Page 36 of One Life to Loathe

Her cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink. “Did you seriously look up my episode?” She appeared to be stunned … and maybe a little touched. How weird was that?

I shrugged. “It was either that or look up Ed’s old western, and I’m allergic to spurs.”

She laughed, the sound making my insides clench. What was it about her when she laughed? She made things better just by smiling … and being. It was such an odd gift to possess. “He’s a real laugh a minute, huh? I really don’t know what I’m going to do if he touches me.”

I knew what she was going to do. “You’re going to get me, and I’m going to handle it.”

Her head cocked. “I’m going to do what now?”

“You’re going to tell me, and I’m going to handle it,” I repeated. I wasn’t going to let her put up with a leech like Ed putting his hands on her just because she didn’t want to rock the boat. She was the type who wouldn’t say anything, and then cry into her pillow at night. “He doesn’t get to touch you when you don’t want to be touched.”

The server picked that moment to deliver our breakfasts, something I was grateful for because I didn’t want to watch the myriad of emotions sweeping over her face.

“It’s nothing to be thankful for either,” I said as I dipped my dry toast in the egg yolk. “That’s common decency. Something he is in short supply of.”

“But … don’t you think I should fight my own battles?” she asked finally.

“If you want, but I don’t think you’re going to do that.” I opted for honesty. “Sam, you’re not going to say anything because he’s a known quantity and you feel you’re not. You’ll do anything to make this show work. Anything. That should not include putting up with being sexually harassed.”

“Are you going to do the same for the others on the set?”

That was a question I didn’t want to answer. It wasn’t as if I was the sort of guy who would sit back and watch a woman be abused. I’d only become aware of the current problem because she was likely to get caught up in it, though.

“Sylvia can handle herself,” I replied. “She would take it as an insult if I stepped in on her behalf. Besides, she’ll make Ed’s life miserable in her own way. That’s what she does.”

“So, just me?” Sam pressed.

Just you.I couldn’t exactly admit that to her, though. “I already said something to Ed. I told him to keep his hands to himself. That includes the production team and the actors.”

“Oh.” She let loose a little breath. Almost as if she was deflating. Why would she be deflating? Was she disappointed? “That’s really nice of you.” She delivered her response with sincerity. “I’m hopeful that once people like Ed die, the newer actors coming up won’t be as creepy. I won’t get to enjoy it, but others will.”

I scowled. “Stop being such a downer.”That’s rich, asshole, coming from you.When have you ever been anything but a pessimist?“This is going to work out. You’re going to get everything you ever wanted.”

“How can you be so certain?”

I didn’t have to stretch for an answer. “Karma. You have some good karma coming your way. I can tell.”

Her smile was back, and it was worth the pain of this conversation just to see it for a few seconds. “You really should stop hiding behind that wall of asshole you’ve erected. Deep down, you’re a good guy.”

“I’m not.”

“I wouldn’t be friends with you if you weren’t,” she challenged.

And there it was.Friends. We were going to push this friends bit until it was actually true. “I’ll have to take your word for it.”

ONCE SHE WAS FINISHED WITH HER BREAKFAST,she bounced off to hit hair and makeup. She would take twice as long to get ready as me. That was another reason it was better to be a man in this business.

As soon as she was gone, Dexter sat down in the seat she’d vacated.

“So, what’s going on with you and Sam?” he asked, his eyebrows doing a little dance.

I didn’t smile. “We were talking about our scenes today.”

“No, you weren’t,” he scoffed. “You were talking about hopes, feelings, and how great she’s going to be in her role. I heard you.”

“Sheisgoing to be great in her role,” I argued.

“Okay, but when have you ever actually taken the time to tell somebody that?”

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