Page 47 of Over & Out

Hopper’s expression remains neutral, but his sea-swept eyes stay fixed on me.

“You hate being the Laser. You did it for three films for the kids who love them. But when you said it was over, you meant it. You might think the Duke is…” I glance away briefly. “Silly. But you recognize that he represents comfort and care and a model male figure for your…mostly female fan base. You have more to offer, though. You’re not just this image you and your team and—the world—have created, thisentityHopper Donnach. You’re a human being. You care about what’s right. You care about how people feel. So you should care about how you feel too. You can still move people with independent movies. But you can also be the part of this industry you care about. You might not like everything that comes along with fame, but I think you love movies. I think you love the feelings we get frombeing swept away by a good story, no matter whether it’s big and flashy or small and strange. I think you’re a talented actor, and it’s time to do the roles for you. To show the world you’re more than Hopper Donnach TM.”

For a moment, no one says anything. I don’t even breathe. I did not mean to go off like that. But honestly? I don’t regret it. If I expect no bullshit from Hopper, I’ll give him the same thing back.

“Hopper,” Mabel says gently from the screen. “That’s all very passionate.” She looks at me for the first time. “Thank you, Chris. We do appreciate your input.” She turns back to Hopper. “But you need to be careful. Your existing fan base is your bread and butter.” She looks meaningfully at Hopper. I feel like I’m missing something. She’s talking about money, but Hopper’s already loaded. Is there a reason he needs to be even more rich?

Maybe she’s talking aboutherbread and butter.

Hopper finally opens his mouth. “Do you like the Duke?” he asks me.

That’s what he pulled out of that whole speech?

I look at Hopper as if I didn’t fantasize about that character merged with Dirtface for two straight months. As if I’m still having trouble now with that fantasy because Hopper keeps showing up as himself. Shrugging, I say, “I enjoyed the books.”

Hopper’s brows furrow slightly, like he wants to ask me more, but he glances at the screen, like he doesn’t want to in front of an audience.

“Do you know anything about the indie project?”Mabel asks. It takes me a moment to realize she’s asking me, not Hopper.

She’s trying to call me out.

Adrian opens his mouth to rescue me, but I shake my head. I do, actually, know about this project. It was my dad who taught me that if you do anything, you might as well do it the very best you can do.

“I do,” I say neutrally. “It’s the same team that made this incredible film a few years ago about this boy who sailed to Bolivia to escape his abusive family. The story took place after the trip—years later—when he fell into a life of crime and addiction. The media abandoned the boy in real life after he didn’t live the hero’s life everyone thought he should have. But the producers took a much more nuanced approach, and the result was a mind-blowing film about early trauma and the human condition.”

“That no one saw,” Mabel says.

I clench my teeth. Then I make a snap decision. I reach out and mute the screen. “Mabel doesn’t have the imagination to see what you really want, Hopper. She thinks being a superstar is the pinnacle for you. But the way you get all stiff when people talk about the Laser or doing anything like that again? When people talk about you like all you are is this…. grumpy heartthrob, you hate it, right?”

“Which people are we talking about?” he asks. “Because I like it when some people think that’s what I am.”

Hopper’s words send heat rushing through me. His eyes are so intense on mine I think I might melt.

I unmute the screen.

“Isaw that movie,” I tell Mabel, my words hard, lest she think I’m wounded. I’m not. “It was my therapist who recommended it, back before he retired.It’s a study in pain, he told me.Heavy, but worth it.And it changed my life. Think of what Hopper could do if he was involved with people making such fundamentallyimportantmovies.”

Everyone is quiet. They’re quiet for so long, I get self-conscious. My free hand grazes across my stomach again, and this time, Hopper’s eyes follow. I drop it.

He holds my gaze a moment longer, then moves around so he’s behind me and can look straight into the screen. I feel the graze of his fingers as he places his hand on the high back of my stool, pressing the other on the counter next to my laptop. When he leans in, his cheek is next to mine. My stomach flips almost painfully at the proximity.

“We’re doing the indie meeting,” Hopper says. “As soon as possible. Make it happen, please.”

Adrian grins. “Fuck yes,” he says, and winks at me.

A thrill rushes through me, and not just because Mabel looks pissed.

Hopper turns to me, a smile on his face for the first time. Except I think he didn’t realize we’d be so close. His nose almost brushes mine. My pulse ratchets up as he opens his mouth. As he drops his gaze to mine.

“Hop!” Aziz calls.

I clear my throat, turning away, heat flooding my cheeks. Hopper takes a moment to move, his eyes lingering on me. Then he says something to Mabel I don’thear over the rushing of blood in my ears. He’s gone, then, heading back over to the gym while I try to regain my composure by grabbing my tablet with a slightly trembling hand. How does he do this? How does he have this intense effect on me? It doesn’t matter if it’s anger or…whatever that was just now. It’s like everything’s dialed up to ten around him.

“Okay,” Mabel says stiffly. “Anything else?” She glances at the screen, which means she’s looking at Adrian only. “If not, we can end the call.”

I swallow. “Actually,” I say, putting all feelings about what just happened to the side. “There is one more thing.” I flip open my tablet. “It’s about Tru.”

Chapter 15

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