Indie is now home after hanging out with Mila, catching up with uni work.
We hung up on each other fifteen minutes ago. I already want to call her back.
I’m done for.
I towel myself off after a quick shower and get into bed. Ella and Ethan wanted to go out tonight, but I need to be pathetic and wallow for the evening. Ella understood. Ethan told me I’m whipped.
My finger hovers over the TV remote when my phone rings.
Mila.
Of course, it is.
“Hello,” I say.
“I love that you and our girl got it on! Ugh, you two are so cute together. How did the snooping go?”
No pleasantries. Not that I expected any. “How are you, Mila?”
“Wonderful. Oh, congrats on the awesome movie, by the way. Indie said it rocked. Now, please answer my question.”
I laugh. “Right. I’m not snooping on our girl.”
“Call it whatever you want, dude. Did she open up?”
“Not exactly.”
She scoffs. “I wish I could shake her and force her to let us in. I hate it when she leaves, and I don’t know what’s waiting for her at home.”
“I had the exact same thought the other day.” I rub my hand over my face. “I hate this.”
“Do you think I should just ask her? Or turn up at her house? I suggested we find a place together a few months ago but she said she can’t afford it until she’s done with uni.”
Mila really wants her out of home. “How do you think she’d handle you asking her what’s going on, or going to her house?” I ask.
“Oh, she’d be pissed and refuse to talk to me for a while, I imagine, but at least we’d know, and maybe she would be out.”
“And if she refused to talk to anyone and stayed?”
“Hmm.” I feel Mila’s defeat. “I don’t know. I just want to help.”
“Look, Indie and I have just started something, and I’m home in a few weeks, if not before. I’ll continue to push gently and see how she responds.”
“If she doesn’t say anything?”
“Then I’ll wait a couple days after Christmas and ask her straight.”
“It’s bad, isn’t it?” Mila asks quietly, her voice breaking.
I swallow. “Whatever it is, we’ll be there. I’m glad she has you there looking out for her.”
“Thanks. If things get worse, I’m kidnapping her.”
“Dramatic, Mila. If things get worse, you call me, and I’ll come home.”
“Then you’ll kidnap her?”
“No one is kidnapping her.”
“I didn’t mean with Chloroform and a blacked-out van. We just tell her she’s staying with one of us.”
“That’s the plan. When are you seeing her next?”
“Couple days. She now has a shift at The Waffle House after uni. We’re meeting at the pub for a drink after that.”
“Okay. You’ll let me know how she is?”
“Yeah, and you let me know if she says anything on the phone that we should be worried about. I can be at her house in ten minutes.”
“All right. Speak to you soon, Mila.”
“Bye, movie star and sex stud!”
She hangs up, and I laugh. Indie has the weirdest friend… and probably one of the best. At least she’s got Wren and Mila. I know she’s not on her own dealing with whatever her home life is.
I lay down and put a movie on. Seconds later, Indie texts. I don’t even glance up at the TV until I turn it off to sleep.
“It’s yours!” Denny, my agent, shouts down the phone the following day. “I’m telling them you’re taking it, right?”
I stand up from where I was sitting with the guys in a noisy, heaving club. Day two post Indie leaving, and Ethan and Jared weren’t letting me wallow anymore. I push my finger into my other ear. “Yes! Call them, Denny. Fuck, I can’t believe it.”
Jared stands and grins, flashing teeth so white, they could blind you.
Shit, I did it.
“The schedule is tight, and there’s a lot on location, but you’ll still have two weeks off over Christmas.”
“I’m ready, man.”
“Damn straight, you are. Right, I’ll call you later with the finer details tomorrow.”
He hangs up, and I punch the air.
I fucking landed the lead in End of the Road.
“Yes, mate.” Jared slaps me on the back.
We’re in a bar having a drink. There are a few actors in here I admire; some musicians, too. When I first walked in, they came to talk to me. It was surreal as fuck.
We’re letting off some steam before I go home alone and obsess over Indie again. I can see that being a solid routine.
“You got it?” Ethan asks.
“I got it.”
“Yeah, you did!” He slaps my palm. “Let’s celebrate.”
The prices in here are eyewatering. I’m new to the game, my bank balance is looking great, but I still remember how much is reasonable to pay for a beer.
“I’m splitting.”
“Really? Wait, you’re going home to call Indie, aren’t you?”
Chuckling, I nod.
“You struck gold there.”
“I’m aware. Thanks for the drinks,” I say.
“See you later.”
Jared shakes his head at me, showing his disapproval for not staying out and celebrating until the early hours. “See you fuckers later.”
“Arnold will be outside. I think I can make it,” I tell him.
He raises his brow like I’m a naughty child. Jared doesn’t let me go places alone. Not places like this, anyway. “I’ll see you get home then call it a night.”
“I’ve actually not forgotten how to get myself home.”
“I’d hope not. You only need to walk out of the club and your driver will be waiting.”
He likes to roast me for being rich and having hired help, despite being on my payroll.
“You’re getting driven home by that same man.”
“I live in your building. Way down low in it.”
Laughing, I elbow him in the arm. “In Santa Monica, close to the beach. How do you cope with such terrible living conditions?”
“I do it all for you.”
Jared comes from money. His parents are rich as fuck property developers. He doesn’t need money and he has someone to cook
