Page 4 of When You Were Mine

We’ll be fine.

As she dressed, she noticed the quiet. She peeked out of the bathroom and saw him in the same position, the cord tethering him to the bed, one arm belted across his chest, his chin tilted down.

With the phone pressed to his ear, he looked concerned. Finally, he spoke. “What if we told them I’d walk?” He twisted his neck from one side to the other as if working out the kinks.

Something was wrong. Quickly, she zipped up her skirt and came out of the bathroom.

“I understand. Okay.” His shoulders squared. He drew in a breath. “Yes, I’m sure.”

He didn’t sound like a man who’d won a role in a major motion picture. He sounded like he was being sent to prison. He hung up.

“What’s going on?” She knew this man. She’d seen despair, anger, joy, satisfaction…everything. But this? This was new. She made her way over to him.

He didn’t look at her.

He didn’t say anything.

She sat down, letting him process whatever news he’d gotten. Honestly, she didn’t have a clue what it could be.

Finally, he let out a breath. “I got the part.”

A chill skittered across her skin, and her heart kicked into overdrive. It was confusing because, of course, she wanted to celebrate with him.

This is what we wanted, what we worked for.

He might not like acting, but it was the only profession that would deliver big money. Unfortunately, it hadn’t happened, and all they had to show for their two years in Los Angeles was a whopping eighteen hundred dollars.

Which would go to her sister and the baby.

So, her rational self was cheering for the opportunity he’d worked hard for, but her heart was thundering. “Which one?” If he was worried that she expected him to settle down with her in Riverton now that they were married, he should know her better. They shared a vision for their future. “You can go back to LA, you know. If it pays enough, just shoot the commercial, or whatever it is, and then come home. If you start to get more calls…” She shrugged. “We’ll figure it out.” She sounded stronger than she felt, but truly, she wanted him happy. She wanted him to be proud of his accomplishments.

He shifted a knee onto the mattress to face her. “It’s the clan war movie. The one in?—”

“Scotland?” Her stomach dropped. “Wait, so it’s a callback?” He’d auditioned once. Thousands had shown up for the cattle call.

“No. I got the part. It’s mine.”

“But it was only one reading.”Scotland?

“I know, but they chose me.”

No wonder he was so quiet. This job wouldn’t pay much, and it would take him to another country. She couldn’t go. Not after finding out her sixteen-year-old sister was pregnant. Their dad was great, but he ran the store. It took all his time.

No, she had no choice but to go home. “What does it pay?”

“That’s the thing.” He swallowed. “Nothing.”

She felt bad for him. She really did. Hollywood’s rejection had to hurt. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out.” She kissed his cheek. “If we’d had more time, you would’ve landed some good roles.”

The money would've been nice, but the distance…Well, let's be honest.It wasn’t that the job was in Scotland. They could handle being apart. It was the idea he'd be in a whole new world, surrounded by new people—sophisticatedpeople—doing sex scenes with gorgeous women…

Maybe she wasn't too bummed it hadn’t worked out after all. Now, if acting was his passion, she’d have an entirely different reaction.

But she noticed he hadn’t moved a muscle. “Are you okay?”

“The actors get a piece of the box office. And as the lead, I'll get two percent of gross.”

Oh. He’s taking this seriously. “They want you to work for free in the hopes the film makes money?” That didn’t make sense.

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