Page 32 of Cast to be Mine

I saw Grace bite her lip, her shoulders shaking slightly. We took five while we reset for the next scene. I watched Jack make a beeline for Grace, who was talking to Lisa about something.

“Grace,” Jack said, inserting himself into their conversation. “That last take was really good. You’re really getting it now.”

“Thanks,” she said.

“I remember my first big film,” Jack continued, not seeming to notice that neither woman had invited him into the conversation. “I was terrified. But you know what helped? Having a strong scene partner. Someone to lean on.”

“That’s nice,” Grace said.

“I’m just saying, if you need anything—anything at all—I’m here. We’re a team, right?”

“Right.”

Jack kept talking, telling some story about a stunt he’d done on his last film that had impressed everyone on set. Grace nodded politely, making appropriate sounds, but her attention kept drifting toward where I stood reviewing footage with Toby.

Jack was complimenting her again. The guy was like a lost puppy, seeking her attention. It was kind of funny.

She glanced past him and directly at me.

“I’ve had a great mentor taking the time to guide me,” she said, still looking at me.

I felt my chest swell but I pretended like it didn’t affect me. I refused to acknowledge how good it felt.

“Alright, everyone,” I said, clapping my hands and putting my headset back on. “Let’s run it again.”

Grace walked by me, flashing another smile before taking her place.

Fuck. My job just got that much harder.

11

GRACE

Iwiped the sweat from my forehead and tried to keep pace with Becky, who was apparently part gazelle. The hiking trail wound upward through Runyon Canyon. My legs were already screaming and the amount of sweat dripping down my back was alarming.

“So Micah just… doesn’t react at all?” Becky asked, not even breathing hard as we jogged past a woman walking three tiny dogs.

“Nothing.” I dodged a rock and nearly twisted my ankle. “I smiled at him. Multiple times. I laughed at his jokes. I even touched his arm when we were blocking a scene yesterday.”

“And?”

“And he said, ‘excuse me’ and moved to talk to Toby about camera angles.”

Becky snorted. “Maybe he’s gay.”

“He’s not gay. I kissed him, remember? There was definitely a reaction.” I could still feel it when I let myself think about it, which was way too often. The heat in his eyes before he’d pulled away and gone all professional again.

“Girlfriend?”

“I don’t know. Maybe. Hasn’t mentioned one. And I might have checked his Insta. No women.”

“So, what’s the problem?”

“I don’t know!” The frustration bubbled up, making me push harder up the incline. “I thought maybe I’d imagined it. But then Micah barely looks twice at me. I felt like a piece of furniture.”

“Maybe he’s just focused on the movie.” Becky picked up the pace, forcing me to match her stride. “Channel that frustration into the run. Push harder.”

I did, my feet pounding against the packed dirt. My lungs burned.