And she won’t want me to.
21
HOT DATE
CHLOE
I’m sweating. Seriously, my skin is as slippery as a porpoise. This is embarrassing. It’s toastier under these lights than at the community theater, and it’s been a sauna there in the evenings for the last few weeks as I’ve rehearsed with Mom, Angelo, Noah, and all the crooners in Darling Springs.
But I focus on offering treats to the dog extras one more time, hoping I don’t melt into a puddle while handing out beef jerky as they play.
Mercifully, a little after seven-thirty, the director calls, “That’s a wrap.”
“And that’s twenty-three minutes early too,” Alexandra says, glancing at her slim wristwatch. There’s not a trace of sweat on her. I bet her pores wouldn’t permit it.
The director, Poorna, turns to me. “Great job with the puppers,” she says as she removes her headset. She’s Pakistani but grewup in London, she told me between takes. She asked if I knew of any great Pakistani food in Darling Springs or nearby, or fish and chips if we didn’t have the former, and I felt terrible when I said no to both, but I promised to do some research.
“Then tell me the next best thing—where can I get a great wood-fired pizza around here?”
“That’s easy,” I’d said, recommending Clementine’s.
Now, with the shoot over, Poorna nods toward the four-legged extras, who’ll be picked up by their owners any minute, and adds, “They really let Jubilee shine. They were sharp on every take.”
Pride fills my chest. Relief too. This was a huge test for me, and I’m thrilled to have passed with flying colors on day one. “Working with them is easier than humans,” I reply as I gather up my doggie treat bags. Beef jerky was highly motivating.
“Humans can be challenging,” Poorna says dryly.
“Humans are the worst,” Alexandra mutters, and it doesn’t surprise me at all that she’s a people hater.
“But I don’t mind all of them, or even most of them,” Poorna adds brightly, then turns her gaze to another human—Sawyer, who’s chatting with Zuri by the front desk. “Like that one. He’s cute,” she whispers to me.
Oh, shit.
Is this the part where I sayyes, I know, orgo for it? I don’t have time to figure it out because Levi swoops in, saving me, setting his hands on my shoulders.
“We should all go out and celebrate, don’t you think, Chloe?Especially since I behaved so well. I didn’t take any pics!” our head groomer enthuses.
“You deserve a big frothy drink for your restraint,” I tell him.
“Make it pink and I’m there,” he says. “Let’s do Prohibition Spirit.”
Before I can answer with asure, since it sounds like fun, Levi shifts his gaze to the counter where Sawyer is closing out of a screen on the computer, a stern look on his face. Because of course he looks stern.
“What about you, Mister Serious Boss?” Levi asks. “You in? I feel like I deserve a reward for listening—drinks on you?”
Sawyer’s spine goes ramrod straight. His forehead creases. That’s an…odd reaction to a hang-out request from his employee. Even from the grumpy stickler, I’d have expected a halfhearted smile.
“Appreciate the invite. But I need to check on…Yappy Hour.” Sawyer weaves around the counter and the commotion and marches to the door. “I’ll catch you all tomorrow.”
And…he’s gone. Leaving the rest of us to close up. Which is fine. He usually doesn’t close, since that’s not his job. But that was one of the fastest exits ever. Even faster than when I’d thought he was taking off for a hot date.
But I have a feeling he’s not headed to one now.
“Is he setting a land-speed record for taking off?” Levi asks with an exaggeratedwhat’s up with himlook.
“Call Guinness,” Zuri jokes, nodding to the pack of pups. “But we have plenty to do, so let’s do it. We can get out of here by eight-thirty.”
“I can help,” I say, and it’s not technically my job since I don’t work for Dog Tails, but they’ve done their part to make this shoot work, so it feels like the right thing to do.
