Page 22 of Faking It

“When you find out where he is, let me know.”

“Oh, boy. I can’t believe he’s still on thatI’m-not-ready-to-commit train. It’s been a year. Jeez.”

“I don’t know, Tori.” Blowing a raspberry, I drop against the pillows again, resting my heel on the edge on my knee. “Since lately, I’ve been considering calling it quits. It feels like we’re stuck. I don’t want to waste my time with a man who doesn’t want to claim me.”

“Well, you already know how I feel about that. About him. He’s content with dropping in unannounced, free-loading. Yet, he refuses to elevate your career in anyway. If that doesn’t scream fuckboy, I don’t know what will. Cut him loose, Ana. You don’t need that dead weight.”

A soft breath leaves my mouth on a whistle. “I’m going to sleep on it for a bit.”

“Stubborn, as always,” Tori scoffs. “Something tells me you’re going to wait until he breaks your heart. You don’t deserve that.”

I agree, then change the subject, pushing Tori to talk about business. I’m grateful that I’m not her only client because she’d be penniless by now. Why she keeps working for me, I don’t know, but I’m glad she’s still in my corner. I perk up when she mentions another audition in the works, although it doesn’t compare to the huge role I just lost.

“A job is a job, I guess,” I reply somberly. “Especially since I’m now unemployed.”

After spending the next few minutes updating her on what happened with Frank, I hang up, staring at the darkness for what seems like hours. Today was a terrible one. Tomorrow just might be worse, especially with my problems that keep stacking up. On top of that stack is a tall, dark, unpredictable man with the power to control my life.

Chapter 7

Gideon

“You’re making a mistake, Aunt Cheryl,” I mutter as the door closes behind Ana’s defeated exit. “A brilliant performer just walked through that door.”

I turn to face my aunt as she shakes her head. “Brilliant, yes. The right fit, no.”

“What makes her unqualified? Was it our little spat? I assure you, it’s not that serious.”

“It has nothing to do with you desperately trying to jog that poor girl’s memory. I’m concerned about her state of mind. One little argument, and she lost her shit. She literally bolted, or did you miss that part?”

“Yet she came back,” I defend. “Maybe she needed some time to cool down.”

“I don’t need that unstable behavior, especially when I’m running on a tight budget.”

“Tight budget? What do you mean?” I query, puzzled. My aunt is not known to spare expenses on her films. On the upside, it usually results in a huge payoff.

Aunt Cheryl shoots Norman a stare, and he shrugs. She sighs heavily. “Diego’s asking price was unexpected. Very ambitious, I might add. But after getting a sample of the script, I knew its potential, especially if I hired the right cast. So, I paid, but it meant pulling from the other sub-budgets. Going forward, I can’t afford to waste a cent, which means being careful with every choice I make.”

She sits back down and beckons to Jared. “We’re going to need another casting call, Jared.”

“Sure you don’t want to think it through?” Jared asks, his uncertain expression saying that he agrees with how I feel. “That little girl can’t dress to save her life, but she can act. Plus, you can’t deny the spark between her and Gideon.”

I disagree. I felt no sparks during that read.

What I experienced resembled fireworks on the Fourth of July. When our bodies touched, the entire world faded. We weren’t caught in a scene. There was no acting. That chemistry, that connection between us, it was real.

Which is why her following response flabbergasted me so much.

“We’ve already thought it through,” Aunt Cheryl replies, gesturing to Norman and Elliott. “I’m not willing to start over in the middle of filming when our female lead decides to jump ship. What part of tight budget don’t you get?”

“A mini breakdown proves nothing. She came right back,” I repeat firmly.

My aunt’s eyes narrow at me. “What exactly happened six years ago? You sound like a man who’s whipped.”

“I’m only trying to make you see reason,” I reply, deliberately sidestepping that question. “You’re making a mistake.”

“And you’re about to make one if you keep talking. I hired you as a favor to my brother. Don’t think for a moment that I can’t change my mind.”

I purse my lips, biting back a retort.

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