“I’m good.” I tilt my head searching for a more honest answer. “Better.”
“I get it. It can take some time, which is why I’m rearranging the schedule. I’m pulling your scenes for tomorrow.”
A chill seeps under my skin in spite of the warm July air. “You don’t need to do that. I’ll be fine.”
“I’m sure you would be, but I’ve made up my mind. You’re off tomorrow.”
“Maggie. Please don’t fire me over this. I’ll do better. I’ll keep it under control.” This was my last chance, and I can feel it slipping through my fingers, just like Brad said. Idon’t deserve this and now I’m going to lose everything I built.
Her eyes widen. “I’m not firing you, Aurelia, I’m just giving you a day off. In fact, the entire cast is getting more days off. I’ve been so fixated on this show. I’m so in love with the characters and all of you guys, I let myself slip into the Hollywood mindset. Deadlines, pressure. But it’s not right. Everyone deserves some time off. Everyone needs to take a break now and again to visit family, take a nap, look after their mental health. So that’s what we’re doing from now on at the Sterling ranch. More breaks. Less crazy hours. It’s not sustainable the way it’s been going, and exhausted actors are not going to produce top-notch acting.”
She pushes up off the railing, taking a walk over to the north side to look out at the mountains.
“What about the producers? The investors?”
“Fuck them. They asked me to create the best show I could. Something that’s going to tug at heartstrings and pull in viewers. That’s what I’m making, and this is how I’m going to do it.”
“Fuck them?”
“Yeah, fuck them.”
She turns around and walks toward me, arms wide. I step into them, and she gives me a quick squeeze.
“I’m sorry I let it get to this point. I should have recognized the signs. I never wanted to push you so far. But also, I need you to be honest with me. I thought we were square when we had our first chat. I’m here to work withyou, but I can only do that if you talk to me and let me know what’s going on in your head. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“No, it’s not, but we’re going to fix it. From now on, more time off. That’s a promise. And I want you to know you can come to me about anything. Anything. Anxiety is not something to be ashamed of. I’m here for you, and I will help you through it any way I can.”
The moon catches my eye again over her shoulder. It’s huge and full in the sky like it’s watching over us. I’ve never experienced this kind of care before from a director or showrunner. I’ve never felt safe enough to be vulnerable in front of any of them. But here Maggie is, acting like family. Like I’m worthy.
And for the first time in a long time, I feel like I actually might be.
Chapter 27
Quint
Mymindkeepsdriftingto Aura’s face when I dropped her off at her cabin last night as I’m getting the folding table set up in my living room. She looked better, back to herself, but I still hated to leave her. There are no new messages when I pick up my phone for the thousandth time today. D&D isn’t for everyone, but I wish she had taken me up on my offer. I hope she’s okay.
There’s a knock on the door before I’ve even finished getting the chairs out. Gotta be Dean. He takes punctuality to the next level.
“You’re early…” The words dissipate when I realize it’s not him, it’s her. “Hollywood, I didn’t think you were going to come to my incredibly nerdy game night.”
She tilts her head to stare at the ceiling, and I get fixated on the long, smooth line of her neck. She’s got on a plain white T-shirt that probably cost more than myentire jeans collection and a pair of black yoga pants that show off her toned legs. Even so dressed down, she looks incredible.
“I talked to my therapist this morning. He said it would be good for me to be around other humans.”
Huh. I went to a therapist for years after our parents died, and she never would have said anything like that.
She laughs, probably catching the confusion on my face. “Well, that’s not a direct quote, but basically.”
“Oh. So you chose us, eh? Your designated humans.”
“Yes. D&D sounds interesting.” Her tone goes up at the end in a subtle question.
“Interesting? Not unbearably nerdy?”
“Well, that too. Definitely that, but really, it’s just pretending to be a character for a period, which is what I do for a living. So, I guess if D&D is unbearably nerdy, then so is my profession.”
