Page 84 of Rescued Heart

Had she just wiped her eyes?

Grace leaned toward Bianca. “Is she…crying?” she whispered.

Bianca peeked around the rack. Riley hadn’t struck her as an easy crier, but that could be why she was hiding. “We probably need to check.”

Grace wrinkled her nose. “You can go first. She scares me a little.” Then her eyes widened. “Wait…” she hissed as she scrolled through her emails. She stomped around the rack separating them. “Riley, please tell me they didn’t fire you. I suggested for them to cut out the massages, but if they cut you instead…”

Bianca clenched her teeth together. That was not how she’d pictured asking if Riley was okay.

Riley scrambled to her feet.

Grace tapped again on her phone screen. “I knew production money was tight, but I never thought your job…”

Riley glanced at Bianca and then back to Grace. “No, not fired. You’re stuck with me for a little longer.”

Bianca reached her hand out, but when Riley recoiled, Bianca fisted her fingers against her sides. Riley probably wasn’t a hugger either. “Is it something we can help you with?”

Riley crossed her arms. “I cry sometimes when I’m mad. Things will be taken care of soon. Then everything will be better.”

Grace looked up from her phone. “Mad or sad. I’m great at being both too.”

Bianca wanted to rub her temples. “I think what Grace means is, would you like to share what you’re mad about?”

Riley popped the knuckles on each of her fingers before finally heaving out a breath hard enough to lift the two strands framing her face. “My brother…I’m not even the oldest, but I’m forever fixing his messes. First, he had money troubles, which eventually led to him having to get a new job. Now his work’s having money troubles, and it’s affecting everything that it shouldn’t, including my life.” She glanced up and narrowed her eyes. “It’s not fair that some people never get what they deserve.”

Bianca nodded. “Money problems affect so much.” In her own life. Even with her family. And of course, Eddie would never have agreed to help if he hadn’t had grant issues. Plus, the film’s budget.

Riley blinked at her. “We’ve almost got things figured out…He says he’s about to be promoted at his new job, which has actually been beneficial for the right connections we need.”

Something crashed outside, followed by what sounded like nails hitting the metal roof overhead.

Grace glanced up from her phone. “Is that rain? Was it even in the forecast?” She jogged to the only window in the room, on the other side of a mannequin wearing a teal evening gown. “Man, it’s pouring.” Grace’s focus flew back to her vibrating phone. “A promotion rocks, Riley. That has to be good news. I was so pumped when Bianca let me be her assistant while I finish out this stupid assistant-to-an-assistant slash coffee-retriever gig.”

Riley’s gaze swung back to Bianca, and her eyes narrowed further. “What…ahh, happened to your neck?”

Grace frowned and inspected Bianca’s face. A gasp flew from her mouth. “Did you get hit in a scene? We really need to get a replacement stunt double set up.”

“What?” Bianca marched to the standing mirror at the end of the racks. A dark shadow ran along her cheekbone, but there was also something gray on the sleeve of her shirt. She rubbed at her cheek. “I don’t know what it is, but no one hurt me.”

Riley brushed at the gray spot on Bianca’s shirt, and Grace’s laughter echoed louder than the thunder. “I’m sorry. I think I need more sleep.” She wiped under her own eyes. “You were leaning up against the building when I got to the steps. That gray is the same coloring as the building’s siding. No one’s out to harm you. Thank goodness.”

Riley chased Bianca’s gaze in the mirror as if she, too, agreed that Grace really did need some more sleep with her laughter outburst.

“Well, good.” Grace took in a deep breath. “Let’s get you in that purple shirt and skirt.”

Another clap of thunder rattled the window, and a flash of lightning reflected onto the tiled floor.

Grace grabbed the labeled clothes off the rack and handed them to Bianca. She shooed Bianca to go change behind the curtain.

Riley cleared her throat. “Do you guys have plans tonight?”

Bianca pulled on the purple shirt and the skirt. She tugged on the front of the shirt, which dipped almost to her bra. “This outfit’s not going to work. What’s the other option?”

“Show us,” came Grace’s hopeful tone.

Bianca’s phone vibrated on the tile by her foot.

Please don’t be Nathan.

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