Page 108 of Cast to be Mine

“You look like hell,” she said, pulling away from the curb. “When’s the last time you slept? Actually slept?”

“On the plane. A little.”

“That doesn’t count.”

I closed my eyes and let Becky navigate the traffic.

“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked after a few minutes.

“Not really.”

“Okay.” She reached over and squeezed my hand. “We don’t have to talk. I’m just glad you’re home.”

We drove in silence for a while. Becky put on some music. I watched the familiar streets roll by, the coffee shops and yoga studios and overpriced boutiques that made up my neighborhood. Nothing had changed.

Everything had changed.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw a notification from one of the social media apps. Jack Montana had posted a live video and tagged me.

Jack was clearly buzzed, grinning like a fool. He had an arm draped over Micah’s shoulders, pulling him into the frame. Micah looked uncomfortable, that camera-shy expression I’d seen him wear whenever someone pointed a lens in his direction. He was far more comfortable behind the camera.

“There he is!” Jack bellowed at the phone. “The man himself! Micah Blackwell, everybody! Best director I’ve ever worked with, and I’ve worked with a lot of directors. A lot.”

Micah rolled his eyes but smiled. That half-smile that always made my heart skip.

“This movie is going to blow your minds,” Jack continued, speaking directly to his followers now. “I’m telling you. Heart, drama, more heat with the sexy Grace Stone. We’ve got it all. And never fear.” He paused for dramatic effect, waggling his eyebrows. “I take my shirt off at least ten times. You won’t cut any of that, right, Micah?”

Micah laughed. “You have my word.”

I sighed, feeling something twist in my chest. I loved the sound of his laugh. I’d heard it so many times over the past few weeks, usually when we were alone and he let his guard down.

Now I was hearing it from thousands of miles away.

“You okay?” Becky asked, glancing over.

I realized I’d been staring at my phone with tears streaming down my face. I quickly wiped them away and shoved the phone back in my pocket.

“Fine. Just tired.”

She didn’t believe me, but she didn’t push.

“Please tell me you haven’t been doomscrolling,” I said.

She laughed. “Nope. I know the truth. All the bullshit out there is just that. I don’t need to read rumors reported by an anonymous source. I know the source.”

“Thank you.”

“It was Chantilly, right?”

“Yep. Although I’m still not sure if it was intention or malicious. Her husband is an idiot. Again, not malicious—just oblivious.”

She laughed. “Yeah, I believe it. But damn, those abs. I know who his trainer is. That guy’s workout plan is intense.”

“I’ve seen more than enough of Jack’s abs to last me a lifetime,” I said with a shake of my head. “They had him so greased up, the glare nearly blinded me.”

She laughed. “I bet that was one hell of a sight.”

We pulled up to my apartment building a few minutes later. Becky parked and turned to face me.