Page 59 of One Life to Loathe

“I thought you wanted to be an actress more than anything else.”

I lifted one shoulder. “I did. I want other things too, though. I want a family … and a home. I can’t have those things in LA. I just know it.”

“So, what will you do if you’re not acting?”

That was a very good question. “I don’t know, but I like it here.” I smiled at her. “Maybe my place is here whether the show is a hit or not.”

“I would love it if you stayed,” Daisy said. “You fit right in. It’s just … I think you’re selling Leo short. Deep down, he is the guy for you.”

“I’m not the one selling Leo short,” I countered. “He is. Until he realizes it and wants to change, there’s absolutely nothing I can do for him.”

Daisy opened her mouth to argue, then snapped it shut. “It sounds as if you have it all figured out.”

“Yes, and Leo doesn’t. That’s the point.” I took another sip of my coffee. “Hit or not, this is it for me in Hollywood. I’m okay with that. Leo won’t be okay until he realizes that it’s okay to want something different. He’s nowhere near that point.”

Daisy nodded. “Well, that seems like a very healthy attitude.”

“Then why does it look like you’re already plotting?” I challenged.

“Because this is nowhere near over. You might think it is, but it’s not.”

“I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”

“I guess we will,” she agreed.

“OKAY, GUYS, THIS DOESN’T SEEM TObe working.”

Miles looked frustrated as his gaze moved between Leo and me. We were back in the warehouse, but on another set. We were supposed to be electrifying the audience, but the power was seemingly out on our chemistry.

We were afraid to touch one another. I knew why. So did Leo. Miles, however, was completely oblivious. Bless his distracted heart.

“You can’t come close to touching each other,” Miles complained. “You actually have to touch each other.”

Leo looked pained. “Do you want me to feel her up while I’m at it?” he asked derisively.

Miles’s expression was bland. “If you feel that will help. Take five. Talk to each other.” He waved his hand dismissively. “Figure it out.”

Leo glared in his wake while I planted my hands on my hips and turned to the set. It was a simple parlor. It was supposed to be in Leo’s house. It was the first time I’d seen where he lived, and I was supposed to be in awe … and suspicious. The set was dark, Gothic, and romantic. Everything Leo and I were throwing at one another today was the opposite, though.

“We’re screwing this up,” I said to him in a low voice.

“Yeah.” He looked around to see if anybody was listening—nobody was—and briefly closed his eyes. “I knew this was a mistake.”

I did my best not to take the words to heart. “Yes, well, it’s done. We can’t complain now because we don’t like the repercussions.”

“Did you just meet me? I can complain about anything.”

That nudged a smile out of me. “We have to get through this.” I was adamant. “We’ll just have to pretend that we didn’t do what we did.”

“Oh, well, we’ll just pretend.” He threw his hands in the air. “If we could do that, we already would’ve done it.”

“We have to try harder.”

“Sam, you can’t just will something into happening.”

“I don’t believe that.” I couldn’t. “Just please try. Not for me or anything, but for yourself.”

He searched my face, seemingly helpless to tell me no. “Fine. We have to touch one another, though. We can’t keep avoiding it.”

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