Page 96 of The Boss I Can't Stand
“Can’t handle the ghosts?” I teased.
“No, I can’t handle some of the weird-ass shenanigans in the script,” she said. “And I’m a pretty open-minded person.” Her phone rang on the table. We both glanced down at it.
“Brenna?” I said. Why would Brenna be reaching out to Ro?
“Weird,” Ro said, picking it up and answering it. “Hey, girl. What’s up? How’ve you been?” Ro’s brows knitted together in the center of her forehead and she stared at me, looking puzzled. Then her hand shot out, almost crushing the bones in my wrist as she clamped onto it. “Shut up! If you’re fucking with me…”
“What?” I whispered. I didn’t know if I should be excited or concerned.
“She’s calling on Finn’s behalf,” Ro hissed at me, covering the speaker. “They’ve got a film for me to direct. The next Hart of Gold project!” Ro’s face lit up like a kid at Christmas.
My stomach flipped strangely. It felt like forever ago that I’d cemented that deal with Finn, lining up a shot for Ro to make her mainstream directorial debut in exchange for my participation in the fake engagement.
After the way things ended between us, I’d never expected him to honor that deal. Now I wasn’t sure if he was genuinely trying to make Ro’s dream come true or if he was simply trying to tick off this last obligation required to remove me from his life.
My phone vibrated, and I tugged it free of my pocket to find a text from Finn. My heart dropped into my stomach. I hadn’t seen his name flash across my screen in two months. My hand shook as I opened the message.
Hey, it read.I’m sure Brenna’s delivered the good news to Ro. I would have called myself, but she’s blocked me.
Surprise filled me, and I reread the sentence again. I hadn’t realized Ro had done that.Ihadn’t even gotten around to blocking him yet. She really was the world’s best friend. Finn was typing again, my eyes drawn to the three blinking dots.
Anyway, I know it wasn’t officially part of our deal, but I hope you’ll be a part of the new project, too. I know how badly you want to costume a movie under Ro’s direction.
My breath caught. Was he actually offering me another job? And not just for any movie, but Ro’s movie? Thathadalways been our dream. Working on the same productions was fine, but workingwitheach other creatively, bringing her vision to life, that was something we’d both wanted since we came to LA.
I was immediately torn by the offer. Working with Ro? Hell yes. But working for Hart of Gold again, risking running into Finn at any moment? I couldn’t do it. It would be too hard.
And I was still too hurt, however much I pretended I was fine. The thought of being around Finn again was difficult to imagine, and I didn’t know if I could put those feelings aside long enough to work on the production.
Anger and hurt surged through me in equal measure. I couldn’t even believe he was doing this to me. Offer the job to Ro—sure—and keep his end of the bargain. But keep me the hell out of it. Let me finish getting over him without all these added complications. I scowled down at my phone as I started to reply.
Thanks for the offer, but I’m not sure that’s a good idea, I wrote.
He texted back.The job is yours. You don’t even have to interview for it this time.
Finn…
And Merle’s still hanging out in the costume shop, trying to hang on to his head.
I laughed despite myself. See? This was the problem. The way he could get to me without even trying. I was my own walking red flag. I didn’t need to borrow trouble by signing up to be around him again.
There’s a pallet of RevX in it for you.
Thought you said that stuff was going to kill me?I wrote. I couldn’t help myself.
It will…probably. But not before this next movie wraps.
I shook my head. I couldn’t do this to myself. I wanted Finn, but I just didn’t see how it could work between us. Not when he worked so hard to close himself off from anything imperfect and complicated and real.
Like Ro said, I deserved better.
I deserved more.
Did I mention it’s set in the eighties?Finn wrote.And if Ro agrees, I’m sure there’s room in the script for a bowling alley scene.
Part of me was touched he’d remembered what I’d told him all those months ago during our practice date. But I also recognized the aggressive negotiator here trying to sweeten the deal, trying to get me to dance to his tune again. And I wasn’t interested in that anymore.
I think I’m gonna pass. But I’m sure you’ll find someone great to fill the role.
