Page 40 of The Grumpy Actor

I want to give us a try.

Now that I understand where he stands, things shouldn’t hurt as much.

“I’d like that, too. I want to give us another try, Liam. I’ll be your girlfriend again.”

Liam’s radiant smile fills my heart with warmth. He pulls me into his arms, and I melt in his embrace.

For the first time in a long time, it feels like everything is going to be okay.

Maybe, just maybe, I’ll be able to change his mind about love, and we’ll have our happily ever after, too.

Chapter 12

Liam

“I’msosorry,sir.It was an accident,” the production assistant apologizes, bowing her head so low it almost touches the ground.

I wave my hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about it. It’s just a stain. I’m sure the costume department can take care of it.”

“W-What?” She raises her head rapidly and stares at the brown coffee stain on my white shirt. “Are you sure it’s okay?”

“I’m sure.” I smile. “Now return to work; I’m sure you’re busy.”

“Thank you, sir!” she says quickly before scurrying off.

I roll my eyes and turn around when I notice almost all the actors and crew members are staring at me. They all have the same expression of shock on their faces.

“You were right, James,” Tia says to one of the extras beside her. “Hehaschanged.”

“Changed?” I ask as I return to my chair. “What are you talking about?”

“The Liam Ryder I remember working with doesn’t even acknowledge anybody on set unless it’s the director,” James says. “And when people make mistakes like this, they mostly get fired because you get very pissed about it.”

“I don’t remember that ever happening.”

“Oh, it’s happened a few times here already,” Celeste says. She gives me a quizzical look. “But these past few weeks, you’ve been smiling nonstop and you aren’t as grumpy.”

“A man can change, can’t he?” I scoff.

I’ve just had no reason to be mad these past few weeks. Shooting isn’t so bad because I get to have my girlfriend on set with me. And the best part of it all is that I always look forward to the end of the day because I know I’ll finally get to be alone with Sophie.

Even at this moment, I’m eager to finish shooting so I can get on with the romantic dinner date I have planned for us.

If I claim to understand how much Sophie’s presence in my life has affected me, I’d be lying.

Like they said, I’ve changed. Nothing can rile me up. And if I do get a little angry, all I need to do is look at Sophie to forget all about it.

It’s getting harder to imagine a time when she wasn’t a part of my life. Lately, I’ve been questioning my decision to break up in the past and wondering if I didn’t make the wrong choice.

However, that’s not something I should worry too much about. I just want to enjoy the time we have in the present.

I scan the set for any sign of Sophie. Last I knew, she left to get coffee. I decide to focus on the scene I’m about to shoot instead of worrying about my girlfriend, who’s going to turn up soon.

I slip out of the stained shirt.

One of the wardrobe assistants rushes over to get it and hands me a spare shirt.

As I put it on and sit down, Sophie returns with my coffee.

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