I thought for a moment that I should probably cancel our dinner plans for tomorrow. The last person I wanted to hear about this blunder was my uncle. He loved to point out that everything I did was somehow tied to me not being grown up yet.
“I could throw a fit,” I offered.
That made him laugh.
“Okay, okay. I’ll go talk to him
“Whatever it takes. Just tell me: would you get all weepy to win a woman back?” I asked.
“Nope,” he answered emphatically.
“I didn’t think so.”
I was glad he was my mentor and could fix this.
◊◊◊
Shoot me now. I cried like a baby. All I had to do was think about this week with my dad’s scare and Brook being forced to move. It was surprisingly easy, and I felt better afterward. That still didn’t make it okay in my book, though.
Note to self: track down the writers and end their lives for that one.
Note to self: never piss off the writers.
◊◊◊
Lexi handed me my phone when I had a break.
“Call Wolf, Tim, both your brothers, and your dad,” she ordered.
I decided to call my dad first. I hadn’t talked to him since he was taken to the hospital.
“Bless your heart,” he answered, imitating my Grandma Felton.
I could hear my mom laughing in the background.
“Tell him that I’ll never buy him crying again. He almost made me believe it,” Mom yelled so I could hear her.
“How did you all see that already? I just shot that scene like an hour ago.”
“Lily follows some of your castmates on social media, and one of them posted the video.”
“I’m starting a list, and I think she just made it,” I said, half-serious.
I might have to call my fixer to ‘fix’ a few people.
“She’s just doing her job,” Dad said to defend Lily.
I decided to own it. I’d learned that was better than letting them continue to torment me.
“Well, I’m glad my crying jag went viral. It’ll give the internet trolls something else to laugh at.”
“That’s awfully big of you. Frank said he thinks it makes you more relatable.”
I couldn’t believe I was having this conversation with my dad. He’d actually talked to my PR guy? What had my world come to?
“Relatable?” I asked against my better judgment.
“Yes. Because most people don’t really know you, and everyone says you appear a little too perfect. Luckily, we all know you’re not.”
I could hear my mom snicker, and Dad shush her. If my dad hadn’t just about died on me, I would have unleashed a choice comment or three in retort.
“Uh … thanks, I guess,” I said as my brain locked.
This was one of those instances where I would have the perfect comeback
“You’re welcome.”
“Uhm … what did you say, Lexi?” I faked. “Sorry, got to go.”
I could hear my parents’ laughter as I hung up. I suspected that the rest of my friends had similar comments, so I felt it was better that I not call them back. See? I knew crying was a bad idea.
I turned around, and both Manaia and Lexi had big smiles on their faces. Yep, I just added them to the list. Maybe Paddy would give me a group discount.
◊◊◊
“Let’s just see where this goes. I’m all in,” I said.
“Cut! That’s a wrap! Good job, people!” Mr. Otsuki said for the last time.
I’d already said my goodbyes. It was nearly four in the morning, and I was exhausted, but happy. We were done! I found Manaia and Lexi in the dressing room, looking like death warmed over.
“Is that it? Can we go home now?” Manaia asked.
“Just finished.”
“Good. Let’s get out of here,” Lexi said.
I helped her stand up, and Manaia followed us out to the parking lot. I looked up at the moon and took a deep, cleansing breath. The air smelled like smoke. Over the last few days, they’d gotten the wildfires down to something manageable. The news said they hoped to have everything under control come the weekend if the winds didn’t pick up again.
“What’s your plan for tomorrow? Please say we can sleep in,” Manaia almost begged.
“Take the morning off. I want to get eight hours of sleep at a minimum,” I announced.
“I’ll put it in the log,” Manaia said.
They tracked my plans for each day so they could arrange the right level of protection.
Manaia had released the drone when we walked out the door. He put his hand on my chest when his phone app beeped.
“You and Lexi hang on. The drone has spotted something,” he said.
“Let’s just go,” Lexi complained. “It’s never anything.”
“Until it is,” I said and pulled her back into the building.
“Hey, is it okay if I work as your PA until you leave?” Lexi asked once we were safely back inside.
“Do whatever you want. If you would rather take a few days before you go back to work, I would understand. I’m just going to do a bunch of nothing until I fly out,” I explained.
“Mind if I do a bunch of nothing with you?”
Was she flirting with me?
“How about we just hang out as friends? Maybe I can run and get you a coffee or something,” I suggested, reversing our roles.
“I’d like that.”
Manaia was back.
“It was a group of teenagers skateboarding,” he reported.
“At four in the morning?” I asked.
“Yeah, go figure. Come on, I want to get home.”
