Page 22 of Off Script
Text after embarrassing text.
I want to prove to her that I’m letting her into my life, albeit slowly. But she has yet to reply, and I hope that this isn’t the end of us already.
Not that there is anusat this point.
I’m currently working out in my home gym again with Trevor, who has gotten onto me several times because of my lack of focus during the workout. For my role asCaptain Commander, I had to bulk up and the studio hired Trevor to be my personal trainer. Even after filming finished, I keep seeing him because he’s turned into a close friend, and because he gets my ass in gear.
“Thirty more seconds. Push through the pain. Keep going,” Trevor yells, as I flip a huge tire across the length of the gym floor for the fifth time. “Harder, Ben, harder.”
“That’s what she said,” my buddy Jordan chirps from his perch on the elliptical.
“Unless you want to get out here and move this tire, shut the fuck up, Jordan,” I grumble, sweat dripping down my forehead and into my eyes. “Why are you here anyway? Shouldn’t you be at work?”
“And miss a free private personal training session? No way. I took a late lunch.”
“You know it’s only free because I’m paying for it, right?”
“Duh,” he smirks.
I met Jordan my second year in LA when he was a production assistant on an indie film I starred in. I wasn’t sure what to think of him at first, but he slowly grew on me. He’s like a pesky, yet lovable and loyal, younger brother to me now. He's not actually younger than me, he just acts like he is.
“C’mon Ben, tell us who she is?”
In the middle of a set of side planks, my balance sways at Jordan’s sudden question.What the hell does Jordan know?
“I thought we were going to ignore the elephant in the room, but now that Jordan’s opened it up for discussion, I want to know too.” Trevor says, watching me intensely. “Who has you so distracted?”
“And grumpy.” Jordan shoots Trevor a quick grin, “Loverboy must not be getting laid. Benny Boy, is she playing hard to get?”
“What are you talking about?” I feign ignorance, but it’s apparent that they’ve noticed how often I’m checking my phone. When I finish my set, I stand up and grab a towel to wipe my face. “I’m not distracted.”
Trevor purses his lips, but wisely remains quiet.
Jordan doesn’t follow his lead and continues needling me. “Nope, not buying it. Someone has your panties in a twist. Who is she?”
"There is no girl."
"So, it's a dude?" Jordan frowns in disbelief. "Wow, never saw that coming. Totes thought you were hetero, bruh."
"I am, you dumbass."
"Knew it!" Jordan grins, like he's uncovered the nuclear launch codes or something.
I roll my eyes.
“Run 10 minutes at 5.5 on the treadmill and then we’ll start your cool down.” Trevor saves me and I shoot him a look of gratitude. He nods in return and starts packing up his bag to head to his next client’s house.
I’m thankful for Trevor’s willingness to act as a buffer. But if Jordan’s noticed a change in me, then it’s only a matter of time before others will too. I need to get my head on straight and figure out what to do about Carlisle.
It’s time to shit or get off the pot, as my dad would say.
My phone, which I discarded on the weight bench when I started running, lights up from an incoming text. Unfortunately, Jordan notices it too. Before I can safely jump off the treadmill, Jordan pounces and grabs ahold of my phone.
For the first time all day, I hope it isn’t Carlisle returning my texts.Please let it be Jada texting me about our meeting this afternoon.
No such luck.
“Oh, Benny Boy, you little liar.” Jordan replies with a big smirk spanning his face. “No girl, my ass. Explain yourself.”
