Page 60 of Jaime
“I know,” I sighed. “But it seems like I can’t get through a day without taking something from him.”
I couldn’t believe I’d said it out loud, but once it was voiced and to his friend of all people, there was no taking it back.
“I need to be able to take care of myself properly. I don’t want to keep needing him.”
She frowned.
“So, you’re not in this for the long haul?” she asked. “Because let me tell you, I’ve never seen Ethan like this about anyone before.”
My stomach erupted with butterflies.
“I never want it to end!” I found myself defending. Her pleased look had me squeezing my eyes shut. “I just don’t want him to feel like he’s constantly taking care of me. I couldn’t even take that car out of park.”
“You know, that’s not how it works between people who care about each other,” she argued.
This time, I frowned.
“What do you mean?” I asked, confusion seeping into my voice.
“When you’re having a hard time, you’resupposedto lean on those who love you. Yeah, Ethan is your rock right now, but when it’s his turn to need someone, you’ll be there for him in.”
I blinked, surprised. I hadn’t thought of it that way. I certainly hadn’t thought of Ethanlovingme. He was so wonderful though that the idea was more than welcome. I’d meant what I’d said about wanting it to be forever.
But that didn’t mean it would be. I had serious doubts that Ethan would choose me over taking his career to the next level. I wouldn’t even want that for him. If I held him back in anyway, I’d never be able to forgive myself. Ethan had found his calling with his show and books. The way he’d made me feel when I was at my lowest was, in my opinion, proof that world needed him.
CHAPTER20
ETHAN
LA was like a different world.
As I reached the outskirts of the city, the shocking skyline of skyscrapers, it was hard to believe that Gaynor Beach was under two hours away. Then I hit the morning traffic and remembered why I didn’t visit very often.
I’d left early, but reaching the city before nine turned out to be a terrible idea.
Sighing, I resigned myself to move slowly while my mind wandered.
By the time I was parked and meeting studio execs about an hour later, I was wondering what the hell I was doing this for.
But then I saw the studio.
It was bustling with people, unlike the stage we booked in Gaynor. The whole place was filled with life.
“We film Moppet’s Muppets here,” the exec told me, walking me past their sound stage.
I slowed, taking it in, awed.
I’d often gained inspiration from the very puppet show we were passing. The set was more intricate than I’d realized watching it on the TV.
He went on, listing the other shows filmed here for their network, and by the end, my interest had taken a complete turn.
This was better than I’d expected it to be. I would be rubbing shoulders with other creatives in my industry, feeding off of that energy. Meeting others who did what I did was rare. Aside from the people who read at Gaynor library, I didn’t know many other children’s entertainers. That alone was an exciting prospect that I hadn’t thought of.
By the time I was sitting in an office, discussing business, the reach of their network, and the plans they had for my show, I was beyond interested.
Money was a second thought, but then they presented numbers and I nearly choked.
“Are you serious?” I asked. Then, before I could make any mistakes, I shook myself. “This will have to go through my agent.”
