Page 77 of Take 2
“Haven’t you been, though?”
“… is because I thought you were dating him.” Chris points his thumb at Preston. “Once I’m positive he can’t change anything to kill off my character or something, that would change. Don’t tell me I’ve been wasting all this time.”
My eye roll is so dramatic it almost hurts. “You are so full of shit. Anyway, I would never turn down an opportunity to point out when Preston is wrong, so it’s all irrelevant.”
Now that I’ve read the screenplay, it’s easy and even fun to participate in the conversation. In the argument over whether Chris’ character would lie to the woman he loves to push her away, I have to side with Preston.
“As far as he knows,” I say, “there is no way he can end up with her. Being together is only going to destroy them both, so even though it’s torture, he’ll do whatever it takes to end it. He knows it’s hurting her, but he thinks it will ultimately be less pain. It’s completely valid motivation.”
Chris groans.“Clearly,you’re sleeping together. Get back to writing a movie better than anything this idiot will ever make.”
I smile at Chris and slide my gaze to Preston. “Always what I’m working on.” I lift my wrist with the green scrunchie to wiggle it in front of him.
“I look forward to watching it,” he says.
“And I look forward to directing it,” Rafael says as he approaches us. “We’re on for dinner so I can lure you into wanting me on your next project, yes?”
“Absolutely.” The absurdity of Rafael Medina being the one needing to convincemeis through the roof.
“Excellent. I’m out of here to wash work off myself.” He looks at Preston. “I’ll meet you both in the lobby?”
“See you there.” Preston turns to me as Rafael leaves. “Ready to go?”
“Yep.”
“You’re breaking my heart, Mira,” Chris says, shaking his head.
“Use that for a role.” I blow him a kiss and turn to grab my bag.
As we get into the rental car, Preston says, “You asked me how I’ve managed to stay single, but I’m sure Chris isn’t the first person whose advances you’ve ignored.”
“Those are not real advances.”
He starts the car. “You don’t think so?”
“Of course not.” I shake my head as we back out of the parking spot. “He could have anybody. Anyway, it’s no big mystery why I’m single. I don’t have the time to dedicate to a relationship.”
“Or you don’t want to dedicate time to one.”
“It hasn’t been a priority.”
He keeps his eyes on the road. “It’s hard for people to understand the workload.”
You don’t make time for me—for us.“Yeah.” My voice is barely a whisper.
“What if there was someone who understood?” He slides his hand around mine.
“Are you buying into the rumor that I’m your girlfriend?” We pull up to the hotel, and a valet opens my door.“Merci,” I say as I step out.
Preston comes around and lays a hand on my lower back as we walk in. “Is the idea of you being my girlfriend really so ridiculous?”
“I’m definitely not your girlfriend.” I press the elevator call button.
“What are you then?”
“Your rival who you’re fucking to keep me from writing and beating you.”
He laughs, but the steady way he looks at me tells me the issue isn’t dropped.
