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I nodded, waiting for Lucy to tie her robe before following her back to the set. We ran through the scene a few more times, the mounting sexual tension becoming easier to ignore with each repetition. It was a good thing because I had to kiss a trail down her entire body about ten times and spend an awful amount of time wedged between her legs before the director was satisfied.
By the time filming wrapped for the day, I was exhausted. Lucy and I retreated to our trailers to shower and change, emerging in comfortable street clothes half an hour later.
“Drinks?” she suggested with an easy smile. I was thankful that she had moved past the awkwardness of our intimate scene as well.
“Sure,” I said. We were friends outside of work, and while the lines might blur on set, a drink was a welcome way to decompress after a long day of filming.
We headed to our usual spot, a dive bar within walking distance of the studio where the owner made sure no one hassled the Devious actors. The drinks flowed freely as we laughed and chatted, the conversation steering clear of work as we caught up like always.
It wasn’t until we were several rounds in that Lucy brought up Remi, her tone turning teasing. “So, how are things with your girl? You told me she was coming back to town, but you haven’t really talked about her much.”
I tensed, the pleasant buzz of alcohol fading. Remi hadn’t been around much recently. She was swamped at work and still trying to put together the package for Ghost’s band that could earn her a huge promotion at Hollywood Exposé.
“Things are fine. She’s just really busy at work right now,” I said, staring into my glass.
“Oh.” Her expression turned sympathetic. “I’m sorry to hear she’s so busy. You must be lonely.”
I shook my head, forcing a smile. “It’s nothing. She’s fighting for a big promotion. And, our schedules aren’t cooperating, you know how it is.”
“Well, if you do want to talk, I’m here to listen,” she said, her hand covering mine.
I leaned against the worn wooden bar counter, nursing my third bourbon and gazing into the amber liquid as if it held the answers to all my troubles.
Lucy traced a finger down my arm. “That was quite the scene we shot today.”
My stomach tightened and warning bells went off in my head. “We’re professionals. It was just another day on the job, right?”
“Right.” She nodded, though she didn’t seem convinced. She leaned closer, lips brushing my ear. “It’s just ... there were moments when it seemed like there might be something more. You were ... very passionate.”
My pulse stuttered at her admission, and I struggled to find the right words. Whatever this was, I had to shut it down.
“Lucy, you’re my friend,” I said at last. “What happened on that set stays there. In the real world ... you’re one of my best friends. I don’t want to jeopardize that.”
“I thought maybe I could help take care of your loneliness. I felt a spark between us.” Her eyes were burning brightly and for a moment, I didn’t see Lucy; I saw Kathryn, the femme fatale that she played on Devious. “We could remain friends. I’m not looking for commitment, just some fun.”
I shrugged off her touch, irritation flickering in my chest. “I’m not interested.”
“C’mon, don’t be so boring, darling,” she pouted. “You’re an adventurous man. Remi doesn’t have to ever find out.”
I pulled out my wallet so I could pay the tab. “Lucy, I think I’m going to call it a night.”
She lifted a sculpted eyebrow. “I hope my proposition didn’t frighten you off. I know you’ve slept with plenty of your co-stars. It never seemed to be a problem before.”
“And I’m not friends with any of them anymore. I’d like to remain friends with you.” I hoped my answer would put an end to the insane discussion.
Her practiced laughter eased the tension as she launched into a story about her latest Tinder date from hell. I listened gratefully, happy she’d backed down before our friendship was irrevocably damaged.
After paying and saying goodnight, I left Lucy at the bar, making my way into the cool night. As it inevitably did, my mind drifted toward Remi and Ghost while I walked back to the studio to retrieve my car and drove home.
Despite my denials to Lucy, I was lonely. It was true that Remi was really busy, but I wished she could carve out a little time for me. I was sure that once her big assignment was over, we’d be back on track. But Ghost, he was slipping away from me more each day.
Not that I’d ever really had him. I’d admired him from afar for so long, but now that I’d experienced just a small taste of what we could be like together, I couldn’t stop obsessing about him. No amount of distance between us could quiet the longing in my heart or dim the memory of how complete I felt as he slept next to me and Remi.
The door clicked shut behind me as I stumbled into my house, my mind consumed with thoughts of Ghost. There was a good chance that Ghost was someone who’d never want me back. My heart felt heavy, and an unresolved ache stirred within me as I recalled the last time I spoke with him. I had basically laid everything on the line when I’d told him that I wanted more than a fling with him and Remi. But he’d been hostile. Scared. Running.
Tossing my keys onto the table, I stripped off my jacket and threw it on the back of a chair, loosening my tie with a sigh. The unsteady rhythm of my footsteps echoed through the empty space as I made my way to the kitchen, pouring myself a glass of water. My hand trembled slightly, causing the liquid to slosh against the sides of the glass.
I took a sip, feeling the cool water slide down my throat, doing little to wash away the lingering taste of whiskey from my earlier drinks. I couldn’t sleep, not like this. Not while my mind was racing with what-ifs and should-haves. It was as if a fire had been ignited within me, fueled by the thought of Ghost and everything he represented. I needed to do something. Before he slipped away from me forever.
