“Ha, no,” I said loudly. The three actors all looked at me confused. I turned away slightly and whispered back, “I mean, I think it’s best to focus on the fan fiction aspect.”
I glanced to where Sally was watching me closely several yards away. “I know you think the fan fiction is what people want to hear about but that’s just a fraction of it. You need to be flexible and roll with the punches. I thought you were serious about your future career as a writer, Kate?”
The threat was clear. If I wanted my meeting with the literary agent, then I needed to do what was being asked of me. Charlie had been right about the cold-blooded side to the business of Hollywood. All the fun I had been having flipped into anxious dread. Charlie’s scowl was fierce as he looked between Sally and me. Apparently, we were not being as subtle as we thought we were.
“Charlie,” I said. He watched me closely, an eyebrow already disapproving. I took a deep breath in to steady my voice. “You seem to have an extensive knowledge of theTerraFormativeuniverse,” I said.
I could ask him. I could ask him right here and now if he read my stories. It would be another clue to help me decide if he really was my secret pen pal.
He didn’t say anything, only narrowed his eyes subtly. I realized that I hadn’t actually asked him anything.
“A-are you a big reader? Have you ever read any TF fan fiction?” I asked tentatively.
“Good,” Sally said in my ear. Her compliment made me feel slimy.
“I’m very familiar with the canon of the original books,” he said tonelessly.
He hadn’t answered the question directly but that denial was as clear as the truth. This was a detail he was not willing to share with random people. Shame washed over me.
I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t be another person in Charlie’s life that caused him to put his shields up. I wanted to be a person that helped him to fully relax in his own skin. I told myself that if he wanted to tell me the truth, I would wait. My writing career was important, but being a decent human would always come first.
I nodded, feeling a blush burn up my cheeks. “Right.” I cleared my throat. “Next question—”
“I forgot about that,” Harrison said, sitting up excitedly and turning the chair toward Charlie, oblivious to the undertones of the situation. “You always had a book on set.”
“Charlie always read between takes,” Emma agreed.
“I mostly napped,” Harrison said.
“We know,” the other two said in unison.
“They had to reshoot several scenes because of your snores,” Emma added.
Harrison shrugged. “Maybe that’s why I’m still single.”
Emma scoffed.
“Don’t you know the Intrepid Trio is cursed in love? Just ask the media,” Charlie said lightly but there was an edge to his voice.
“People are far too interested in our business.” Emma shook her head.
I shot a look to Sally, who was watching the exchange closely.
“What business? They aren’t wrong,” Harrison mumbled. Then his head tilted as he recalled something. “No. Not all of us. Charlie had that American bird, remember? Hey, you never did say what happened with her.”
Charlie was stock still. The world stopped spinning and time slowed down. Dead silence. The entire cast and crew held their breath with me. It was like Harrison had a sixth sense of the worst possible thing to say. Why was he just thinking of this now?
Emma’s eyes widened to a comedic level. “She had a boyfriend. Remember?” she said through her teeth.
“That’s right.” Harrison snapped his fingers. “Shame, mate. You were quite hung up on her.”
I sucked in my lips. Charlie remained surprisingly unreadable when he finally looked to me. I stared back at him, afraid to give any of my true feelings away.
It is you. Please let it be you.
He had to deny it. He hated people in his business. He hated publicity of any kind. I shouldn’t have pushed or let myself be bullied into this line of questioning.
I watched Charlie with growing horror, wondering if I’d just undone the closeness we had tenuously built. I was about to change the subject again, when he slowly nodded his head once. A dimple appeared in his cheek. Then. THEN. He looked directly at me and responded to Harrison’s statement, “That I was.”
