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Hailey has been avoiding me all day, and I don’t like it one bit. Aside from that brief flash of warmth in her eyes this morning, she’s done her best to dodge me. I’ve had just about enough of it. I’m ready to put my foot down and demand a conversation.
No, she doesn’t owe me anything, but I thought we had something special years ago. If that wasn’t the case for her, I want her to tell me that to my face. Have I spent all this time pining after a woman who didn’t care about me at all?
I need to know.
After the final scene wraps for the day, she somehow disappears on me again. But I know where she’ll be after everyone leaves. It’s part of her job to distribute the updated call sheet and shooting schedule for tomorrow. Things can change on the fly when filming a movie, so it’s essential that the cast and crew are kept informed daily.
I find her at the load-out area, where everyone passes through to go home for the day. She’s handing out theinformation, and I’m about to approach her, without regard for the crowd of possible onlookers. But before I can, Ryder appears in front of me.
“Hey, you got a minute?”
I want to say no, but there’s something in his eyes that makes me hesitate. “Uh… sure. What’s up?”
He rubs the back of his neck, looking uncomfortable. “I want to talk to you about Charity.”
This man rarely talks, so I know it must be good. “The props master?” My gaze drifts over to Hailey, and she’s still passing out call sheets. I can’t let her slip away again, so I’m keeping a close watch on her. I breathe a small sigh of relief when I see she’s been pulled into a conversation with the hair and makeup woman, Audrey.
“Yeah. We’re going on this shopping trip and I’m not sure what to make of it.” His voice is gruff like he’s annoyed with either himself or the situation. Maybe both.
I arch a single eyebrow in surprise before grinning broadly at him. “Charity, huh?”
“Shut up and give me advice,” he demands, and I bite back the urge to chuckle.
I look for Hailey again, panicking a little when I don’t see her right away. I finally spot her standing with Luca, their heads bent over his clipboard. I tell myself it’s stupid to feel a surge of jealousy, but it’s hard not to when she’s avoided talking to me all day.
I look back at Ryder and try to listen as he describes his interest in Charity and the Christmas shopping excursion he has planned with her. It’s hard to focus on what he’s saying, but I give it my best shot.
“Just tell me what you think,” he concludes.
“From what you told me, it sounds like a date.” He crosses his huge arms over his chest and frowns. “If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it’s probably a duck.”
“What?” He scrunches up his face in confusion.
“You’re thinking too hard. Stop insisting it’s business and go with your instincts. What’s your gut tell you?” I know this is a generic advice, but my mind is too preoccupied to go into further detail.
Damn it, I’ve lost sight of Hailey again.
He sighs before he answers me. “You might be right,” Ryder mutters, looking pensive as he stares off into the distance.
I can tell he’s fighting the pull he feels toward Charity, but he’ll figure it out. I’ve got my own problems to worry about. I chat with Ryder a bit longer to ensure I’m not being a completely shit friend. But as soon as he walks away, I dart off to find Hailey. Unfortunately, she’s nowhere to be seen, and instead, I run into Luca.
“Hey, where’d Hailey go?” I ask, ignoring his scowl as I distract him from whatever he’s writing in his script.
“She just left,” he says dismissively.
Are you fucking kidding me?
I can’t believe I missed her.This is getting ridiculous. Frustration has me grinding my teeth together as I leave the set myself, and I vow that I’ll put this bullshit to rest once and for all. I won’t let her avoid me forever.
Tomorrow, we’ll fucking talk. No matter what.
Five
HAILEY
Iknow I’m being childish by trying to avoid Jackson all day. You don’t have to tell me what I already know. I managed to dodge him yesterday, but it wasn’t easy, and I continued to feel like a coward. I’m hurt that he lied to me in the past, but I’m a strong and confident woman. Not the type to run away from a man just because I might not like what he has to say. In fact, I’m giving him too much power over me.
I just need to put on my big girl panties, confront him, and move past it. It would give me the closure I never had for our relationship, and maybe I’ll be able to work with the guy for the rest of the production.
