Page 30 of Beyond the Spotlight Discreet Version
“I haven’t been to the city in years. You should show me around when we’re both off. Or this weekend before filming starts?” she says, her voice a pitch higher in that sexy, trying-to-woo-me voice.
“Oh... um... I’m pretty busy so...”
She shrugs and lays a hand on my forearm. “We’ll play it by ear.”
She winks, then walks away. I don’t even watch her go.
If it were Savannah, though...
“Wow,” Mylan says next to me. Did he just witness that? “She wants your dick.”
I scoff at his crudeness.
“Unless... it belongs to someone else?” he adds, smirking. He was totally being crude on purpose to get a reaction out of me.
“I am not talking to you about this,” I say and roll my eyes, which makes Mylan grin, the wanker. “When is Lana arriving again? Savannah wants to reunite, and I thought you two could come over for dinner.”
“Like a double date?”
“No, like four friends eating dinner together.”
Mylan chuckles and shakes his head. “She flies in late on Wednesday next week. We’re down for dinner. It’ll have to be a night we both get done filming early though.”
That could make organizing a dinner difficult. Sometimes the filming schedule changes the night before. It’s possible Lana and Savannah will have to hang out without us. The two of them can play tourist around New York City. Addy would love that too. Though, Lana is as famous as me and Mylan, so Savannah might be hesitant to be seen in public with her. I’m sure Lana is bringing the disguises she and Mylan like to wear in public to hide in plain sight.
I shouldn’t worry. Lana will have bodyguards on top of the two I hired for Savannah and Addy.
“Sounds good, brother,” I say and bring Mylan in for a hug.
He waves as he leaves and I’m not far behind, hopping into the car with the new driver I hired so George can stay with Savannah and Adeline. Xavier gives me a nod and drives off, heading to Midtown from Queens where I’m meeting the movie’s stunt coordinator and fight choreographer. Mylan and I have a big fight scene at the end of the movie, but our practice session isn’t for a couple of days.
It’s barely noon and I’m already exhausted. This fight practice is going to kick my ass, especially since it’s been well over five years since I’ve done workouts this intense.
I just wish I were back home with Adeline and Savannah.
We’ll be filming for at least five months. It’s going to be a long five months if I already miss my daughter this much.
And the woman I just met three weeks ago.
Chapter 7 - Savannah
Ineverconsideredhowbored I’d be while Addy was at school for seven hours.
The days drag on.
The first day, I walked through Central Park. Sarah and Henry tagged along, despite me insisting they didn’t need to. I bought us hotdogs and sodas from a nice man with a cart and we sat at the Bethesda Fountain, eating in silence, because neither of them is very chatty. Then we walked to a field, and I sat underneath a maple tree, reading a spicy romance book on my Kindle before it was time to pick Addy up.
The second day, I walked across the Upper East Side to a cute little park along the East River. I sat on a bench, watching the rushing water and ferries zooming past. I never imagined New York City to be so peaceful. No honking cars or boisterous crowds, aside from the dozen or so people on a run, jog, or walking their dog along the waterfront.
Now it’s day three of this new job.
I finally gave in and used Reynold’s credit card to go shopping for clothes. I searched for some local plus-size stores and found a place called Wray on the Lower East Side. It was heaven. They had sizes from XXS up to 6X. I’m 2X. I’ve got an apple body shape—small breasts and a big belly. I tried on so many clothes: angel maxi slip dresses, sundresses, dresses that had cutouts in the front and back, crop tops, skirts, jeans.
I bought every single thing.
The store is pricy, but I found a few items on sale. Still, I spent upwards of $2,000.
Back in my room at the penthouse, I send Reynold two pictures, one of me holding up the bag, showing the store’s name and another of the receipt.
