Page 10 of Dangerous Curves

A pretty blonde girl in her early twenties with dimples and bright blue eyes approaches me. “Hello, I’m Layla. I’m an intern on the set. You’re Jaxx Scott, right?”

“Yes, ma’am,” I tell her as I extend my hand out to shake hers. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Likewise. So, we need to head to the hair and makeup trailer first. If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you that way,” she tells me, with a kind smile.

I nod my head. “Thank you.” On the short walk, I learn she is a film student at UCLA, but is originally from a small southern town in Mississippi. She is the youngest of three, but so far, she’s loving Los Angeles.

“Here we are.” She opens the door and we head inside. “Jaxx, this will be your hair and makeup artist, Stout.”

Stout is a tall man with a very serious expression. His jeans have splashes of paint on them. The cranberry color t-shirt reads ‘makeup or make out?’ Stout’s gray beret definitely screams the artsy type as well as the multiple beaded bracelets on his left wrist. “Hey man, nice to meet you. Nice shirt, too. Where would you like me?” I ask him, as we shake hands.

Stout starts to give me orders and Layla dismisses herself quickly. Over an hour later, and my blonde hair is long gone. A rich, dark chocolate with caramel highlights is now in its place. Stout takes his job very seriously, but that’s also why he’s worked on so many big movies. I can respect that. I will admit, compared to a lot of other dye jobs I’ve had done over the years, this is by far the best. I thank him and head out of the trailer and towards the set building. I catch Layla again. “Wow, I like the hair.”

“Thanks, Stout really knows what he’s doing.”

Layla nods her head. “So, I’m not sure they’ll actually need you today, but this movie is on a time crunch so if for some reason the shooting schedule has to change they might end up needing you. I think they have you on the schedule every day just to be safe.”

“That works for me.” Once we’re inside, I take in the sets already built inside the large sound stage. It’s impressive already. I recognize a few of the other stunt men and women as well as the actors. I head over to the spot where they are currently talking.

We’ve been talking for a bit when I hear a familiar laugh, it’s a sound I haven’t heard in far too long and it hits me square in my gut while creating goosebumps to cover my body. Taking a deep breath, I chance a look over my shoulder. There she is, gorgeous as ever. It’s like all the air is sucked out of the atmosphere. Her jeans hug every inch of her like a second skin. The eggplant and black plaid button up shirt she has on reminds me of how much she loved the color purple. It’s left open and the blank tank top underneath laces up at the top, leaving just a hint of cleavage. Just enough to leave me and every other male in a hundred yard radius wanting more. Her black and silver ankle boots look comfortable and practical. Her long golden brown hair is pulled back into a high ponytail but the golden and red undertones glisten under the lights above. I can’t see her full face, but every single part of me aches for her. I’ve missed her more than even I realized. I turn away before she notices me. Quickly, I excuse myself and exit out a side door of the building to get some fresh air. If I ever had any question if I was still in love with Kenndrix Golden that question was just answered.

Nine

Kenndrix

“I have run around like a mad woman all day,” I tell Kynlee, through the other line of the phone.

Kynlee sighs. “I’m sorry that it wasn’t all you had hoped it would be.”

Staring up into the sky, I try to figure out exactly what I thought today was going to be. Did I honestly expect it to be anything other than this? Walt McCormick has a reputation for being difficult, but he is also highly sought after. His diverse resume is more than impressive, but he truly shines in the superhero/action movie world. He’s insanely passionate about what he does and it shows because he will run a scene for hours trying to get it just how he envisions it. I don’t think I actually expected today to be anything other than a glorified assistant. I sigh. It seems like I’m always looking for something to satisfy me and I’m not sure when that started. I used to be happy just living my life, striving to be a screenplay writer. Now, that I’ve got that I keep trying to find the next thing to strive for. It’s like I can’t be happy just being me and living in the moment. “It’s okay. I kind of expected this to be honest and on the bright side I have gotten a few really great notes and pointers from Walt. It’s exciting to actually be on the set and see it all unfold.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re able to find the bright side of things. Then again that’s always been your talent, but not usually for yourself.”

I feel my nose scrunch up as I take a sip of my cinnamon coke. “What do you mean?”

“You’ve always been so kind and supportive and just this ray of sunshine for everyone around you. You’ve just never been any of those things for yourself. That saying, ‘my own worst enemy’ is definitely directed at you,” Kynlee explains.

I would love to argue with her, tell her that she’s wrong and that whole nine yards but truth is she’s right. Kynlee knows me better than pretty much anyone. I’ve never been good at being any of those things for myself. It’s part of the reason Jaxx left and never came back, not that I blame him. The thought of him still makes my heart hurt. They say time heals all wounds, but I call that bullshit. It’s been almost three years and that wound is still as open and infected as the night he walked away. My head falls back against the building. “You’re right.”

“Oh my god! Did Kenndrix Golden just admit that I’m right? Did hell just freeze over?” Kynlee asks with a laugh.

“Shut up,” I tell her, with a roll of my eyes. “I’ll have to argue with you another day on the matter. For now, I need to get back to work.”

“I’ll accept that. Go have fun and rule the world my fierce girl.” Kynlee hangs up and I turn around to head back inside when my phone starts to ring again. I’m expecting to see Kynlee’s name on the screen again but instead it’s Ronin. I sigh, my muscles instantly tensing. I’m not sure I’m ready to deal with more of this.

After a few moments of it ringing, the phone goes quiet and I know it’s sent Ronin to voicemail. Guilt churns in my stomach, but at the same time I’m not sure why I feel guilty. He should know I’m at work, not that he cares but he knows. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you frown at a phone so hard before.”

That voice, deep and intense, smooth like butter is what Kynlee always said. The voice that had made me feel like I was the only thing that mattered in this world. The voice that could soothe my fears, anxiety and tattered soul. The voice that had told me such beautiful things and made me believe I was worth every ounce of insecure chaos I brought into his life. His voice was the balm to my soul, but right now it’s ripping that wound I mentioned earlier into shreds. I look up before I have time to prepare myself for the sight that is Jaxx Scott. His blue eyes are still bright and alive, but they’re older now, wiser in some way, a few laugh lines show in the corners. The smile on his face seems forced and uncertain, nothing like the smile I remember. The dimple on his left cheek isn’t there. I didn’t know it was possible to miss a dimple until now. Stubble coats his jaw line, another change. It makes him look more mature, but I miss his baby face to some extent. The blonde locks are gone, it’s now dark but somehow it suits him better. My eyes travel down his body, drinking him in. He’s still tall, but now he’s broad too. The lean body of the boy I once loved has transformed into a toned and muscle body of a man I no longer know.

My heart beats erratically in my chest and my lungs tighten while trying to figure out what in the hell I’m supposed to say to him. The wound he left behind is wide open, gaping and bleeding right now. My fingers itch to reach up and run my fingers through his hair. After a few moments of silence, both of us assessing the other, I clear my throat and try to push away the shock my body and mind are feeling. “Jaxx.”

His smile falls for a moment but when it returns it’s the shy one I know too well. It’s painful to look at so I avert my gaze. “You should never frown. Your smile is too beautiful for that. Plus, didn’t you tell Kosi once that you never know who is falling in love with your smile.”

Jaxx repeating my words to me from so long ago only twists a knife into the open wound of my heart. I know he doesn’t mean to hurt me, it’s not in his nature. I hurt myself enough for the both of us, I’m the one that caused this wound in the first place. “Love is just an illusion, so it doesn’t really matter if you’re frowning or smiling at the end of the day.”

He seems taken aback by my words. I don’t even know why I just told him that. I watch as his hands, the ones I used to be able to map out with my eyes closed, rise to scratch at the stubble along his jawline. “You don’t sound like Kenndrix.”

I shrug. “Maybe, you just don’t know her anymore.”

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