Page 45 of Affinity

“You’re right. Have you talked to Catherine about any of this?”

“Not yet, but I will. I might not be right. What if you just have lousy luck?”

He raised one sculpted brow. “Or maybe it’s good luck since it brought you into my life.”

“That was cheesy, and you don’t really believe that. I can tell by the way your eyes keep shifting around the room.”

“Maybe I believe half of it,” he admitted with his Hollywood smile. “I’m going to be diligent in keeping an eye out for anything strange. I’m not ready for another scandal or for someone to fuck me over again.”

“Are we ever?” My eyes trailed over to where the director and producer were gathered with a few other people. “What do you think is going to happen?”

He glanced over to them as well, turning us so we could easily watch them. Never before had I felt the feelings of safety and belonging as I did when in Jenner’s arms. The way it made me feel was as exhilarating as it was frightening. Most of the time, I wanted to run away from the feeling, but the pull I had toward him kept bringing me back. I thought the same could be said for Jenner as well. He didn’t like what he felt toward me, but he was tired of fighting it.

“I think they’re going to send everyone home again, but first, they’re going to ream everyone’s ass and tell them if it continues, there won’t be a show any longer.”

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

“Truthfully, yeah. This isn’t my fault, so it won’t be tainted by me.” His chest heavily heaved a couple of times before his breath went back to normal. “I just don’t know if I’ve done enough to redeem myself. I do know my acting hasn’t been the problem. I’ve put my heart and soul into this even though I wasn’t feeling it in the hopes everyone would remember me for my skill and not the fuck-ups.”

“But?” I felt there was more and wanted him to spill his secrets while I was wrapped in his arms. Everything that was said here was protected in our little bubble. No judgment.

“It’s no secret I’ve made my displeasure known about working on the show, and I’ve been late a few times. My stubbornness reared its ugly head and made itself known. I wouldn’t tell them why I was late. I’m not one for excuses, and that’s all it would have been. An excuse. It wouldn’t matter to them if I was late because I was stuck in traffic or because I was out getting plastered the night before and was nursing a hangover.”

I thought it would have helped his case if he’d told them the real reason he was late, but I understood where he was coming from. Jenner felt like everyone was out to get him. They wanted him to fail.

“Do you have anything lined up after this wraps?”

“I have an audition for a movie with Hans Schroeber. I’ve always wanted to work with him, but now . . . ” I felt his body deflate around mine. “Now I don’t know if he’ll want to work with me. I can’t fuck anything up, but I swear life keeps trying to kick me in the face and make it impossible.”

I felt for him, I really did, but he needed to be proactive about his life and career. Not look on it with such negativity.

Jenner’s body straightened. He kept one arm around my waist as he turned toward who I thought was one of the producers. She gave a hesitant smile as she approached. “Hey, I’m Jane, one of the producers on Alpha Blue. Are you Mrs. Jenner?”

Who the hell did she think I was? Some whore he brought onto the set?

I plastered on my biggest, fakest smile as I held my hand out to her. “That would be me. Hi, I’m Abbi Jenner. It’s nice to meet you.”

Jenner’s hand on my waist gave me a little squeeze. “What’s the consensus, Jane?”

“We’re giving everyone time to get over what happened to Jim. Unfortunately, we don’t have an exact date on when we’ll start shooting again.”

That didn’t sound good, but in Jenner’s case, it was probably music to his ears. He probably wanted the show to flop, for his character to die, or for this exact thing to happen every night in his prayers, and now they were coming true.

“There have been too many instances on set, and we need to evaluate how we can keep everyone safe,” she added.

“Shouldn’t you have thought about that after what happened yesterday and before you brought us back today,” Jenner grumbled from my side.

What he said was true, but he could have stated it differently. If this was the way he talked to people here, no wonder they weren’t his biggest fans.

Jane hung her head for a moment before it popped back up, and she had the decency to look ashamed. “We didn’t tie everything together until today when we heard everyone talking. You know how it can be on set. Things happen, but this is—”

“Happening around me,” Jenner interrupted. His hand slid to the small of my back, and he rubbed small circles there with his thumb. I don’t think he even realized he was doing it. “I had the same thought last night. Every single thing that’s happened has been centered around me. As if it was supposed to happen to me, and I was lucky enough to miss each by seconds.”

“Yes, that’s what they’re saying.” Her voice was soft with remorse.

“I’ve heard the rumors that I’m cursed, and it’s fine. I don’t believe in them, but whatever helps them feel better about the situation, I’m cool with.”

“Even if that means we have to let you go?” Jane asked, surprised.

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