Page 18 of Beyond the Spotlight Discreet Version
“No,” she says way too fast. “I have work at two.”
I open my mouth to tell her to quit, but snap it shut because that’s not my place.
“Four seems late for preschool.”
“The school offers extended education hours. Adeline was so eager to learn, I registered for a four p.m. release instead of the typical three.”
Savannah fingers through the books on Addy’s small bookcase, some falling off the shelves because between me reading them to her at night, or her reading them herself, she’s always asking for more books. I’d never deny her more books, but one of these days, we need to go through them all to see if she wants to donate any of the ones she’s already read.
We leave Addy’s room and walk through the ensuite bathroom we share to enter my bedroom.
Savannah turns circles around the large space, blushing and biting her lip—something I’ve noticed she does often when she’s nervous... or turned on. I’d kill to know what she’s thinking about. Is it my scent infused throughout the room that’s causing her cheeks to redden and her nipples to harden in that sexy crop top she’s wearing today?
She scans her eyes over the décor. I tried to keep it simple. Movie posters hang on the white walls from a few of my favorite roles. A couple of award statues sit on my bookcase—no Oscars or Golden Globes but I won ‘best fight’ at the MTV Movie Awards one year. Before I officiated Mylan’s wedding, that was probably the last time I’d hung out with my friend. He fell asleep during the show and his drooling face was turned into a meme. I text it to him sometimes, a lot more now that we’re rekindling our friendship.
Mylan, Jensen, and I were best friends when we were teens. We worked on a show together calledMetal & Mayhem.We played three outcasts forming a band. I always found it funny that Mylan was cast in a role that required singing even though he can’t carry a tune for shite. The producers either used my voice or hired a professional singer to dub over Mylan’s voice for the songs we sang on the show.
After the show got canceled three seasons later, our careers took off, and we slowly grew apart. Jensen and Mylan stayed close a lot longer than I did with either of them. I still kick myself in the arse for not being there for Mylan while he struggled with his addiction.
“I never asked you what part of Arkansas you’re from,” I say, distracting myself from my thoughts.
“Silo Springs.”
“Wait, really?”
“You’ve heard of it?”
“I was just there for Lana and Mylan’s wedding. I officiated it.”
“Wait, is that what Adeline was talking about on the plane? With the faerie queen?”
I nod.
“Wow. What a small world. I worked at Lilies Bar & Grill. Lana was my boss before she moved away. I heard the wedding was gorgeous. They had the ceremony on a cliff at the lake, right?”
Before I can answer, she sighs dreamily and keeps talking.
“I wish I could have gone, but as you know, they only invited family and close friends.”
Mylan met Lana Young when he was cast in the movieTyler’s Team. He got the role when I dropped out to care for Adeline. The movie was based on a true story of a college football star who died of cancer, and Lana was his fiancée. Mylan met Lana in Silo a few weeks before filming and asked her to help him with the character. They fell in love, and she helped him with his addiction.
To think I could have been in the same town as Savannah and met her sooner.
“Would Lana be willing to be your reference? I could call her.”
“We worked together for at least three years, so I don’t see why not.” She beams at me. “I was there for all the madness when they filmed the movie. I worked a few shifts when Mylan came in to hang out with Lana. We had Rockstar Karaoke on Saturdays with a band playing instead of a track. Man, Mylan is a horrible singer, isn’t he?”
“The worst.”
“Can’t dance either. Anyway, I remember all the fans and media showing up. You couldn’t go anywhere around town without someone sticking a microphone in your face to ask about Mylan or Lana or the movie. Maybe that’s why I reacted to you being famous the way I did.”
She picks up a photo of me holding Adeline on the day she was born. I’m smiling as I look down at the tiny human life, wrapped like a glowworm in a pink blanket. I expect her to ask about that day or about my sister and how she died. Instead, she sets the frame down and looks away, clearing her throat.
“Does that mean you’re friends with the guy who directedTyler’s Team? I can’t believe he’s dating Rebecca Taylor now. Everyone in Silo Springs thought they hated each other with how much they fought over the screenplay for the movie. Rebecca’s book was fantastic, so I can’t even imagine how hard it was cutting and changing stuff. They did a good job though. I never officially met Rebecca. We didn’t go to school together since I’m five years younger. Have you met her?”
“I have. She’s lovely. And, yes, her boyfriend Jensen is my friend. I worked with him and Mylan on a TV series when we were teens. I’m working with Mylan again on this new movie. It’ll be the first time we’ve worked together on a project sinceMetal & Mayhemwas canceled.”
Her face lights up, eyes sparkling. “Is Lana going to be in New York with him during filming? I’d love to reunite with her.”
