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I hurry into my tent, and take my cereal with me.Chapter 13Greyson
I gape after her departing form.
What… just happened?
My breathing is still a bit labored from hauling over that insanely heavy rock.
I feel how the cartoon characters do when they smack their forehead. Like a complete idiot. So much for making things right with Harley.
I had just wanted to… I don’t know. Whenever I’ve heard about relationships on set, especially between older, established guys and younger new girls, I’ve always been disgusted.
That was how my parents met, and I saw how long and well it lasted after us kids. And what it did to my mom afterwards. I’ve always sworn I’d never be one of those men, that I’d be better than that, and now…
Fuck.
I head over to my duffel bag, set beside my packed-up tent. Jorge, Manuel and Samantha are probably still at that somewhat-decent pool of water they found, washing up.
Which means I have some time to do what I wanted: call up Nolan.
“What a pleasure,” he says, as he picks up. “Especially after our last conversation.”
“Last time you were acting like an ass, and I told you so,” I reply smoothly.
“So, you did go for it,” he says boredly.
I say nothing.
He laughs. “That big of a deal?”
“I’m not Dad,” I say simply.
“And no one’s accusing you of being. You’re just human, Grey.”
“Yeah, and I’m supposed to be the producer.”
“It’s normal. Seriously, chill. Is this what you called me for?”
“No, I…”
I pause, resisting the urge to chuck the phone in pointless rage. Who knows why I called him—maybe just for someone else to talk to, other than the crew?
“Good news is the show’s been shot,” I tell him. “We’re on our way back, could be on a plane as soon as tomorrow.”
“Wow. You made it all the way back to the camp already and got some footage of those psycho alligators? How were they? Did they kill anyone?”
“Thanks for your concern. But no. We had no map and Russel is even more of an incompetent alcoholic than he was before, but we still got a few scenes of other wildlife and nature. Harley’s talented.”
“Oh, I’ll bet.” His tone sets my teeth on edge.
“You watch your mouth.”
“Whoa.” I can almost see his long light hair bobbing as he throws his arms up in a conciliatory comedian’s gesture. “Anyone with eyes could see that she had the hots for you. And you said—”
“Doesn’t matter what I said. I don’t want this getting out, OK? Not even to the other brothers.”
“Well, Landon often feels like he has to tell Madeline, and seeing as Madeline is well-meaning but a notorious gossip… that would be a hard no. But Emerson doesn’t even have any friends, what can it hurt?”
“Nolan—”
“Why do you never trust me? I’m just trying to—”
“Fuck’s sake, Nolan!”
Silence, then, his voice, finally sobered up. “Shit. You really like this girl, don’t you?”
“Stop fucking around.”
“I’m not. Shit, Greyson. This is bad, really bad.”
“Forget I said anything. We’re just having some fun.”
“Right. Well, make sure you keep it that way.” Nolan’s voice sounds odd, strained. He never was a good liar.
“I’ve gotta go,” I say, even though there’s still no one in sight. “Bye.”
I hang up before he can say another word.
Fuck.
Trust fucking Nolan to make something out of nothing.
Then again, what did I expect to get out of him, calling him up for no reason whatsoever?
His voice echoes in my head mockingly: You really like this girl, don’t you?
What the fuck does he know, anyway?
So what if even the glancing thought of her now makes me hard, and I have to physically rip my gaze off her tent to avoid going there. So fucking what?
Maybe it’s just an animal kind of magnetism, based on how good the sex is. It could be that.
“Has to be,” I mutter grimly, as I go to find the others so I won’t be alone with Harley.Chapter 14Harley
“Fuck him,” I mutter as I crunch away at my cereal.
What the hell is his problem? We were supposed to be just having fun, and then he has to go and ruin things, for whatever reason.
Unless the reason was that he wanted to end things? What the hell.
I grab my phone, then put it down again. What’s the point of texting Han, really? I know what she’s going to say.
—Can you blame him for being worried? is what she does say when I do cave and text her.
Yeah, actually. No one forced him into this.
—Come on, Har. How many guys have said no to you?
You’re really pulling this on me?
—Yes, I mean no. Obviously, it’s shitty.
Why do I feel like there’s a ‘but’ coming?
—But HE’S YOUR BOSS. He’s just trying to do the right thing.
I put my phone away after that. Hannah’s right, of course. And now there’s nothing to do but suck it up.
