Page 73 of Keep It

I hand my phone to Anya before the scene starts. We don’t even do anything suspicious, I just rest my fingers on hers and she sends me that dazzling smile. That happens all the time.

I turn to step to my mark and spot McBride’s twisted grin.

Grimacing, I ignore him. The worst part of this job, by far, is having to pretend that I don’t want to punch him in the face every time I share a screen with him.

I ignore him as the camera settles. Rachel calls action and we fall into the scene. It’s only during the first break that Callum makes his approach.

“Heard your sister is in town.”

I clench my jaw and stare at him, meeting his beady eyes. “Flying visit. She’s long gone.”

“That’s a shame,” he says. “Would have been great to say hello.”

My hands clench at my sides. Pip doesn’t need me working myself up over this prick. I glance over at Anya, who is staring straight at us as if she can diffuse the tension from across the room. I take a calming breath and turn my attention away from Callum, looking to Rachel for my cue.

Callum leans forward, covering his breast pocket where I know his mic is sitting, preventing anyone on the other end from hearing what he’s about to say. “That girl of yours, Annie. Think she’s up for a ride too?”

My eyebrows raise as fury laces through my body. “What did you say?” I don’t bother to hide my mic.

He shoots me a wicked grin and gestures with his chin to the corner where I know Anya is resting. “I’m sure she’d be open to it, unless you don’t like to share. I bet she’d look good pinned against a wall an—”

I see red. I can hear voices calling out to me around me, but I ignore them as my fist flies into his smug face. He staggers back from the hit. If I wasn’t blind with rage, I’d probably notice the slimy grin he sends me before he pushes me back.

I grab his collar and pull him towards me. “Say that again, prick.”

Callum smiles. “I knew you were fucking her.”

My arm pulls back ready to swing before it’s grabbed. I don’t know who pulls me off him but I don’t care. I keep swinging.

“Enough,” Rachel yells. I stop struggling enough to realize that I’ve socked one of the crew guys in the jaw. I try to apologize, but my tongue is heavy in my mouth. Over his shoulder, I see Anya, her eyes wide and shocked. I shake off the guy holding me up.

People flutter around McBride like flies on shit, shooting me wary glances and whispering. My cheek is swollen from where McBride got a hit in, but I’d be surprised if he’s not got a loose tooth. My hands are buzzing with adrenaline.

Rachel raises her voice. “Okay, everyone back up.”

I don’t wait for anyone as I turn and storm off set. I can barely look at Anya as I rush past her. The fresh air rushes into my lungs and I take a shuddering breath. Base is empty as I stumble to my trailer. The lights are off but I collapse on the couch, trying to control my breathing.

Eventually, I vaguely hear the door open and feel soft hands running through my hair.

“Breathe, baby.” Anya. Just her voice settles my pounding heart.

I clutch her fingers in mine. “How bad is it?”

She pauses. “You’ve been asked to stay in your trailer for now.”

I nod slowly.

“What did he say to you?”

I look up at her. “You don’t know?”

She shakes her head. “Sound guy didn’t have his headphones in.”

Thank god.

“Was it,”–she swallows– “was it about me?”

I tug her to me, burying my head in her stomach.

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