Page 91 of A Simple Love

“He wants you back on his next film.”

I gaped at her. “He cut me.”

“He hasn’t found the right fit. He realizes he went overboard over the whole fountain thing. He wants to re-sign you. Shooting starts next month. He’ll make sure to work around any reshoots you have for Davis.”

I set down my fork. “I see.”

Annie glared at me. “What? It’s a good script. You were happy to be in it before all of this.”

“Why did he change his mind?”

“Davis let me show him a bit of the film. He thinks you’re brilliant.”

I met Kassie’s eyes and looked away. “I’ll think about it.”

“You’ll take it,” Annie replied. “This is exactly what you need. Between this film and Mike’s, you’ll be back on top. In demand. Your choice of any script.”

Kassie cleared her throat. “Sounds like a great opportunity, Oliver.”

Oliver. She called me Oliver, not Olly.

It felt as if we had suddenly taken a step back.

“We can discuss this later,” I said, shooting a glance at Annie.

“I’ll get the contract ready.”

I pushed my plate away, suddenly not hungry. Annie got up to get something to drink, and I turned to Kassie. “Sorry. She shouldn’t have brought that up in front of you.”

“Why?”

I rolled my head on my shoulders, my neck feeling tight. “Because it means…” I trailed off.

Kassie spoke quietly. “We knew this was a ‘just for now.’ I’m a big girl, and I know you’re leaving soon to go back to your world. It’s okay. I’m thrilled your time in Richton has maybe helped you.”

“My time in Richton has done more than help me. It brought me back to you.”

“And this time, we’ll part friends. All the bad stuff is in the past.”

“And we have to part?” I asked, my throat thick.

She paused, then nodded. “You have your life, and I have mine. Two very different worlds. And I have no desire to leave mine.”

I was shocked how much it hurt to hear her say those words.

“Right,” I muttered. I looked at her. “Not even for me?”

“Not even for you. I would be miserable and make you miserable. We’d end up back where we started—disliking each other.”

“I never disliked you. I hated myself for what I did to you.”

“I’d have to start over again, Oliver. I can’t do that. We have now. We agreed to now.”

I nodded and grabbed my plate. “Now. Okay. I have to go get ready for my scene. I need to get to makeup.”

I walked away before she could respond.

Kassie