Page 97 of One Life to Loathe

“That just came out. I didn’t think it mattered. He won’t say anything.”

“I like him.”

“He’s a good guy.” Leo moved his hands over my back. “You’re going to be feeling other things hurting later. You would’ve braced for the fall and your muscles will be protesting in a few hours.”

“Maybe I can talk you into giving me a massage.”

He kissed my forehead. “I could do that.”

“One of those witch shops on Essex Street has massage oils. I saw them the other day.”

“Were you thinking about rubbing something when you saw them?” he teased.

I decided to play it coy. “Maybe.”

“I’ll pick up a few things when I’m done for the day. I finish one scene before you.” He kept moving his hands, as if he couldn’t stop himself. “Although, I’m not keen on leaving you here to keep filming without me. Maybe we should have Miles end the day early and pick up the other scene tomorrow.”

I immediately started shaking my head. “No. I’m not delicate.”

He pulled back far enough to stare down at my face. “Why is that a bad thing?”

“Because if I get a reputation for being delicate, then even fewer people will want to hire me. It’s like you being difficult. Actually, it’s worse. It makes me look weak, and nobody wants a weak actress on the payroll. Men being difficult is expected sometimes.”

“I guess I never thought about it.” He shifted so he was slouching and could look me in the eye. “Are you sure you’re okay?” He looked so vulnerable when he asked it, I wanted to reverse our positions and coddle him for a bit. That would’ve led to a huge fight, though.

“I’m okay. I’m still going to want that massage, though.”

“Done.” He gave me a soft kiss. “You know I’m going to be watching you like a hawk all night, right?”

“I would expect nothing less.”

He leaned in again, seemingly happy that I wasn’t going to give him a hard time about his mother hen ways, but our moment was interrupted when Bethany appeared in the room. His smile disappeared in an instant. “I don’t want to talk to you.”

“Well, I guess it’s good that I’m not here to talk to you,” Bethany fired back. “I’m here to talk to Sam.”

I tried to sit up so I could discuss whatever was on her mind like an adult, but Leo’s firm grip told me that wasn’t going to happen. Instead, I focused my full attention on her. “What is it?”

“I want to apologize,” she started, her hands gripped together in front of her. “It’s not okay what happened. I never meant to hurt you. I just … Sylvia knows exactly how to get under my skin.”

“I’m pretty sure you already knew that,” I pointed out.

“She just made me so mad.” Bethany’s eyes were stormy. “Like Ed would ever choose her over me.”

I had questions about that entire situation. I wasn’t certain if I wanted to hear the answers, though.

Apparently, Leo didn’t have that problem because he went right for Bethany’s jugular. “Why would you lower yourself to fighting over that guy when you know what he is?”

“Because Sylvia thinks she beat me.”

I rolled my eyes. “Shouldn’t a relationship be about more than winning?”

“Oh, it’s easy for you to say that when you’re snuggled in Leo’s lap like a bug in a rug,” Bethany argued. “I know Ed and I are never going to have that type of relationship.”

“But?” I prodded.

“But…” She dragged out the single word. “But … he’s a nice guy. He’s oddly good in bed.”

“Oh, it’s not about Ed,” Leo challenged. “It’s about beating Sylvia. She’s the queen, and you want to be the queen.”

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