Page 87 of Even Ground

She drops her gaze, and I take her hands in mine. “You know we make better friends than anything else. And it’s still not me you really want.”

Jessie takes a deep breath. “I just never got why he didn’t see me.”

I drop her hands and reach for her chin, raising her gaze to mine. “Someday you’ll find someone who does see you. You’re so much more than you think you are. I always knew that.”

She bats my hand away, a wry smile on her lips. “Stop it.”

“You’re a good person, Jess. You just let that inner bitch out way too often.”

Jessie laughs and pushes herself to her feet. “Probably. Want to go and get coffee?”

“That I can do.”

I tuck my phone into my jacket pocket and follow her, away from the trailers and across the set to the catering trucks.

Picnic tables are laid out for people to eat at, and we find an empty one with our coffees in hand.

Jess traces patterns on her cup and sips at it occasionally. I know her well enough to know what’s still on her mind.

“You could just bite the bullet and apologise, then this stops being an issue. They’ve been married for two years.” I take a sip of my coffee.

She stares at her cup. “I know. Every time I think about doing it, I just feel embarrassed about the way I behaved.”

“You’re still bitching about Delaney, though.”

She fixes her green eyes on me. “It makes me feel better about what I did.”

Reaching across the table, I put my hand on hers. “Seriously, spend some time focusing on yourself instead of other people. You’ll be happier for it.”

Jessie wrinkles her nose. “Is this the new Reece philosophy?”

“I feel settled. Like I finally really know what I want from life, and I just have to work out how to get it. Instead of that haphazard mess that has been my life so far.”

Her brows knit. “Who are you and what have you done with Reece?”

I laugh. “You should try it. My life’s so much better for it.”

She squints as if examining me closer. “I’m serious. You always seemed happy with your life.”

“I was.” I take another drink of coffee—longer this time to think first before I say it. “I didn’t realise how empty it was. Travelling from place to place, never putting down any roots. I’m still working out who I am, but I’m much happier for it.”

A couple of extras greet us as they sit at the other end of the bench.

“We should go for a walk to finish this off,” Jess says.

“I was on my way to my trailer before you derailed me. I have scenes to shoot later today.”

“I’ll escort you back.” The smug smile on her face says it all. She might not have a big part in this movie, but she’s going to make sure people are aware she’s good friends with one of the leads. I know her a little too well.

I supress an eyeroll and stand, stepping out of the seat and waiting for her to pull up to my side.

We sip our coffee as we make our way toward the trailers, and when we reach my door, I drop my cup into the bin beside the trailer. Jessie follows suit.

“Delivered to your door.”

“Thank you.”

She sucks on her bottom lip. “I’ll think about what you’ve said. I’ve been trying really hard not to obsess over everything, but maybe I need to find a hobby.”

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