Page 25 of Everybody Needs a Hero

Tess nodded toward her trailer and led the way. “Let’s go inside,” she answered. Not sure what was going on, all Drew could do was follow. By the time she had shaken the water off the umbrellas and stepped under cover, her impatience got the best of her. She wanted to know the bottom line.

“Explanation? Please?”

Sitting on the couch, putting a towel around her shoulders, Tess sighed. “Drew,” she said. “The new scene needs to stay.”

“What?” Drew started to shake her head. “No way. We went over that.” It felt like a double-cross. “The scene isn’t even in the book.”

Tess’s face stayed calm. “I know you don’t like the idea of the passionate scene,” she said. “But it will make the movie better, I promise.” That was the last thing Drew wanted to hear coming from Tess. She had thought the woman was on her side, but apparently not. Without bothering even to say goodbye, she headed for the door. “Stop.” Tess moved quickly from the sofa to take her arm. “Please. Hear me out.”

Something in the tone of Tess’s voice made Drew pause. “All right,” she said, turning around. “But I’m not going to be convinced.” With her hand on Drew’s arm, Tess didn’t move back to the couch. Unable to help from reacting to the touch and their closeness, Drew sucked in a breath, willing herself not to get distracted.

Tess’s face was earnest. “I’m going to be very blunt,” she said. “And I apologize if what I’m going to say hurts your feelings.”

Staying by the door, Drew was curious where the conversation would go. “Blunt?” she asked, and Tess nodded.

“Yes, blunt,” she said. “Drew, you’re a special woman. You already know how I feel about you, but I promised to keep that out of it. However…” Drew waited with no idea what Tess would say next. The woman took a deep breath. “My character’s thoughts in your book carry the smoldering desires on the written page, but that won’t work here. The movie audience needs to see the passion. To feel it for themselves.”

Drew furrowed her brow. “But you are pulling off the looks of desire well enough,” she argued. “I don’t see why a single kiss will make the difference.”

“Then let me show you,” Tess said, moving even closer before Drew could react. Suddenly, the woman’s lips were on hers, and a jolt of something she had never felt before ran through her. Heat like white lightning that made her stomach flutter. Desire in waves she never knew possible. A part of her wanted to pull away, but another part, a stronger part of her, wanted to lean in. Kissing Tess back, wrapping her arms around her waist, Drew fell into the embrace completely. And finally knew why the scene needed to stay.

Never having beento an actual working movie set before, Bryce was curious. Watching Ashley’s mom work would be interesting, and frankly, kind of cool. After all, she was Tess Landish. Hollywood megastar. Luckily, the Uber ride to the location was less frustrating than she feared, and they arrived early. From the look of things, no acting had started. Before they had walked a dozen steps, a production assistant, armed with a giant golf umbrella for them to use, was there. “Ms. Landish asked me to keep an eye out for you,” the PA said, handing them two guest passes on lanyards.

“We are early. Can I check in with my mom at her trailer?” Ashley asked while she and Bryce put on their passes. “Or is she in hair and makeup already?”

“She’s in her trailer,” the assistant said. “I believe she is talking to Ms. Andersen about the next scene. Although no one has said to me directly, I hear there’s some question about the necessity of shooting it.”

“Interesting. She mentioned something about the debate this morning,” Ashley said. “Well, I don’t think she will mind if I pop in and say hello. It will be nice to see Drew again too.”

The production assistant nodded. “I’m sure that’s fine,” she said. “Trailer number four. You can’t miss it. One of the two biggest units.”Well, that makes sense, Bryce thought.Since she is one of the stars.She followed along with Ashley as she led the way.

When they reached trailer four, Ashley gave a perfunctory knock before turning the doorknob. “Mom?” she said, sticking her head inside. “We came by early—” Bryce watched Ashley freeze in the doorway. Not sure what happened, but sensing something was a little off, she stepped closer, only to be almost bowled over by Ashley in retreat. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have barged in.”

Then, Tess was in the doorway with her face flushed, eyes wide. “Ashley, wait,” she said. “Don’t be upset.”

Ashley stopped, and Bryce saw the widest smile ever on the woman’s face. “Upset? Mom, I’m so not upset,” she said. “I’m super excited for you. Maybe a little surprised, but happy too.”

Tess’s shoulders relaxed. “Thank God,” she said. “At first, I thought the worst.” She stepped back and waved them forward. “Come in, please. I don’t want to talk about everything out in the open.”

“Of course,” Ashley said, and still not sure what happened, Bryce collapsed the umbrella and followed her into the trailer. Drew sat on the couch looking very uncomfortable. Her face was beet red, and she wouldn’t make eye contact.

Tess hurried to the woman’s side, taking her hand. “Drew,” she said. “It’s only Ashley and Bryce, and there’s nothing to worry about.”

In response, Drew started to stand. “I’m sorry,” she said, looking ready to flee. In response, Ashley slipped her arm through Bryce’s.

“Don’t go,” Ashley said. “We will take off so you two can be alone. Please don’t leave on our account.” Before Drew or Tess could respond either way, Ashley hustled Bryce back the way they came. “Bye, Mom. Bye, Drew.” She closed the door and rushed them both down the steps.

Once away from the trailer, Bryce’s curiosity got the best of her, and she pulled Ashley to a stop. “Okay, will you explain to me what’s going on?” she asked. “Why did Drew look so…” Suddenly, the word came to her, and everything fell into place. “Guilty.” She grinned. “Just what exactly were they doing when you opened the door?”

Ashley playfully pushed her shoulder. “Not that,” she said with a laugh. “Thank God. I mean, I’m happy to see Mom involved with someone.” She shook her head. “But there are limits.”

Genuinely thrilledto see her mom passionately kissing someone, even another woman, Ashley wondered when their relationship started.Maybe on the day of the earthquake?she thought, walking under the umbrella with Bryce. Talking to her mom about what happened during the eight hours she was trying to get to Ashley, Drew was her mom’s hero that day.Like Bryce was mine.She certainly made an intense connection with her, so there was no reason her mom couldn’t have done the same. From what Ashley knew about Drew, which wasn’t much other than she was a fantastic writer and super helpful to her mom, she seemed nice.I’ll have to get to know her better. Maybe the four of us can go to dinner after filming today.

Crossing the lot, she decided they would hang out at the craft service table while waiting for the filming to begin. While they stayed undercover to avoid the rain, enjoying a fresh cup of coffee and a pastry, Ashely noticed the movie’s famous director talking to someone. They stood in the rolled-up doorway of one of the warehouses edging the set. Not wanting to act like a total fan, although she was, Ashley nonchalantly nodded her head in the man’s direction. “Don’t be super obvious, but there’s the movie’s director. You might have heard of him,” she said, and when Bryce slowly turned to look, she saw the woman’s eyes widen.

“Wow. No kidding,” she said. “I really like his dramatic action stuff.” As if feeling their eyes on him, the man looked over. A smile lit up his face when he recognized Ashley. Although they only met a couple of times over the years, he remembered her.

Strolling over, he shook his head. “Ashley,” he said. “Wow, you have certainly grown up. And are as beautiful as your mother.”

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