Page 27 of Now or Never

Chelsea shook her head. She hadn’t really thought about that. But it didn’t matter, anyway. “It’s not that I’mafraidof casual sex—”

Jae cut her off with a look.

“Okay, fine.Afraidmight be an accurate word. But I’m also not interested in someone who hates children. I’m waiting until I’ve settled into my career, and then, when I’m ready, I’d like to find someone long term. Adam will never be that.”

“What if he wants a relationship, just not babies?”

Chelsea shook her head. “I don’t think that’s the case. But even if it was, I already have a kid,” she said, pointing at Ben in her lap. “It’s too late. I think I’d need to find a single dad. Me and Adam would be a disaster.”

Jae squinted at her, unconvinced.

Chelsea shook her head. “Anyway, we probably won’t be seeing much of each other. He’s working across the lawn on Natalie’s house, and I’m only going to be there for a few hours in the afternoon on filming days. After the jobs are done, we’ll be nothing but acquaintances who run into each other at the grocery store and pretend they’re busy so they don’t have to stop and talk.”

Jae nodded. “I guess I won’t worry about you, then.”

“Good.”

“How are you going to make this work with your other jobs, though?”

Chelsea sighed. It was going to be hell but worth it in the end. “I’m going to have to wake up at five on those days and get most of my work done in the morning while Ben’s still asleep.”

Jae nodded. “When do you start?”

“End of this week.”

Jae’s brows shot up. “That fast?”

Chelsea nodded. “I guess they’re already behind. They were searching for a location for a while. Jasper kept shooting places down. The production and set crews will be here tomorrow morning. They’ll start filming on Friday.”

Jae nodded, looking down at her half-drunk tea, and Chelsea knew exactly what was going through her mind.

“You’re wishing it was our film being shot on Friday, aren’t you?”

Jae nodded again, not making eye contact.

Chelsea felt like shit, but there was really nothing she could do. Lilian had transferred her the location fee after her meeting with Adam that afternoon, but she needed that money in an emergency fund for when she would be between jobs. It provided enough buffer for her to feel at ease about her finances, but it wasn’t nearly enough to live off of while making a feature film. Still, she hated that she had abandoned their dreams.

“Maybe we can work on another short?” she said, hoping to appease both Jae and the voice in her head telling her she’d given up.

Jae nodded. “After you’re done with Vincent. You’re going to be too busy over the next few weeks.”

Chelsea nodded. “Okay. I’m going to carry Ben up to his bed.”

Jae got up and picked up Ben so Chelsea could stand, then passed him to her.

“Good night,” she whispered.

“Good night.”

After tucking Ben into bed, she went to her desk to get a head start on the work she’d be juggling next week. It was going to be difficult, but the experience she’d get by working alongside Vincent would be incalculable. Working so closely with Jasper was going to be uncomfortable, but in the end, it would all be totally worth it.

eight

Adam ducked into, what would soon be, Keller’s Pub. It was late afternoon, and he had already put in a full day’s work between Ethan’s build and meetings with the Float Fest event coordinator. Luckily, everything was going great on both counts. Lilian had been so happy to be having lunch with a Hartley that she agreed to work around Adam’s schedule, and the event coordinator had dotted every i and crossed every t. All that was left was to show up and have fun.

Adam smiled as he dropped his bag on the old worn bar top and pulled his tool belt out.

“Good of you to finally stop by.”

---