Page 40 of Steamy on Set

“I’ll be just on the other side of that door, okay,” he says to both of us, threatening Christian while comforting me at the same time. Before he goes back inside, he throws one more look over his shoulder at me.

While I’m looking at Errol, Christian takes the opportunity to grab hold of my hand drawing my attention.

“I don’t want to do this here.” He says softly rubbing his thumb against my palm. “Let’s meet up tomorrow, we can discuss it all then.”

“How am I supposed to believe you’ll show up?” I pull my hand away, stepping back so there’s more distance between us.

His eyes widen at my question.

“I promise.”

“We know what your promises are worth.” Spite paints the words in vengeful colors. I turn to go back to the party, looking over my shoulder one last time. He flinches at my glare. “I’ll text you my address. You better show up.” Not looking to see if he agrees, I re-enter the room.

Everyone is looking at me, but this time their expressions are different. I search for Errol, and find him directly to my left, right where he said he would be.

“I’m sorry.” I feel shame heating my skin. “I was unprofessional and I’m sorry. I won’t ever do something like that again. It’s just—” I try to find the words to express what happened in my chest at the sight of Christian, but come up short.

“Are you okay?” He bypasses the ugly truth of my behavior, instead focused on my wellbeing. I shake my head, trying and failing at not looking pathetic.

“Okay, let’s go.” He guides me back towards the door.

“What about the party?” I try to put on a brave face.

“It doesn’t matter.” I gaze into his eyes and feel like, for a moment, maybe to him,Ido. He smiles, patting my arm before he leads me back to the entrance and asks the valet to get the car.

Chapter 16

AsIwaitforthe knock to come, I work new marks into the hardwood floor and run to the window every time I hear a car door slam. My fingers bouncing between my mouth and leg act as both a chew toy and drum stick while I pace. My body vibrates with my unsettled nerves. They jump with equal parts excitement, sorrow, and fear. Having asked Monty for the house, regret sits heavy in my stomach as I wish for her to be here with me. Needing someone to guide me through this. I feel lost as I stand alone in the jungle of my emotions.

Just as I’m beginning to wonder if he flaked, I hear the subtle knocking at the door.

Throwing it open, I’m met with heavy eyes, swirling with panic and sadness. He is here, and he has brought with him all of the hurt I looked for last night.

“Hi,” Christian says, pushing his hands in his pockets.

I step to the side, allowing him into the living room, and shutting the door to the outside world. Quiet creeps across our skin as he stands looking around, fiddling with the hoops in his jeans.

“Should we sit?” he asks, walking over and pointing to the couch.

I nod, needing something solid to keep me from falling apart. We move to opposite ends, sitting on the edge, neither of us comfortable enough to scoot back. I feel his stare on me as I look at his chest, not ready to face him just yet.

He breaks the silence. “I know I owe you so much. I know I hurt you. I just don’t know what to do to make it up to you.” Holding his hand out to me, he looks ready to grab me into his arms.

“You can start by telling me why.” I look up at him, my gaze holding all the questions I’ve accrued over the last four months. “Why you cheated? Why you left? Why you’ve been ignoring me?”

I stare at him as he stares at nothing, like the air holds the right words.

“Do you really want to know?” His voice is raw and rough.

I nod, and he mirrors my action.

“We had that fight before I left.”

I remember. I felt like he wasn’t opening up to me the way he did when we were just friends, and he felt that I was pushing him. How that resulted in him sleeping with someone else, I don’t know.

“Okay?” I say, opening up the floor.

“I just left feeling like maybe we made a mistake. Maybe we weren’t meant to be together. I don’t know. It’s stupid, but I thought this was a sure sign that we weren’t going to make it.”

---