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Twenty-Five
He should have goneafterher.
All through the eight tortuous hours that followed his last encounter with Maddie, Micah couldn’t shake the feeling that he should have gone afterher.
She had overreacted, of course. He was a famous actor, and telling stories to the press was part of the job. She worked in the biz, didn’t she get that? Maybe she’d be fine when she calmeddown.
Except Micah didn’t really think she would be fine. First of all, he’d felt sick as he told Ariahn that he was free and single. Though he didn’t have any official commitment to Maddie, he was tied to her. He’d been sharing a room with her—sharing a bed—for three weeks. That made him anything but free and single. And, all right, even if he didn’t want to tell everyone via magazine article about his complex feelings, he should have at least told Maddie.
Her disappearance from the set was perhaps even more convincing proof that he’d screwed up royally. When Micah filmed his next scene, Beaumont had taken over the camera and Adam had filled Maddie’s spot. That wasn’t unusual behavior for the director, but it was odd that Maddie wasn’t around atall.
On top of going M.I.A., she wasn’t answering his texts. Or the few phone calls he’d managed to make. Had she walked out on the show because of him? No, she would never do anything that unprofessional. Still, Micah was apprehensive.
By the time filming wrapped for the night, he was crazy with worry. He needed to get back to the hotel, see if Maddie was there, ease his mind. He made a beeline for his trailer only to be met by Joe outside hisdoor.
“Whatever you have for me, talk while I’m changing.”
“Uh, sure.” Joe followed Micah into his trailer. “I just wanted to let you know we lost some footage from the other day so the call schedule’s been adjusted.” Joe held out a sheet of paper.
Half out of his shirt, Micah didn’t take the schedule. “Lost footage?” That was unusual. And not good at all. Was Maddie involved?
“Don’t worry about it too much, man. Technical difficulties can happen even to the best shows.” Joe set the schedule on the counter. “I’ll just leave it here. It’s going to be a tough week. Sorry.”
Joe started to leave, but Micah stopped him. “Does this have anything to do with Maddie not being on set today?”
“I’d rather not say anything. I wasn’t there.”
Joe’s vague response increased Micah’s anxiety. Something bad had happened, and he needed to find outwhat.
Joe left, passing Sam as he entered the trailer.
Micah groaned. Did no one understand he wanted to get out of there? “What do you want?” he snapped.
Sam shifted from one leg to the other. “Beaumont firedher.”
“He what?” Surely he hadn’t heard right. But it made sense. Micah cursed under his breath. “Where’s Beaumont?”
“Why? You gonna get her job back for her? I don’t think she wantsthat.”
“Why wouldn’tshe?”
“Because she quit. Just not before he fired her. Besides, that’s not what she needs rightnow.”
Micah’s eyes narrowed. How dare this kid tell him what his girlfriend needed? Okay, not girlfriend, but that wasn’t the point.
Maybe that was the point. Right now Sam was more in tune with what was going on with Maddie than he was. She should have come to him. She should have been able to come tohim.
He took a deep breath and looked Sam in the eye. “Do you know where sheis?”
“I drove her to her hotel.” He regarded Micah. “Your hotel.”
The wind left Micah’s lungs, but he kept his features even, not giving anythingaway.
Sam pointed a finger at Micah. “And before you go assuming that she said anything to me, she didn’t.”
Micah raised his eyebrows, impressed by the boy’s bravado. He considered. Sam liked her. Micah had known that since the airport. He should have expected Sam would have figured it out. If Maddie had hooked up with anyone instead of him, Micah would have known. When you liked someone, you noticed.
He hated asking Sam what he should have known himself, but he had to know. “Is sheokay?”
