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Riley bumped my arm with his and told me, “It’s going to be alright, Will. I’m sure you can make him listen to you.” I hoped he was right.
Harper asked, “Did you know he was coming to see you?”
“No. I spoke to him on the phone this morning, right after Lang told us to take that twenty-minute break, and I was so upset. I told Lorenzo I wished he was here, and I guess that was enough for him to drop everything and fly five hundred miles to make sure I was okay.”
“He sounds like an amazing man,” Harper said.
“He is. He’s also one of the best friends I’ve ever had. I always wanted it to be more than a friendship, and that was just starting to happen. If I blew it, I’ll never forgive myself.”
“You didn’t,” Harper insisted. “I’ll vouch for you. It wasn’t like you just randomly decided to start making out with me. This guy has to understand that.”
I wrapped my arms around myself and stared out at the planes. “It’s already a stretch to think someone like him would even want to be with someone like me. Maybe that’s why I feel like it wouldn’t take much for him to change his mind about us.”
Riley frowned at me. “Someone like you? You’re a total catch, Will.”
I muttered, “I bet you wouldn’t say that if you knew about my past.”
Riley’s frown deepened. “I made so many horrible mistakes in the past that I don’t even know how I’m still alive. But we grow and learn, and we move on. I know you’ve done that too, because look where you are in life! I say fuck the past, and fuck anyone who’d hold it against you.”
Harper chimed in, “If this Lorenzo person really is your friend, and if he’s a great guy like you say he is, then maybe none of this is even an issue. Maybe it’s just about believing you’re worthy of this man and forgiving yourself for past mistakes.”
Riley leaned forward so he could look around me and told Harper, “That’s really insightful.”
“Thank you.”
After a minute, I said, “Maybe I should call Phoenix, in case he knows where Lorenzo went. Can I borrow someone’s phone? I misplaced mine.”
“You should use Riley’s,” Harper said. “If Phoenix sees my name on his caller I.D., he’ll never pick up.”
Riley dialed Phoenix’s number for me and handed over the phone, and Phoenix answered on the second ring. “Hey, this is Will,” I said. “I heard Lorenzo came to the set this afternoon, and I’m worried he saw Harper and me together and got the wrong impression. Do you happen to know where he went?”
Instead of answering, he said, “Come home, Will. To the rental, I mean.”
“Does that mean you know where he is?”
“Just come home. You’ll be happy when you do.”
“Alright. I’ll be there soon.”
After I disconnected, I told my companions, “I’ve been told to go to my rental. I hope that means Lorenzo’s there.” I gave back the phone, then turned to Harper and said, “I’m sorry about our plans. Maybe we can meet on set early tomorrow and run our lines.”
“Sure, let’s do that,” he said, as he got to his feet. “I’ll meet you in hair and makeup half an hour before our call time, and no worries about tonight. I hope you get things straightened out with this guy.”
Chapter 9
Harper was nice enough to drive us to the beach house, and after Riley and I got out of the convertible I asked him, “Would you like to come inside?”
He gestured past me and said, “Since that’s Phoenix’s SUV, I think it’s best if I don’t. See you both tomorrow.”
After he drove off, Riley and I started walking up to the house. But we were intercepted by Phoenix, who smiled at me before grasping Riley’s shoulders and spinning him around again. As he ushered Riley to the Bronco, my assistant told me, “Your cat’s been brushed, walked, and fed. Last time I saw her, which was five minutes ago, she was getting comfortable on the center of my bed. Riley and I will be back late. Have a good night, Will.”
“You’re acting very strange.”
“I know. All will be revealed as soon as you walk into the kitchen, though.” He turned back to me and asked, “By the way, did you lose your phone? I left you a bunch of messages.”
“It’s in the trailer, but I’m not sure where exactly.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll find it,” he said, as he pushed his friend toward the passenger door.
Riley waved and called, “I’ll see you later. I hope it all works out,” before climbing into the Ford. The two of them drove off moments later.
As soon as I went inside, a smile spread across my face. There was only one person I knew who enjoyed the upbeat old-school hip-hop that was currently playing on the built-in sound system. I cut through the living room, and my smile got even wider when I spotted Lorenzo chopping vegetables at the kitchen counter.
