Page 96 of Even Ground

I bring up one of them to call her back, but she beats me to it.

“Sara—”

“Where are you?” she shrieks down the phone.

“Why?”

“You’re supposed to be on the set of the Western Banks commercial.”

Shit.

“I forgot. Sorry. Something important came up.”

“Something or someone?”

I can’t lie to her. She knows me too well.

“Someone, but—”

“Reece Evans, you are way more professional than this. Usually. How quickly can you get to the set?”

I blow out a long breath. “Well, Sara, the thing is … I’m in New Zealand.”

“You’re what?” I think her anger just hit level twenty-five on a scale of one to ten. Smoke is close to pouring out of my phone.

“I’m so sorry. I came here to …” What? Persuade Pania to run away with me? Maybe settle down. What on earth was I thinking flying halfway around the world for a woman who’s never even slept with me?

“I’m waiting, Reece.”

“I think I’m in love.”

There’s silence for what feels like forever before Sara’s laughter roars down the phone. “Who are you, and what have you done with Reece?”

“You’re the second person to ask me that. I’m serious.”

She lets out a big sigh. “What the fuck am I supposed to tell these people? You have a contract.”

Guilt floods my system. I was so preoccupied with tracking down Pania, everything else flew out the window. I’m so screwed.

“I’ll tell them you’re in a coma. Because you will be when I get hold of you.”

I’m such a terrible client. I flirt with Sara, and I’m easily distracted on the job. She makes a lot of money out of me, but she deserves better.

“I don’t know what to say, Sara. I’m so, so, sorry.”

“That’s the first time you’ve ever said that.” She still sounds pissed, but her tone’s a little softer.

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve never run off halfway around the world to screw up, but that’s the first time I’ve got what sounds like an actual apology. You’re good at running from things, Reece. Not so good at saying sorry.”

I fist my free hand. Sara’s hard on me because she has to be.

“I don’t think you mean to be inconsiderate, and I wouldn’t put up with it if you weren’t Reece Evans. But you need to pull yourself together. You’re not a teenage star anymore. You’re a serious Oscar winning actor.”

Shame takes over. If I could dig myself a hole in the ground I would. She’s one hundred per cent right. I’ve always been good at going off on a whim, and not stopping to think about what it means.

And Sara cleans up behind me.

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