Page 221 of My Five Daddies

“Don’t fuck with me,” I say to her. “Get your shit together and do yourjob.”

She just shakes her head, turns, and quickly walks away. I stare at her as she recedes and disappears into the trailers before I curl up on the ground, my back against the suitcase, and Icry.

I’m so stupid. I kept it together for so long, but now I just screwed myself. I’m going to lose my job and I’ve already lost Jackson for a second time. I don’t know what I’m going todo.

This is the lowest moment of my life. I hate Jackson for disappearing on me again and I hate myself for being so weak to let it happen. Now I just slapped Holly in the face, and while that felt freaking awesome, I really shouldn’t have doneit.

After a quick cry, I finish my meal, and I get my shit together. I might as well be ready to go when she gets me thrown off theset.

But Lionel calls everyone back to action, and I don’t hear a peep from Holly. The rest of the day passes and I’m just waiting for the axe to fall, but it neverdoes.

Holly doesn’t look at me. She doesn’t acknowledge me. In fact, it feels like she’s a little afraid of me. And I don’t get fired, which seems like a damnmiracle.

When the day finally ends, I’m starting to feel like maybe Holly isn’t going to get me thrown off this movie. Maybe everything is going to be okay, or at least I’ll dodge one moredisaster.

I lock the script up and get my things to head home. I’m not looking forward to sitting on the couch and moping all night again, but I don’t know what else to do. Maybe I’ll go out somewhere, try and forget about allthis.

As I pass back through the trailers, I hear someone call my name. I look up and spot Holly waving atme.

My stomach fucking sinks. I hesitate a second, and I think I might just run away. I think I might just get the hell out of there and never look back. Maybe I can disappear like Jacksondid.

Instead, I start walking toward my fate. I’m going to face it, whatever it maybe.

“What’s up?” I ask her, knowing full well what’shappening.

But she doesn’t seem angry. “Come in here,” she says. “Someone wants to seeyou.”

She steps back into the development trailer. There’s a little conference room in there, so I have to figure that she called in Human Resources or something, and I’m about to getfired.

I follow her inside, taking a deep breath. No more running. No morehiding.

I’m facing what’snext.

29

Jackson

The plane lands,and although I’m exhausted, I can’t stopsmiling.

I turn my phone on and find a ton of messages. I guess people were pretty pissed when I left, but I didn’t expect to be gone for that long. I figured I’d fly out to Cancun, meet with Harold, convince him to back this film, and fly back. But instead, he was fucking stubborn, and it took me longer than Iwanted.

I frown at the calls from Tara. She must have been pretty upset. I call her back, but this time her phone goes to voicemail, which makes sense. They have to turn their phones off and store them during filming to fight againstleaks.

I get off the plane, grab a taxi, and head toward the set. I check my watch and it’s close to the end of the day, so they should be shutting down filming soon. I bet Lionel and the whole crew are pissed as hell about all this, but I know it’ll beokay.

I get to set and head inside. A few of the crew guys seem surprised to see me, but that’s okay. They probably thought I was dead orsomething.

“So you’reback.”

I turn around and spot Holly standing by a vending machine. She crosses her arms and walks towardme.

I’m surprised but I’m actually happy to see her. “I’m back,” I say to her. “Is everyonemad?”

She shrugs. “Pretty much. Your girlfriend slapped me in theface.”

“Tara?” Iask.

“That’s right. Went nuts for no reason.” She grins. “I kind of likeher.”

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