Page 4 of Hot Set

I finished my cider and shook my head.

“But hey,” Brandon replied, “If you want to hang out or do something, hit me up. Non-romantically, don’t worry. I can take a hint.”

He flipped his business card over and grinned. I took the card and placed it in my wallet. “I might take you up on it,” I said. “I haven’t been in Bluehaven since I was eighteen. Five years"

“Definitely take me up on it,” Brandon said. “I’ll take you to see the set where I’m filming! It’s pretty cool. I think so, at least.”

“I’m sure it is,” I replied.

“Well, anyway,” Brandon said. “I can leave you to your—uh—lady-searching. Best of luck.”

He said it as if he genuinely wanted me to have good luck with it, too. There wasn’t even a hint of bitterness or rejection in his voice, and that was admirable at the very least. The woman with the green hair and her friend had already moved on, though.

Chapter two

Alex

Brandon wasn’t filming most of his project in Bluehaven proper. Instead, he’d set up his movie set in a warehouse close enough to the Atlantic to hear the roar of the ocean but too far away to actually see it. For a long time, I sat in my car and thought about turning back and going home, for multiple reasons.

Firstly, I didn’t really know Brandon. What if he was—I don’t know—a human trafficker or something? Hehadinvited me to what appeared to be a fairly isolated location, after all.

Secondly, if Brandonwasmaking a movie, that meant there were going to be a lot of people there, and the thought of having totalkto people I didn’t know, put my stomach in knots. What if these people didn’t like me? What if I said something that I shouldn’t? What if Brandon had downplayed his own film, and it was some sort of rich, avant-garde kind of thing? What if all these people thought I was just some—I don’t know—low class invader or something?

But at the same time, I missed the theater. When was the last time I walked behind stage? When was the last time I saw a costuming department or stage make-up? Obviously, it had been college, and I was—maybe—a bit excited about seeing a proper film set. The drama department was horribly underfunded.

I leaned my forehead against the steering wheel and only reluctantly raised it. Rationally, I knew that I was being a bit foolish. Brandon was more than likely just a decent guy who had decided to be nice. But God, I couldn’t help but think the worst of him.

After parking my car on the side of the road, I texted Brandon, so he would know I’d arrived. Then, I glanced at my reflection in the rearview mirror. I pursed my lips together and ran my fingers once more through my hair. Absolutely nothing about my hair changed. It was as straight and fine as always.

My phone buzzed. I picked it up and opened my texts.

Great! Coming out.

I climbed out of my car and stowed my phone in its usual place in my back pocket. Several other people had parked on the street and in a nearby lot. I wondered how many of them were working on Brandon’s movie. There didn’t seem to be much going on.

Soon, Brandon walked out and waved at me. “Hey, Alex!”

“Hey!” I replied.

Brandon grinned. “I hope it wasn’t too hard to find,” he said. “I know the first time I tried to find this place, I got sentwayout of way.”

“It wasn’t too bad,” I replied. “Thank you for your concern, though. That’s really nice of you.”

“No problem,” Brandon said.

Brandon had an easy grin, and although I felt like this was an incredibly awkward moment, Brandon seemed completely unaffected.

“Anyway, come in! It’s really exciting inside! That’s where the magic happens!”

I smiled, despite my misgivings. Brandon’s enthusiasm was so effortlessly infectious. I fell into step beside him, as we headed to the nearby warehouse.

“So why out here?” I asked.

“I like the space,” Brandon replied, shrugging, “And I wanted some place that was close to BluehavenandNew York City. I have some artsy friends that live in Bluehaven, and Ibeggedthem to come help me out with this. Thankfully, they agreed.”

“Artsy friends?” I asked.

I hadn’t really known many artsy people down at Southern Miss. The art history program hadn’t been massive, and while the drama department was significantly larger, I had been working within the small niche of theatrical make-up. Brandon was sure to know more than a few make-up artists. This might be a good opportunity to meet people who liked the same things as me! Maybe Mom had been right. I had just needed to get out more.

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