Page 42 of Broken Rules

I had never admitted that to another living soul.Not even Spencer, my oldest friend.It was almost like ripping open a wound.A vulnerable feeling.What did I expect?For her to make fun of me?

“I had no idea you felt that way.”

I couldn’t tell what she thought.She was working hard to hide her reaction.“What, you don’t think I can’t do it?”I asked.

“Jesus Christ!Why would you jump to that conclusion?”Her laughter echoed in what sounded like the kitchen.“I just didn’t know you would ever want to direct.What kind of movies?Do you have any projects in mind?”

“Down, girl.”It was a relief to know she didn’t think less of me opening up, yes, but her excitement was a little overwhelming.

Her frustrated little grunt wasn’t surprising.“Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it.I bet you see scripts all the time that you would love to make.”

“Now that you mention it…”

“I knew it!”she crowed, laughing.“What is it?Tell me about it.”

“It was a Cold War thriller.This was years ago,” I explained as I walked barefoot from my dressing room to the bedroom.I could almost imagine her here with me, the two of us connecting after a busy day.“I was only interning at the time.Reading scripts, providing synopses.It fucking crackled, I swear to God.I couldn’t stop flipping through the pages.I saw the whole thing in my head, exactly how I would want it shot.”

“So what happened?”

“It got stuck in development hell for a few years, and the last I heard, it was shelved permanently.”

I heard a spoon clinking against a cup, like she was stirring her drink.“It makes me sad, thinking about how many potentially classic movies are shelved like that before anybody ever gets the chance to turn them into something real.”

“I feel the same way.”She had no idea how many scripts got rejected every day.Not marketable, too cerebral, too expensive, the list went on.

Her enthusiasm was endless, it seemed.“But that’s the kind of movie you’re interested in?”she asked.“Thrillers, that kind of thing?”

“I think so.A little drama, a little excitement.I’ve always been drawn to them.”

“If you could remake any movie, which one would it be?”

“Oh, you can’t do that!”I pulled my blankets up, then flipped off the light next to the bed.It was a little early for me.At least, it was early when my life wasn’t completely upside down.I had a seven-thirty breakfast meeting, though, then another at nine halfway across town.I had to be sharp.

“Says who?”she teased.“I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours.”

“It’s not just one movie,” I decided.It was almost like settling into bed with her, having her voice in my ear.“There’s so many.It’s to the point where I have a hard time enjoying a movie because all I can think about is what I would do differently.”

“Oh my God,” she whispered.“I know what you mean.It’s like, I can’t take any pleasure from watching movies anymore.All I can ever do is think about how I would have framed a scene or if I would’ve held a shot a few seconds longer.”

“Yes!”She got it.I should’ve known she would.

“You know what I need to know now, right?”There was something wicked in her giggle.“You know what’s coming.You have to.”

I hadn’t until she brought it up.“No,” I told her.“I never imagined what I would shoot differently with this movie.That’s the truth.”

“Good answer.”We laughed together again, more softly this time.I imagined her sipping herbal tea, curled up in her bed where we spent that first night together months ago.It felt like half a lifetime had passed since then.

“So what are you wearing?”I asked because I had to.There was no way I could be in bed, speaking to her, and not think about what we should be doing together.

“Do you want the honest answer?”she asked.“Or the answer you’re looking for?”

“Let’s go with option B.”

“Oh, Mr.Landry.”The formality of my name slipping off her tongue shouldn’t have stirred my cock, but it did.Suddenly, her voice went breathy and high-pitched like a bad Marilyn Monroe impersonation.“I’m wearing this itty-bitty little nightgown.It’s see-through.You can see my nipples straight through it, and I’m not wearing any underwear.”

It was supposed to be a joke.What a shame my dick didn’t have a sense of humor.“What color is it?”I asked.

“Pale pink,” she whispered.“Just as pink as… I can’t say.”

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