Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
I saw Andi wait for me to correct Mila on the shortened form of my name. I allowed very few people to use it. But I didn’t. Mila could call me anything she wanted. I preferred Nicky baby, whispered in her breathless voice, but I would settle for Nick from her.
For now.
“I have a few. One big one, though.”
Lacey stood. “I’m out. I need a snack.”
Bradley was already gone, leaving Andi, Mila, and me. Amber was busy setting up the shoot today.
“What is your question?”
Andi’s phone rang, and she glanced at the screen, frowning. “I have to take this.” She stood and left the room, standing outside the door. Silence fell between Mila and me. Outside the door, I could make out the muffled conversation involving Andi. The muted sounds of shouts and voices prepping the set.
Mila’s eyes locked on mine, the beautiful irises all at once tender, worried, and anxious. I wondered what was causing the turmoil. It concerned me. I had read up on her disorder, and I knew anxiety could push it over the edge.
“Are you all right?” we both asked at the same time, breaking the silence.
“I saw you with MJ. You didn’t look happy.”
I shook my head. “We’re arguing. Nothing new. But I’m worried about you.”
“I’m fine.”
“Why are you so far away, then, Mila?”
“I was trying to maintain a professional image, Nick.”
I studied her. She was a lousy liar.
“You’d make a terrible actress, Shortcake.”
She sighed. “We need to talk.”
“Now?”
“No. Not here. Tonight.”
“Fine. Dinner. My room or yours?”
She paused. “Mine.”
“Are you breaking this off?”
“No.”
I heaved a long exhale of relief. “But you want to talk?”
“Yes.”
I glanced over my shoulder, then swiftly changed chairs so I was closer to Mila. I reached out and grasped her fingers that were restlessly drumming on the tabletop. I liked the fact that as soon as our digits became entwined, we both relaxed. “Was last night too much, Shortcake?”
“Last night was incredible.”
“You don’t regret it? Regret me?”
“No.”
“Okay. Then tonight, we’ll talk about us.”
She nodded.
“In the meantime, I have a couple more questions.”
“Okay, shoot.”
“You said I was your muse. Why?”
“You kept coming to mind when I wrote Duncan. You have—” she swallowed and paused “—you have emotions in your eyes I don’t think anyone sees. Anyone but me.”
“Anyone but you?” I repeated.
“They see the actor. The performance.”
“And what do you see?”
“I see the pain you hide from the world. The way Roxie could see Duncan’s pain.” She frowned. “I wrote him using your description because when I saw him, I always saw you. I saw your pain. Your turmoil. It’s part of the performance, yes, but it’s part of you. It lives in you. You bear it alone.” She hesitated. “Don’t you?”
I stared at her. No one had ever said anything that profound to me. No one knew, saw, or cared about my private pain. In fact, they did everything they could to cover it up. The image they created of me was as false as the parts I played. All a mirage. Believed by the world to be true.
Except to her. Mila.
I felt raw sitting across from her. It was as if she had laid my soul bare. Her simple, honest words rang in my head, and I didn’t know how to respond to them.
The conference room door opened, and MJ walked in. “Nicky boy, you’re wanted on set. Playtime is over.” She glanced at Mila. “So, you’re the author?” She rubbed her lips. “Interesting.”
I rose to my feet, the need to protect and shield Mila from MJ tangible. I glared at her. “What are you doing here?”
“We have a conversation to finish.”
I shook my head. “I’m done with you today. I need to concentrate on my scenes.”
She crossed her arms. “I say when we’re done. We can talk tonight since I don’t want to disrupt your acting.” She spat the word as though it left a bad taste in her mouth.
“I’m busy.”
“Doing what?”
Mila stood. “Nicholas kindly agreed to have dinner with me to finish his character discussion. I have another deadline to attend to, so I can’t remain on set to answer any more questions.”
“Is that right?” MJ drawled. “Dinner—how cozy.”
Mila laughed, the sound light. “Hardly cozy with the crew I have around tonight. But I can spare a little time for the star.”
MJ blinked. I hid my smile, reassessing my earlier opinion. Mila could act if needed. At least, I hoped she was acting.
Andi came in, and Mila smiled at her. “I’m almost ready to go.”
Andi and MJ introduced themselves. It was chilly to say the least. They sized each other up and found the other’s deficiencies. Andi was at least cordial. MJ was…well, MJ.
She tossed a script at me. “I want you to read this between takes. You’re up for an audition before you leave for Canada.” She sniffed, her words dripping with derision. “It’s a real film. Meaty and gritty. You are far more suited to that sort of role than fluff.”