Page 44 of Steamy on Set

His voice rumbles through the line as he chuckles.

“My day was good. Just been going over the script. We start filming next week, so I’ve been thinking about that.” His voice hitches on filming, like the idea is stuck in his throat.

“You’re nervous,” I say, catching the stutter.

“No. Why would you say that?” Instantly on the defensive, he recants my observation.

“It’s okay if you are. I am too.” Trying to make it clear this isn’t an attack, I speak the words lightly while offering up my own truth. The lines goes quiet and for a moment I think he hung up. “Hello?”

“I’m here. I just—” He takes a deep breath in. “I just wasn’t expecting you to notice.”

But I did. I seem to notice everything about him these days.

“Anything I can do to help?”

“No, but I’ll be fine, I have my ritual.” He sounds more confident.

Interest pulls me forward, and I fold my legs underneath me as I sit up.

“Tell me about this ritual.”

He goes on to talk about how pulling an all-nighter the evening before filming happened the first time because of nerves. He hadpaced around his hotel room wired with all the anxiety about how the next day would turn out. He hadn’t been able to sleep even when he tried, and by the time his alarm had gone off, he was already ready to go. It hadn’t seemed important at first, but after a great day, he had determined that focusing all his energy on the script that night made it magic.

Now he tries not to sleep on that evening under the belief that it brings him good luck. He has done this on his last two projects, and both went off without a hitch. Knowing that he planned on doing it again soon, I picture him sitting in his house meditating on the film and wonder if he has to be alone.

“Do you want company?” I ask reluctantly, sure he’s going to say no. The silence coming from his end only helps solidify this thought. “I mean, if it’s something you do alone, I won’t be offended, I just thought—”

“I would love company.”

I can’t help but smile again.

“Okay great, so I will see you then.”

“See you then.”

I let him go, throwing myself more into my bed, lost somewhere between joy and grief.

Chapter 17

Whatdoesonewearto stay up all night with their former enemy? Finding it difficult to answer that question, I dive in and out of my wardrobe searching for the perfect outfit. Discarding pajamas as being too intimate, I change out the silks I had originally planned for the night. Work pants and pencil skirts are thrown to the side for being uncomfortable to sit in for hours. Everything I would normally wear to socialize seems like I’m putting in too much effort, leaving me with little to no options.

When it seems like I’ve possibly found the styling challenge I can’t best, lounge sets come to the rescue. Light, breathable and stretchy, they are exactly what I need to be stylish and relaxed.

So, dressed in white linen pants with a matching short sleeve crop top, I show up at his door ready to start the evening. It’s just after 10 p.m., and I’ve come with snacks in hand. Not sure what he likes, I raided the pantry and took everything but the crackers with me.

Now that I’m here, hesitation keeps me waiting on the porch, unsure if I should knock. I mean, about a week and a half ago, I would have never imagined myself hanging out with Errol. How has that changed to us spending an evening together in his home? Before I can think further on our progression, he opens the door, cutting my thoughts short. Realizing he just caught me standing here, I try not to look awkward as I wave.

“What are you doing?” he asks.

“Oh, uh, I was just about to knock.” I raise my hand like that makes a difference now.

“Uh huh,” he deadpans. He makes a show of looking around for what may have held me up before turning his doubting stare back to me.

“You pulled in ten minutes ago.”

I point to my car and then my bag, stuttering over what I hope is a good excuse.

“I, well, I, uh, brought snacks and they fell out of my bag and I was picking them up, and it was taking a long time and, and that’s why I didn’t knock right away.”

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