Page 70 of Even Ground

He fixes his gaze on me. “Whatever you were thinking about when your eyes were closed, it was perfect.”

I’m simultaneously proud and embarrassed.

“Just thinking about how good I wanted the scene to be.”

Liar.

“Well, it was great. That’s it for the day, folks.”

“Thanks, Daniel.”

Gabby wraps her robe, tighter, around herself as we watch him walk away.

I wait until he’s nearly out of sight before saying, “Gabby, I am so, so sorry.”

She turns and smiles, but her brows are knitted together as she dips her head, closer to me. “It’s fine.”

“No, it’s not.” I look around to see if anyone can hear us. “I’m not that guy. I don’t do that.” I walk away before she can say anything else.

I’m so disappointed in my own behaviour. Nothing like this has ever happened to me. Sure, I’ve dated a lot of women, but I’ve never let my work life and my personal life intersect like that.

Ignoring anyone else, I head into my trailer and close the door.

My heart races. I’ve never been this rattled.

I need to pull myself together.

I need to apologise to Gabby again.

What the hell am I doing?

Pania has me all tied up in knots and I barely know the woman. Maybe it’s because she’s so down to earth and would never let my ego get away from me. Lord knows I’ve let that happen often enough.

I sit down and rub my face with my hands.

Being in here is stifling.

There’s no more filming today, so I get up and grab a cold can of Coke from the fridge. Taking a sip, I open the trailer door.

Sitting on the doorstep, my shoulders slump as I cool down and relax.

“Reece? Are you okay?”

Gabby’s still in her bathrobe, but now she’s wearing a shirt underneath it. I feel self-conscious sitting in my boxers and robe, but I don’t move.

She sits on the step beside me.

I drain the can, crushing it and throwing it at a nearby bin. “No.”

“You heard Daniel. That scene was great. We don’t have another one like it.”

“Thank God.” I slam my head back on my trailer door. “I’m really, really sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”

She swipes at the air. “Don’t worry about it. It’s not the first time that’s happened, and it won’t be the last. There was so much padding between us, the only reason I knew was the look on your face.”

“It’s just so unprofessional. I’ve never had that happen before. It wasn’t you. I swear.”

Gabby laughs. “Well, that’s good for a girl’s ego.”

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