Page 52 of Anyone But the Superstar

With one last glare, she spins on her heel and hustles back to the crew.

The large amount of satisfaction I feel when she pockets her hair clip is sad.

Mike meows his disappointment.

‘Let’s just get a crew member to step in for Amanda.’ Ron, apparently done waiting for his leading lady, draws my attention back to the crew as he points between the jib crane and the edge of the pool.

‘Yes.’ David nods, his expression focused. ‘Good idea.’

As if rewarding me for my loyalty, Mike rubs his nose against mine and purrs.

I nuzzle him back. ‘I love you too, buddy.’ He’s been especially affectionate since he caused my indecent exposure in front of Felix’s mother.

And Felix and I have been especially awkward in front of each other since then as well.

I undo the scribble on my tablet, and, using the shape tool, change Mike’s pupils to hearts.

‘I’ll do it!’ Sylvie nearly pops her top thrusting her arm in the air. ‘I volunteer.’

‘Sorry.’ David shakes his head. ‘We can’t use a crew member.’

Nearly all of Sylvie deflates.

‘It might cause problems with the union,’ David adds.

Ron pinches the bridge of his nose. ‘Then who the hell?—’

‘I got this.’ David scans the crowd, pausing when he catches sight of me. ‘Anne!’

Fuck a duck.

Hands together, as if in prayer, David points them toward me and smiles. ‘May I borrow you for a moment?’

Reluctance threads its way through me as I force a thin smile and lower Mike to the concrete floor. ‘Sure.’

‘Great.’ If David notes the reluctance in my voice, he doesn’t show it.

Felix, standing behind David, covers his mouth with one hand, his shaking shoulders telling me he didnotmiss my lack of enthusiasm.

‘Anne isn’t a studio worker, she’s my intern,’ David explains to Ron.

Sylvie doesn’t look as superior as she had before at the mention of my title.

Under her glare, I drag my feet as David gestures me forward.

The crew parts like the Red Sea allowing Moses Mike and me through, their murmurs of shock and awe causing Mike to make the most of his catwalk.

As I move past the crew, Ron glances at me and shrugs. ‘Fine.’ Then he goes back to looking over his clipboard. I’m not sure if he doesn’t notice Mike or just doesn’t care.

Circling on his leash, Mikey faces me, holding up his tail and giving Ron the perfect view of his hairless asshole. Thankfully, Ron doesn’t look.

I bite my lip, coughing to cover a laugh when my eyes catch sight of Felix, his lips twisting to the side. Our shared amusement over Mike’s antics strangely making me feel less nervous about all the unwanted attention.

Placing my work bag on the ground, I pretend not to noticeSylvie eviscerating me with her eyes as I tie the end of Mike’s leash to the leg of a crane that’s bolted into the ground. Satisfied I’ve properly thwarted Mikey’s genius-level Houdini skills, I scratch him between the ears. ‘Be a good boy, okay?’

Thus far, Mike has defied the odds bynotcausing a federal incident while at NASA. A miracle that might have to do with the tight leash and baby carrier always keeping him restricted. Or, and probably the most likely, his good behavior stems from a constant stream of treats.

I pat his side, noticeably thicker since Chase left him with me.

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