Page 34 of The Grumpy Actor

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The cast and a few members of the crew gather around the crackling bonfire.

I let out a sigh of relief before walking over to join them.

The shoot has finally come to an end, and the team decided to start a bonfire and have a team bonding dinner because the beach is apparently giving off a “camping vibe.”

I sit down on one of the longer logs.

“Here.” Tim hands me a bottle of beer. “It’s in the spirit of the night to have a beer.”

I chuckle as I accept it. “Thank you.”

The conversations in the background are merely white noise to my ears as I scan the surroundings for Sophie.

After several failed attempts to spot her, I finally see her approaching the group with Celeste’s assistant.

I smile as she draws nearer. “Sophie.”

The group goes silent as their gazes focus on Sophie. I push down the urge to confront the guys gawking at her.

I beckon to her, patting the space beside me. She slowly makes her way toward me.

When she gets closer and I see the hint of red on her cheeks, I grin. Seeing her react to me this way makes me feel like a schoolboy receiving a glance from his crush.

As she sits down, I reach for one of the drinks in the cooler and give it to her.

“This isn’t right,” one of the male crew members says. “I’ve worked on several sets with you, and you’ve never smiled at anyone this way.”

Several of them agree instantly.

I’ve been called out, but I don’t really care.

“It’s our first movie together, but even I’ve heard rumors about your infamous aloofness,” Tim says. He smiles. “Is the atmosphere changing you? Or is it the lady?”

“Has to be the lady,” Celeste says. “He’s still pretty grumpy.”

Several other people agree with her. I feel Sophie tense up beside me, and I know I have to end the discussion there.

“Well, anyone would automatically be nicer to Sophie,” Kent, one of the assistant directors, says. “I mean, look at her.”

I shoot him a glare, but he’s pretty oblivious to it as he looks at the people agreeing with his idea.

“Not to be forward, but are you single and hopefully looking to date?” Kent asks.

My hands ball into fists around the bottle. “No, she’s not.”

My angry voice booms through the night, and several surprised faces turn toward me.

Kent doesn’t say anything else afterward, and I’m sure no other man will make a pass at Sophie. Unfortunately, I’ve definitely let everyone know that I’m romantically interested in her.

I’m not too worried about that, though, since it will keep them from going after her.

Tim clears his throat to thaw the tension in the air. “The night air is so cool. Moments like this almost make you miss shooting days when it’s over.”

“True, but I always miss it either way,” Celeste says, dangling the glass in her hand. “I feel like acting is the one thing I really enjoy doing. And although some people believe rom-coms aren’t worth it, they excite me.”

I feel as though she’s throwing shade at me, but I ignore it. I can’t ruin the perfect mood Tim has finally created.

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