Page 107 of One Life to Loathe

“Ha, ha.”

Dexter tilted his head to the side. “Aw,” he cooed, earning a death glare from Leo. “You guys are so cute it makes me want to puke.”

“Knock it off,” Leo warned. “Why does Miles want to see me?”

“I have no idea. He seems frazzled.”

“It’s because Bethany and Sylvia are rehearsing to be extras on the set ofThe Exorcist.”

“They are evil,” Dexter agreed. “I think that one of them is going to be killed off in the finale.”

“I’ve read the finale script,” I argued. “They both survive.”

“That was before they started being idiots,” Dexter replied. “I heard the writer is coming to rework the finale.”

That was news to me. “Just because they’re fighting over Ed?”

“I’m not sure.”

Leo let loose a drawn-out sigh. “I don’t want to get up. I was having a perfectly good time before you showed up and ruined things.”

“Sorry.” Dexter didn’t look sorry. “I figured you would want to know so you could get it out of the way.”

“I do want to get it out of the way,” he agreed. He kissed my cheek again before giving me a light pat. “I’m going to push you up.”

I braced myself and sucked in my gut until I was back on my feet.

“I’m going to see what Miles wants,” he said. “He’d better not think he’s making me stay late tonight. We have plans for dinner.”

“Before you get worked up, just see what it is,” I countered. “Miles is genuinely interested in making sure we’re as happy as possible on the set. It could be something minor.”

“That’s not normally how luck works for me.” He rested his hand on top of my hair, making sure not to push it back or mess with my makeup. “We have one scene left. Then we can get out of here. I’m going to make sure that sticks.”

Before he could lean in for a kiss, Miles entered the room. He had a binder in his hand, seemed distracted, and only briefly glanced at us before he did a double take.

“There you are, Leo.” His tone was brisk when he headed in our direction. “I just heard the news. I would’ve appreciated a heads-up about it before it broke, but we’re bringing in the writers to deal with the other situation anyway, so we can rewrite the finale to handle your situation as well.”

Confusion washed over me. “What situation?” When I looked at Leo, all of the color had washed from his face. That’s when I knew. “Oh.”

“Miles, I haven’t made any decisions on that front,” Leo said hurriedly. “I just … I…” He looked helpless when his gaze moved to me. “Sam.” That was all he said. Just my name.

Without realizing I was going to do it, I put a bit of space between us. “You got the part.”

“Yeah.” He didn’t look happy about it.

“When did you find out? I only ask because we could’ve celebrated.” That wasn’t why I was asking. I needed to know, though.

Leo looked miserable. “I found out the day you were hurt.”

That was three days ago. He’d been withholding that information from me for three full days. “I see.”

“I didn’t know what to say,” he explained. “I didn’t even know how I felt. That part was all I wanted for months. I prepared for that audition hardcore. And yet when I got the news…” He trailed off and dragged his hand through his hair.

He didn’t want to hurt me. That much was obvious. That’s why he’d kept the news to himself. Did he think it wouldsomehow be easier if he announced the day before he was leaving that it was over? That was the part I couldn’t wrap my head around.

“I wish you would’ve told me,” I said in a low voice.

“Me, too.” Miles didn’t look happy. “If I knew you were going to take this role just so you could abandon it, I would’ve hired somebody else. What’s done is done, though.” He held up his hand to silence Leo. “I’ll figure out a way to kill your character off, and then we’ll have to bring somebody else in.” He shot me an apologetic look. “We’ll figure it out, Sam. We’ll come up with a great character and give you a terrific arc.”

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