
“That’s actually brilliant.”
Her eyes brighten, as a flush of warmth hits her cheeks. She ducks her chin, trying to hide from the compliment, It’s adorable.
“It’s self-published,” she says, “so, I fully expect it to either go wildly well or be read exclusively by Ava and Lottie and probably one very confused man in Aberdeen, who purchases it this weekend because he feels sorry for me.”
“I’ll read it.”
She almost chokes on her wine. “You really don’t have to do that, I was mostly joking about the confused man bit and lack of sales.”
“No, I mean it. I was honestly thinking of reading a book when I first arrived, but I don’t have any with me. I have tomorrow off and you guys will all be at setup, so this is perfect. I’d like to buy a copy please.”
Bri narrows her eyes at me. “You will absolutely not just buy a copy. I will sign it for you.”
“You’re self-publishing and already overconfident. I respect it.”
She lets out a warm laugh, her head tipping back gently, and I find myself watching her a second too long before I realise I’m doing it. The fire snaps softly, shifting my focus back to the flames instead.
“What are you going to do now? Now the show’s finished I mean?” she asks, leaning in like she's genuinely interested.
Her sincerity pulls something loose in my chest as I shrug. “Honestly? I don’t know yet.”
“You’ve got options, though right. I heard the show is good, and I dunno, you seem popular,” she teases. “There must be other producers and shows lining up for you now you're free.”
“Yeah,” I agree. “Too many, maybe. I thought I’d have more certainty by now. But the truth is I don’t know what to do. I think I might want to direct but nothing’s grabbed me yet. Nothing I care enough about to commit to anyway,” I admit. “And so, then I think, do I want to direct? Or do I just like the idea of directing when actually I just want to retire somewhere quiet and leave that whole world behind. I feel a bit lost, if I’m honest.”
Wow, where did that come from? I never share my thoughts and feelings, except with my therapist, and yet here I am turning my pockets inside out for Bri.
Yet it feels natural—safe even.
She hums thoughtfully. “So do both. Retire somewhere quiet and enjoy life, then every now and then go do some directing when the creative urge strikes, or however it works.”
I stare at her. “You know when you put it like that, it’s actually a really smart idea.”
“I’ve been known to have them.” She laughs lightly, twisting a curl between her fingers. “Can I ask you something personal?” She’s watching the fire instead of me, like she’s giving me an easy way out if I want one.
“Sure.”
