Page 30 of Lost Love Found

“First of all, that’s an incredibly specific Olympic sport and we clearly know way too much about each other.” I’ve moved my hands back to my lap, but I can feel my face is flushed. “Second of all, yes. That’s exactly what I’m saying.” My knee is bouncing like crazy and I'm shoving enough nachos into my mouth to make sure nothing stupid comes out of it for at least another few minutes.

“Called it. You’re so into him. What are you going to do about it?” She keeps casually eating. Again, it’s like she doesn’t get how huge this is. How insane this is. How not OK with it all I am. “And you can stop freaking out. I know this is a big deal for you and that overactive brain of yours, but this is what us mortals go through when we have a crush, Bon.”

“I’m going to do nothing about it. I have to get over it. End of fucking story. Remember when he told his best friend that we’re just friends? Yeah. That’s all I need to move on.” And I know I can do it. This is just a silly crush, nothing else. And I’d know what to do about it if I’d been someone who had any crushes in the last decade, but I haven’t. Not really. Not since Andy.

“I have a brilliant idea. Come to the set tomorrow. River’s supposed to be doing a scene where a bunch of women hit on him. I’m only in it for a minute and I’m not one of them, so it won’t be weird. See how you react to that?” It would be sort of like exposure therapy. I’ll surely get over this whole stupid thing after seeing a bunch of girls fawning over him.

“Hmm. OK. What time should I be there?” She nearly chokes on her chip, eyes all bugged out of their sockets.

“What? You’ll do it? I was half-joking, you know?” She takes a big gulp of her drink and I feel a little bad for catching her off guard.

“Yeah. I think you’re right. Seeing him surrounded by women who will probably hit on him in real life might do the trick, especially if he flirts back. And he might.” I feel a little sick thinking about that scenario, so I may just make sure I don’t eat anything tomorrow in case I get barfy.

“OK, Bon. Just come with me in the morning then. I’m sure it’ll be no issue having you there. You can be my assistant for the day.” She winks at me as I plot what I’ll wear tomorrow.

* * *

“It’s too early for this, Mae.” I’m in the backseat of the town car and she’s trying to put mascara on me. “And I’ve already had eye surgery. I don’t need another. You’re literally going to poke out my eyeballs with that thing!”

“Then either stay still or do it yourself. Just some mascara and lip gloss, OK?” I know she means well. She wants me to feel good when I see Adam today, who has still yet to text or call. But I’m doing my best to be cool about it. He’s had a lot of late nights on set.

“Hand it over. I’d like to not go blind today!” I put on some of the mascara and the lip gloss, which I know will come right off as I sip my coffee. Makeup just has never been my thing, and I’m fine with that.

Maeve is off to hair and makeup almost as soon as we get there and I end up having to fill out a bunch of paperwork just so I can be on set today. What a pain. Try as I might, I don’t see Adam, but then again, the actual shooting location is not that close to where the trailers are.

Hours go by and I have a chat with the director, who is a colleague. That makes getting onto the set far easier than all the paperwork! It’s been a couple of years since I’ve worked with Mitch, but he’s just as funny as I remembered. He’s in his mid-thirties and has curly brown hair, which is kind of adorable on him. It sticks out of his baseball cap charmingly and he looks more like a college student than an accomplished director. He’s only slightly taller than me and definitely seems to be on the other side of his divorce, which he was in the thick of when I was the production designer in his last film.

When it’s time for lunch, I find an empty table and make small talk with some of the crew. I don’t end up eating anything because I have no appetite, but it’s nice being in this kind of environment with none of the pressure to be working. Maeve and Adam are off somewhere so I sit with Mitch, who is definitely probably flirting with me. Huh… isn’t that something? Maybe Maeve was right about me coming today. Having a guy flirt with me could be a great way to not think about you-know-who whom I am most definitely not thinking about right now.

Mitch doesn’t stay for long, saying they have to get to the next scene right away. He said a few changes had to be made and they’re shooting an alternate scene today. When I asked if I could come, he didn’t hesitate, so I’m tagging along, hoping I’ll get to see either Adam or Maeve.

Maeve and Adam both walk on set, laughing and talking casually. They can't see me because I'm too far away. I had grabbed a baseball cap from my bag to hide my hair. I take a few uncertain steps into the film set and immediately notice it’s a bar, with its cozy booths and shelves filled with liquor bottles. I hear the melodic laughter of actors and actresses as they greet each other.

It all seems innocent enough until the scene begins and I lock my eyes on him. The guy who has been giving me a lady boner. He has his arm around a Victoria’s Secret model, their lips inches apart. Maeve's character is watching from the other end of the bar, her face scrunched up into an expression of jealous rage. Before I know it, he’s kissing another actress, and then another. Every new lip-lock makes my heart squeeze a little tighter in my chest.

Adam and the women are locked in a passionate embrace. His hands rove over one of the woman's curves and then her breast spills out of her top. I gasp in surprise and begin to cough uncontrollably, which earns me angry glares from the surrounding crew. I want to look away, but my eyes are glued to the spectacle and my brain is jumbled up with confusion, jealousy, and a hint of arousal. My lady bits equally confused. I can't help but imagine it's me standing there with Adam, instead of those beautiful women.

I need to get away from the chaos, so I tip-toe out of the door, trying my best not to draw unwanted attention. The cold air is a welcome embrace, and I close my eyes for a few seconds, savoring the calm. When I open them, I silently make my way back towards the building in search of the security guard, intent on finding out if the “sexy shit” has been wrapped up yet. Just as I'm about to ask her for help, the door bursts open, and Adam comes barreling out with such force that he sends me tumbling backwards.

“Oww. Well, that’s gonna bruise.” I grab my arm where it's been hit by his elbow and wince in pain.

“Oh no. I’m so sorry. Are you—" He stops when he sees it's me, eyes wide with surprise.

“Hey, River.” At least I have enough sense to use his stage name. His face moves from concern to surprise to panic. He holds my eyes for several long beats. Long enough that the security guard surely suspects I'm some kind of intruder.

“Lainey. What are you — when did you — were you in there?” His blue eyes look over my whole face. “Did I hurt you?” He doesn’t wait for me to answer and takes me by the elbow, walking away from the door, away from other people.

“Uh. Maeve invited me. I came with her. And yes, I was. Earlier. And also yes, probably, but I bruise easily, so it’s not really your fault.” I can feel my eyebrows twitching, my mouth puckering, and my lips quivering. I try my best to repress the emotional chaos that's playing out on my face, but I know there’s no hiding it.

The air between us feels thick, electric with anticipation,but I'm too busy focusing on the fact that Adam and I haven't hugged - something we've done without fail every time we meet up. Suddenly, the door of the building bangs open and everyone that had been inside comes streaming out, laughing and talking. Maeve skips over to us with a bright smile.

“We’re finished for the weekend and going for drinks. Come with us, Bon! River, will you come too?” She looks up at Adam with hopeful eyes, but he appears to be ready to decline her invitation when Mitch speaks up.

“Hey, gorgeous. You’re coming for drinks, yeah? I’ll save you a seat next to me.” He winks at me playfully, completely unaware of the murderous glare Adam is sending him. I have to bite back a smile; poor Mitch is so oblivious.

“Yeah.”

“Yes.”

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