Page 77 of Steamy on Set

In typical Monty fashion, she has made friends with all the people she has come in contact with. They praise her while watching as she takes the music into her soul and produces art with her limbs. I also watch, waiting for a break in the upbeat songs to pull her to the side. When one comes, she finds me right away after pushing through the crowd of people coming to compliment her.

“Hey,” I wrap her in a half hug. “That was epic.”

She smiles back at me, looking like she is having the time of her life.

“Well, I figured if people here know someone in need of a dancer, maybe they will think of me the next time it comes up. I have handed out some cards.”

Always a hustler, she’s turning this party into an opportunity. She is doing a much better job at making these people like her than I ever did.

As we stand here, more people come up to talk to her, speaking like they are longtime friends. She dazzles them all with funny audition stories and hot takes on the people she has met. They eat her up. Some of them acknowledge me too, most seem fine to keep their attention on her. The whole time I’m too busy searching the room for Errol. When the crowd disperses a little, and it’s just the two of us left, she turns and looks at me.

“Are you having fun?” She asks, clocking my mood.

If I were thinking about something other than him, maybe I would be having a good time. But every minute that passes where I don’t see him, the urgency grows.

“I just need to talk to Errol.”

“Come with me to get a drink, it will calm you down a little.”

We head back into the kitchen to the spread of alcohol displayed on the table. The open pop calls my name, so I pour some into a cup. I agreed to be the designated driver, so Monty grabs some alcoholic punch and eases against the counter, looking me over.

“Stop worrying. It doesn’t even seem like anyone is talking about you two. Maybe Mira changed her mind and didn’t tell anyone.”

Mira is not in the business of doing me any favors, especially when she probably feels like I started dating him to spite her. I doubt she kept this to herself when it gives her the opportunity to ruin my life a little.

“She hates me. She recently made that very clear, so I doubt she will be doing anything nice for me.”

Monty shakes her head, her braids moving with her. Taking a sip of the sugary drink, I let it ease my tension a little.

“I don’t know, but I haven’t seen her here either, so maybe you are right,” I say.

Monty downs her drink, then grabs another one.

“Look, either way, this party is to celebrate the fact that you guys made a movie. Be happy Farrah, you did something incredible. You stepped outside of your comfort zone and moved into a new role in life. You have earned a good night.”

She is right. I should be enjoying myself. I should take the time to praise the fact that I am officially an actress. But it won’t matter if I lose him in the end of this. That thought shoots through my mind, making me feel light-headed. I put down the pop and look to Monty again.

“I’m just going to find him, and then I’ll celebrate.”

With only a few places left to check, I head for the backyard. People gather around his fire pit drinking and laughing, but I don’t see him among them. The bathroom off the living room isempty, eliminating that option as well. There is only one place left where he could be hiding out.

I head towards his bedroom, trying to settle my stomach as it lurches at the possibility of how this conversation will go. It’s still gurgling as I lift my hand to turn the handle. Before I can reach it, the door swings open.

I come face to face with Mira. She adjusts her skirt and wipes the corner of her mouth where her lipstick is smudged. Standing behind her, looking like he wishes he was any place else, is Errol. His eyes widen as he notices me, his mouth falling open. I look between the two of them, eyes darting between his guilty expression and her shameless one. I’ve seen all I need to see to draw the conclusion that comes easiest to mind. Mira’s next words only help solidify it.

“We were just finishing up.” She smirks as she steps past me, heading back towards the party.

A look of pure devastation takes over my face.

My heart is beating a million miles per minute. The sound of it echo in my ears, blocking everything else out. I don’t know if he is talking, I can’t look at him anymore to see. My eyes are too heavy with tears to lift in his direction.

I feel his hand come up to my shoulder, and I step out of his grasp, needing him to not touch me right now.Not again. This cannot be happening to me again.The weight of this betrayal pushes down on my chest, making it hard to breathe. He touches me again, and fragments of his pleas begin to break through my haze.

“Farrah, please just listen to me.” His voice sounds desperate.

I can’t listen to him. I can’t sit here and hear his excuses. I turn and hurry back the way I came, feet moving with the rapid pace of my panic. As it rises, so do my legs until I’m running. He calls out after me, but I don’t stop. I see Monty as I pass by the livingroom. She takes one look at my face, and she is heading in my direction.

“What’s wrong?” she asks, reaching out to try and grab me.

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