Chapter Nine
Rowan
‘Today’s off to a better start than the other day, right?’ Ruth said when Rowan settled himself into the makeup chair.
Wasn’t that the understatement of the year. Rowan smiled at her, pleased to see Ruth was in a good mood, despite what had happened. ‘That wouldn’t be hard, would it?’ he replied.
Ruth snorted. ‘I felt like I should burn some sage or something when I got in this morning. D’you want a drink before we get started?’
‘No, I’ve got some water, thanks.’
‘I should probably stick with that, but I’m craving a Bloody Mary and a really greasy bacon sandwich. After you left the party drinking games really started up and I still feel hungover.’ Ruth fitted the cap on his head to keep his hair back and tucked tissue around the collar of his costume.
‘Oh God, that shot game ended me,’ Jackie chimed in from the other end of the trailer. Rowan looked in the mirror towards her and spotted Lila as well, his stomach flipping. He hadn’t seen her as he came in because she’d been sorting things out in the cupboard, the door blocking his view of her.
‘You were doing fine with the sports trivia – it was when they started on American presidents that it all went wrong.’ Ruth laughed, talking over Rowan’s head as she propped her hip on the counter and flicked through the continuity folder.
‘Well of course it did. We should have made a stand against the Yanks – it was really unfair.’ Jackie took a sip from her coffee and then turned to look over at Lila, who was still being very quiet in the cupboard. ‘If you hadn’t disappeared Lila, you could have helped me out. Where did you get to?’
He watched as she turned to face Jackie, grateful for the excuse to look at her, her hair tied up in a high ponytail that exposed her neck. But he could see the subtle signs of alarm across her features too, her eyes widening and mouth working as she tried to find her answer. ‘Sorry, next time.’
‘Oh God, there will not be a next time. Don’t think I’m going to let Jonathan trick me into another drinking game this side of the wrap party.’ Jackie snorted.
‘And don’t avoid the question, Lila,’ Ruth said. ‘Tell Jackie where you got to.’
Lila’s cheeks flushed red. ‘I was just down at the beach.’
‘That whole time? On your own? How come?’
She nodded quietly and her discomfort was written so clearly over her that he wanted to step in and change the subject, take the spotlight off her – but that probably would have made it too obvious that he’d been the one with her, when they connected the dots of them leaving at roughly the same time as each other.
‘That’s what I said.’ Ruth laughed. ‘I think she met someone down there and she’s holding out on all the juicy details.’
A zip of electricity went through his body when Lila’s eyes skated towards his in the reflection of the mirror. He looked away, picking up his phone, to stop himself from staring back and broadcasting to everyone that Ruth wasn’t so far off the mark.
He hated feeling like he was abandoning her to a level of scrutiny he knew was causing her anxiety.
He hated having to metaphorically bite his tongue all the time.
The only consolation to him, was that even had he been free to behave as he wished – no promises made to Gerrard – she wouldn’t have been any more comfortable with the attention his regard for her would bring. No. The fairest things for them both, was to keep a distance. No temptation. No risk.
‘Ooh, the prospect of a summer fling. I guess I can forgive you for leaving me to alcohol poisoning then.’ Jackie laughed and collected her mug of coffee, drinking deep from it.
Ruth got down to work, prepping his makeup for the big fight scene today and Lila returned to working in the cupboard, while he checked his phone, eager for a distraction.
Jayden: A little bird told me something about you @Rowan. You’ve been doing your knight in shining armour thing again?
Rowan: I’ve been doing my pissing people off thing.
Jayden: That too. You okay?
Rowan: Yeah. It’s sorted.
Jayden: That’s cool. But if you’re getting flak you let me know. I’ll go out on my balcony and strip off again. That’ll take all the attention right off you. Guaranteed.
Rowan: You’re nuts.
Jayden: Exactly. They could do with an airing, I’ve been wearing a cup while filming for the last fortnight. So sweaty.
