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Who else could it be? Zoe, the actress playing Amber, doesn’t have any screen time this coming week.
ELI: Yeah. Can you help me with tomorrow’s scenes? Steve’s jumping around, and I haven’t really studied this part of the script yet. I’d really appreciate it.
ME: I’m a little busy tonight. I have some things I need to get prepared for this coming week. Sorry.
Lies. All lies. The thought of being alone with him scares the shit out of me. Hell, I can barely function in a room with twenty people in it when he’s one of them. His presences is all-consuming. Just thinking about him has my stomach fluttering with excitement.
ELI: Please. I need a partner to bounce dialog back and forth with.
I can almost hear the pleading in his voice. It’s the sexiest sound I’ve ever imagined.
And there again lies the problem. I shouldn’t be this effected by the mere thought of his voice. No matter how sexy it is in my imagination or real life.
He’s just another actor. There’s nothing special about him.
Yeah, keep telling yourself that.
ME: I’m sorry. I really am busy.
ELI: Please.
ME: What about Celia? Can’t she run lines with you?
Are they close? I have no idea. There are countless magazines where they grace the cover together. A few scandalous rumors are going around but I have yet to see any credible evidence to back them up.
Not to mention, in this industry, it could all be for publicity. If they’re talking about Celia and Eli, they’re talking about the movie.
ELI: I didn’t ask. I was thinking you’d be the best person for the job. Plus, I’d rather not deal with her off set if I don’t have to.
ME: I understand.
Why did I just admit that to him? It’s like I’ve lost my ability to filter myself and he’s not even here.
ELI: I’ll come to your place. Sound good?
ME: Sure.
I send the text before I chicken out. Before I have a chance to change my mind. We’re going to be working together for a few more months. I need I get to use to being around him. Alone wouldn’t be my first choice. It’s more like facing your demons head-on.
I’m ripping off the Band-Aid.
Without twenty pairs of eyes on him, I’m hoping I’ll see the real Eli. The man behind the mask. Not the actor in the movie but the person he is when he’s with his friends, family, people he trusts. If he shows me who he really is, the butterflies continuing to flap their wings in my stomach may not want to fly free.
This will be a true testament of who he is.
The manwhore the tabloids have made him out to be or the nice guy that’s consumed my every thought for the last week. Day and night. Much to my dismay, he’s been the star of my dreams.
After sending him my address and explaining where to park, I change out of my bathing suit and head to the main house. Martha is in the kitchen, making banana bread. The smile on her face as she floats around the kitchen warms my heart. When she spots me, it brightens even more.
“It’s nice to have you home for a change. How’s the new job?” she asks, cutting me a slice of bread and slathering it with butter just the way I like it. “Aside from not getting much sleep.”
Taking a seat at the kitchen island, I let out a sigh in lieu of a reply.
“That good, huh?”
“It’s not bad, it’s just exhausting. Our main actress is a pain in my ass, and our main actor is on his way over here because he needs someone to run lines with. I feel like I’m everyone’s personal assistant, not just the directors. I can see why the girl before me quit.”
Martha nods in understanding, studying me the way she always has. She doesn’t need to say anything, I can see the concern in her eyes.
