Page 28 of Keep It

“They’re not ready for you, Danny. Go sit in your trailer until it’s time.”

Danny glares at me, his arms crossed over his chest. I stand my ground, ignoring the biceps bulging out of his t-shirt.

“You’re very bossy, do you know that?”

I shoot him a toothy grin that doesn’t quite reach my eyes. Huffing a breath, he stalks off in the direction of his trailer. I follow behind him, gloating in my win. He closes the door behind him.

Message received,I think. I detour to find Sarah and tell her that Danny is back on schedule. Sarah doesn’t thank me, obviously, so I make myself scarce. Heading to the food truck, I grab a banana.

Jess is pouring what looks like a dozen cups of tea from the vat.

“Can I help?” Jess jumps, spilling some tea out of the small disposable cup. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine,” Jess laughs nervously.

I start placing the lids on the cups, hoping she has already got a system to remember which is which.

“Thank you,” she says, piling them into a carrier.

A young guy reaches between us and pours himself a coffee. “Hey Jess,” he glances at me. “Danny’s girl.”

I raise my eyebrows. That’s a nickname that I’d rather not catch on.

“Anya,” I say, striving for politeness but not quite making it.

He leaves without a word.

“Sorry,” Jess says, awkwardly.

“It’s fine. I’m not offended.” Lie.

“I need to get back toDanny,” I say, emphasizing his name as if to prove a point. Although what that point is I can’t say.

Jess ducks her head and goes back to her tea as I head back to the truck.Danny’s girl.

I feel a touch of guilt for snapping at Jess, she’s not even the one who said it. I rub my eyes, praying this shitty day is the result of a bad dream.

I’ve meandered long enough that by the time I get to his truck, Danny is right on time. He swings the door open before I can even knock.

“Am I on time now?” he asks sarcastically.

“Precisely.” I smile. I expect it looks more like a grimace but he doesn’t seem to notice. His foul mood settling over both of us like a dark cloud.

He’s already made me look bad in front of Sarah, I snapped at Jess and even the sound guy thinks I’m just his bitch. Throughout his costume fitting, I stand fuming against the wall. I’m so angry I don’t even allow myself to acknowledge that he is basically naked behind the thin curtain separating us.

On set, I settle into my corner and watch as Gwendoline speaks to Danny. Usually he nods or looks at her or in some way acknowledges what she’s saying, but today he stands stone faced and still.

Callum McBride swans onto set. From my research, Callum is a heartthrob in his own right, coming up through the TV route and jumping over to film after his last show went viral. Largely because of his good looks and fueled by rumors of a liaison with his married co-star.

As soon as Danny spots him, all the tension that’s been rising in him this morning finally pushes to the surface. His jaw clenches and his shoulders hunch. Seeing the two in the same room, it’s understandable why Charles wanted to push this. Callum is tall and blond, and looks like he just stepped off a yacht. Though standing next to Danny, Callum McBride’s good looks pale in comparison. A few inches shorter with a wider face and a cruel smirk.

I begin to get the feeling I probably shouldn’t have left Danny alone to stew earlier. Whatever bad mood he was in has just intensified during the time he sat sulking in his trailer. The notion proves to be pretty accurate after one hour rolls into two which rolls into four.

It’s pretty clear that Callum is a classic agitator. Every time they yell cut, Danny’s expression shutters but Callum’s grin climbs along his cheekbone as he mutters something too quiet for the crew to hear.

As time goes on, I notice the crew getting restless. Every time the DOP pulls away from the camera he grimaces, and every time the boom operator pulls his arms down he sighs audibly. There is no way Danny is unaware, but it’s like his attention is warped by the blond acting opposite him.

Gwen and Rachel huddle and I can immediately smell trouble.

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