Page 55 of Reckless Storm
“Sheesh.” Luke winces before getting up and walking over, dropping onto the couch beside me. “That’s rough.” He pats my back and we both frown.
“It is.”
“So what do we do?”
“I wish I knew. But I’ll tell you one thing.”
“Yeah?”
“This whiskey tastesgooood.”
“Of course it does.” Luke scoffs as though I offended him. “It’s top shelf. Nothing but the best for you, my friend.”
“Thanks, man. I appreciate it.”
“And I appreciateyou. So much so that I’m going to fix things for you.” He jumps up and I stare at him, confused.
“Fix what?”
“You. Your love life. It’s happening.”
“Yes.” I jump up with him but my head spins and I fall back down. “Fuck, I think I’ve hit my limit.”
Luke laughs obnoxiously as he rocks back and forth. Or am I rocking? “Reed, you hit your limit a long time ago. But it’s all good. Your life is about to change.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Hayley
The bubbly casting assistant calls my name and I jump up, not even bothering to hide my excitement. I’m ready to throw myself into a new project. I’m ready for my next big role.
She smiles awkwardly, her painted red lips thinning as we walk, but the second we turn the corner, she spins on her designer heel and grabs my wrist to still me. “You’ll be meeting with the casting director, Lily, today, as well as the director, Steve.” I nod politely though this isn’t new information to me. “Have you worked with Steve before?” She pauses and…Uh-oh. Why did her tone make my stomach sink?
“Ihaven’t.”
“I was afraid you’d say that. God, please don’t tell anyone I told you this, but I’m already a big fan of yours from the teasers alone, so…just be careful.”
What?!
“And don’t take his criticisms to heart.”
My chest fills with warmth and I bite back a smile. “Are you trying to tell me he’s an asshole?”
“I didn’t say anything of the sort.” She cringes and I can’t help but laugh. Assholes I can handle. I’ve been around enough to learn a lesson or two on ignoring their judgement. It’s the sweet, innocent ones that catch me off guard. The ones that give you those sandwich compliments and criticisms. The ones that build you up only to tear you down seconds later.
We keep walking until we’ve rounded another corner and the assistant stops again, this time pointing to a door. “It’s just through here. Best of luck. I think you’d be perfect for the part.”
“Thank you.”
I stand tall, square my shoulders, and lift my perfectly glossed lips into a confident smile. Opening the door, I come face-to-face with Mr. and Mrs. Judgey, both with unimpressed scowls on their faces. Expressions I’m choosing to believe are left over from the previous audition.
Striding forward with poise, I hold out my hand for Steve and then Lily to shake, smiling when they do. “It’s lovely to meet you both,” I suck up. “Thank you for the opportunity.”
Lily’s the first to smile back and the warmth of it surprises me. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Hayley. I’m Lily and this is Steve. Who I’m sure you’ve heard of. As we’ve heard of you. You’re a hot topic around Hollywood at the moment.”
“Before the film has even been released.” Steve slouches back in his chair and crosses his ankles casually. “You better hope it’s good.”
“No hope needed.” I smile wider. “I know it’s good.”
