Page 90 of A Simple Love

Quinn left, and John grinned at me. “Sorry. I can’t keep my hands off my wife.”

I waved him off. “Nice to see.”

He took a sip of coffee. “You ever think of settling down? Or your love-’em-and-leave-’em lifestyle suits you too well?”

“Don’t believe all you read in the rags, John. I don’t date much.”

“Married to your career, I suppose,” he mused.

“In many ways.”

“There’s more to life than money and fame.” He looked around. “Life here is simple. I like that. I like knowing my town. Knowing my neighbors.”

“Nothing wrong with simple,” I agreed.

“Sometimes simple is perfect. Like love.”

“Sorry?”

“Love can be complicated or simple. Quinn and I had a rocky start, but once we fell, we fell hard. I would have given up everything for her, but she wanted the same things I did.”

“Given up?”

“I would have moved into town if that was what she wanted. Where she lived was far more important than my address. I would have followed her to Toronto if it made her happy. Luckily, it didn’t.” He studied me. “You ever think of leaving LA?”

“I’m kinda stuck.”

“Are you?”

“That’s where my life is.” I ignored the voice in my head that scoffed and informed me I didn’t have much of a life. “The film industry is there.”

He nodded, sitting back as Quinn slid huge plates in front of us.

“As long as the film industry is what makes you happy, then I guess that’s that.”

I picked up my fork. “Yep.”

“Unless something else, or someone else, makes you happier. I’m sure you could figure it out.” He cut into his breakfast. “Lots of famous people live outside the bubble of Hollywood.”

Then he changed the subject.

But his words echoed in my head all day.

Life on set rolled along. Davis kept us going, one scene flowing into the next. Sheri kept her distance, but I did notice her attempts to be nicer. I even heard her thank a PA for something. He covered his shock well, mumbling “no problem” as he walked away, glancing over his shoulder, unsure he had heard her correctly.

Annie sat and watched, a silent sentinel in the corner, a constant plume around her head. She spoke with Davis, used my trailer for endless online meetings, and sat in on the daily rushes. On Friday, she sat with me, eating the delicious food Quinn and her crew served us and exclaiming over it.

“You need to do more films here,” she observed.

I chuckled. “I don’t know if Davis has more planned. Richton is sort of off the grid.”

She chewed a mouthful of chicken, wiping her mouth. Kassie came over, sitting with us, adding another sandwich and more chicken to my plate with a smile.

We ate for a few moments in silence, then Annie spoke.

“Mike called me today.”

I grunted as I chewed. I hadn’t heard from him or Vic since the incident.