Page 48 of Unscripted with Mila

Mila sat back, tilting her head. “Nick was concerned yesterday. He came to check on me, and we talked. Shared dinner.”

“You lied to me, kiddo.”

“You never asked directly.”

Andi waved her hand. “Semantics. We have always been truthful with each other.”

Mila frowned, her voice low. “I didn’t really know what to say. It felt too private to share.”

“No more lies. Tell me what I need to know to protect you.”

Mila reached out and clasped Andi’s hand. “I will. I’m sorry.”

Andi patted her knuckles. “Okay, then.”

I watched in fascination. By now, MJ would have been screaming or telling me off. Making threats. I wondered what it would be like to have an agent you were actual friends with. Someone who cared. It had been too long since I’d had that connection.

Andi sat back, crossing her legs, looking between us. “You two are cute, but I suggest caution.” She pursed her lips. “Should I remind you we’re only here a short while?”

“Should I remind you I’m a grown woman and can make my own choices?” Mila retorted.

Andi’s grin surprised me. “Well, well, there she is. Okay, kiddo, message received.” She stood, brushing off her pants, looking directly at me. “Mila wants to remain invisible for her family’s privacy and her own peace of mind. You want the attention? You do it on your own.”

“I don’t. I never do.”

“Then tell your agent to back off.”

I wished it were that easy.

“In the meantime, I spoke with the hotel. There is a staff entrance at the back that is well protected. You can come and go from there. They might catch on, but it will cool their heels for a few days.” She leaned down and kissed Mila on the cheek. “We’ll talk in the morning.”

Andi fixed me with a look. “You hurt her, you’ll answer to me.”

“I have no intentions of hurting her. We didn’t plan this, Andi. It’s really fresh for both of us.”

“Your reputation—” she began.

I cut her off. “You, of all people, know how a rep can be blown out of proportion. Manipulated. How everything can be orchestrated to look like something it’s not. There are times when nothing is what it seems.”

She studied me. “Maybe we need to have a conversation. It sounds as if you need some advice.”

“Maybe we could do that.”

She nodded and picked up her purse. “If this is going forward, we need to talk. My number one goal is protecting Mila. Ensuring her safety and well-being.”

“Andi,” Mila interjected. “I’m fine.”

“And I want to make sure you stay that way. But I’ll say this. Two episodes in two days. That tells me you’re not completely fine. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

She left, and Mila dropped her head, rubbing her face. “Well, I didn’t expect that.”

“Me either,” I admitted. “But she seems surprisingly cool with it.”

“We’ll talk more in private. She’ll warn me about all the dangers of being involved with you.”

“And will you listen?” I asked, my voice tight.

Mila turned to me, her eyes soft in the light. “Yes, but I’ll make up my own mind.”