Page 15 of The Kissing Part
I look around for anyone suspicious. “Have you seen him here?”
“No. He’s good about staying out of sight. It’s possible he changed his appearance. He used to reliably wear a black hoodie. He’s gotten smarter, dressing like someone who goes to the office.”
“Quiet on set,” the director calls and gestures to the lighting guy.
Crew sounds off they’re ready one by one. Background actors in place and—
“Action!” the director says.
I watch Shayla nail the scene again. It occurs to me that if she hadn’t gotten her big break inAngel Heartwhen she was sixteen, she might not even have a career anymore. She’d just be one of the many former child stars unable to get work.
It was for the best. For both of us. I may have grown up around the industry, but that doesn’t mean I want my life to revolve around it like it did for Dad. He sold his company and traveled around the world for Mom’s work. Sure, he did other important work, helping to raise us kids, managing Mom’s career, and running the business side of her production company. But that’s not me. I need my own thing.
The scene ends, and the director calls it for the day. Frankie moves to Shayla’s side, and they walk over to me together.
Shayla’s intercepted by a PA, who fangirls over her. “Great work today, Shayla! It’s so amazing the way you just become Tara. I’m taking an acting class, so I know how hard it is to be that authentic.”
“Thank you, Paige,” Shayla says. “And have fun with your class.” Shayla never took classes. She learned on set as a child using her own instincts and outgoing personality. Mom did mention she had a private on-set coach for her first major movie role. The one she left us for. Welp, I’d been warned.
She walks over to me. The PA, Paige, stares at her with a look of awe. It’s cool to have fans, as long as they don’t cross the line.
“How long have you been here?” she asks me.
“Just enough to catch the last two takes.”
“And?” she asks with a winning smile.
I steel my heart against that smile. “Fishing for compliments?”
“No, I was just curious what you thought.”
“You’ve improved since you were sixteen.”
Frankie snorts.
Shayla looks over her shoulder at him, probably shooting him a dark look since he’s smiling widely now, before turning back to me. “You haven’t seen my work since I was sixteen?”
“No, why would I?”
She opens her mouth and then shuts it. “Right. So I guess we should go. I’d like to walk since the hotel’s close by.” She turns to Frankie. “Thanks for your help today, Frankie. Tell Claire I said hi.”
He inclines his head. “Will do.” He clasps my arm in farewell and leaves.
“I just need to get my stuff from my trailer,” she says.
I walk with her to her trailer. “Your suite is secured. I’ll show you how to check the status on your phone and how to check in with your guard.”
She enters a combination to get in the trailer, opens the door, and turns to me. “You’re my guard.”
“For now.”
“No one asked you for forever.”
She goes inside the trailer, and I follow her. She turns to face me, and we’re suddenly real close. My pulse accelerates. I search her expression. It’s hard to tell if she’s happy I’m here. Maybe she didn’t want me as much as I thought. Maybe she’s plain scared and wanted an old friend near her.
“Hi,” she says warmly.
“Nothing’s going to happen between us,” I say just to be clear.
