Page 12 of A Little Bit Extra

“Why are you here and not at my trailer?” I try to change the subject.

Max raises his eyebrows. He moves around me to throw the muffin liner in the trash. We walk together toward the doors to the outside.

“I was on my way and saw you chatting with Cassie. Figured I’d eavesdrop,” he says with a shrug. He’s honest. I’ll give him that.

I give him a pointed look as I hold open the door for him. “I just invited her over tonight and she said yes. Didn’t Tyler text you about our plans?”

“Yeah, he did. I’m curious about you and Cassie, though, but we can save this discussion until we get to the trailer. Lane is also texting our group chat about it. So, you have some explaining to do.”

We reach the stairs to the trailer and I see Lane walking over from the cafeteria. Perfect timing.

“Well, you all are going to be disappointed because there isn’t much to explain,” I say.

“Did you ask him?” Lane asks Max.

Max nods.

We all step into the trailer to find Tyler where I left him, on the couch, watching some vampire show.

“What did she say?” Tyler asks, eyes remaining on the TV.

I shake my head and sigh. “You all are going to be the death of me, I swear.”

Tyler pauses his show, now giving us his full attention. I swear that guy would stay in my trailer all day and get no work done if he could. “So she said…?” He directs his gaze to me, waiting for an answer.

“She said yes, okay? Damn.” I walk into the kitchen, grab a snack, and prepare myself for more questions.

“Sooooo,” Lane says. “Cassie is nice.”

I glare at him.

“I hope you weren’t this grumpy when you were with her earlier,” Max says.

“Don’t you all have anything better to do?” I ask. I make my way over to the couch and sit next to Tyler. Max and Lane are sitting at the barstools in the kitchen, facing toward the living room.

“Nope,” they say unanimously. And because of that, they start laughing. All I can do is laugh with them before I explain what happened.

“I met Cassie last night. I went with Marcy to the diner and Cassie was working there. She was our server.”

Tyler starts to interrupt, but I glare in his direction as I talk over him. “No, I didn’t know they hired her. I saw her today while I was on set. I had to film a scene twice because she distracted me.” Those damn beautiful blue eyes.

“Anyway,” I continue, “Marcy had me give her a tour of my trailer. She ended up staying over for an hour, and that’s it. You all better not be weird tonight.” I look around the room and make eye contact with each of them.

“Shit, Em. I think this is the only time you’ve been obsessed with a girl,” Lane says.

“And you’ve only known her for a day!” Max says.

“Less than a day!” Tyler chimes in.

They all nod and laugh. Why are these guys my friends again?

“I hate you all.” I join in on their laughter. “But for real, I just want to hang out with her tonight and you’re all just there as buffers. Okay?”

“We met her earlier. She’s cool,” Max says. “We ate a snack together. Her, Marce, Lane, Tyler, and myself.”

I wonder if her meeting them earlier and me letting her know they will be at the apartment later added to the reasons she said yes. Does she feel the pull between us like I do? Lane is right. I never obsess over a girl. It’s always the other way around.

I’m not concerned about settling down yet. I’m only 29. I still have time to figure my shit out. When the right girl comes along, that’s when I’ll face my demons. Maybe I’ll have the strength to stand up to my parents, especially my dad. What I wouldn’t give to tell him I don’t want to act anymore and follow in his footsteps. This was never a dream I wanted to chase. I never wanted this.

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