Page 26 of Steamy on Set

“I know.” He leans forward until his forearms are resting on his knees. “But even if you did, that is not the way to address it. I am really, really sorry Farrah.” He puts emphasis on eachreally, as his eyes widen with Disney-character innocence. Waiting for me to do what I want with the words, he lays his palms open as if offering the apology on a platter.

With the fury no longer burning in my gut, it’s easy to look at the evening through clearer eyes. While he was wrong, Mira also misled him, leaving us in an awkward position.

“Okay.” I exhale the last of my fight. “It’s fine.”

His dimples make an appearance.

“Just fine?”

I nod my head, looking up through my lashes.

“It will take a little time for me to forgive you, but I can forgive you for this.” The gift definitely helps.

He smiles wider and stands, his arms opening up. For a minute, I think he is looking for a hug, before he stretches a little more and brings them down to his sides.

“I hope this can be a new beginning for us,” he says.

Can it? Are we capable of starting over? While we have come to terms about that night, we have weeks of bickering still painted over our opinions of each other. How do we wipe that clean?

“Can I ask you a question?” I stand too, not liking the feeling of him hovering over me.

“Sure.” Stepping closer, he looks into my eyes, his face open.

“Why were you so rude that first day? I get why we fought so much after that, but I didn’t do anything to you at first.”

If we are going to have a new beginning, then I need to know what went so wrong with our first one.

His lips purse like the taste of my word’s don’t sit well on his tongue. When I start to think he won’t answer, he levels me with a look full of resignation.

“I was really nervous that day, and in a bad mood. I had just found out that I got passed over for another director on a project I helped write. I think I was looking to pick a fight with the first person I saw, and that happened to be you.”

“So it wasn’t personal?”

“Not entirely, but there was also a part of me that was jealous.”

My eyes widen as my mouth falls open.

“Why?”

He shrugs like he is unwilling to share, before releasing a heavy sigh.

“Standing alone in a coffee room, you still had such a presence about you. It was clear that you were worth noticing, and I wasn’t sure if I was. In a few minutes, I was expected to step in front of everyone and instill faith in them, and I didn’t know if I could do it.”

His raw and honest answer is more than I expected I would get. I respect the fact that he is laying his insecurity out there for me to examine.

I nod, accepting that he is as flawed as he is beautiful.

“I’m sorry, though. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you, and then continued the back-and-forth after I didn’t get the reaction I wanted. I was really shitty to you, and I let my own ego and pride stop me from apologizing before now.”

He looks like he means it, and I’m grateful for finally getting a full explanation. Truthfully, I owe him one as well, but I hope mine will suffice since I’m the worst at admitting when I’m wrong.

“I’m sorry, too. I have been going through something these past few months, and I let the emotions from that fuel me on. You may have started it, but I had no problem continuing.”

He seems satisfied enough, giving me his wide smile.

“So are we good?” he asks.

“Yes, we can start over.”

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