Page 93 of Take It Till You Make It
He taps my nose. “I’ve been paying attention.” Then his finger hooks under my chin so he can tilt it a little bit higher. “Congrats, Ari, on completing your first movie.”
My eyes grow wide, and I bite my lip. “I did that, didn’t I?”
“In style. You’re even director’s pet.”
Giddiness makes me laugh again.
Crispin presses his lips to mine to wipe the grin off my face. I throw my arms around his neck and let my foot pop as we kiss.
“Congrats to you for completing your…” I raise my eyebrows in question.
“Twelfth.” When my mouth drops open in amazement, he adds. “My sister keeps count and reminds me all the time.”
“She’s proud of you.” I grab his hand. “Let’s find Sally.”
Glory comes running onto set and crashes into me, throwing her arms around me. “I’m so proud of you. You figured the scene out!”
“Can you believe it? I’m totally honored that Hank asked for my input.”
Crispin, who is still holding my hand, like he’s afraid I’ll disappear if he lets go, pulls me toward Sally, who throws her arms in the air and runs in place when she sees me.
“We did it!”
I mimic her, then Crispin and Glory join in until the four of us look like happy idiots. Just as we step in to group hug, Eduardo slides in next to Glory and joins us.
When things calm down, I say to Sally, “I’m going to miss seeing you almost every day.”
“Me too! But we’ll get together, right? It won’t be like a yearbook where you’ll say “Call me!” but never give me your number, will it?”
“No way. I’ve always wanted a sister, and now that I have one, I’m never letting her go.”
Sally blinks away tears, and then Chandra steps up to hug us both. “Girls, this has been so much fun. Ari, thanks for joining our little family.”
Crispin sees Terrell and walks over to greet him.
I bite my lip as emotion overwhelms me when I look between Sally and Chandra. “Thanks for being so kind. I think I would have walked off the set and never come back if you two hadn’t taken me under your wing.”
Chandra glances at Crispin. “I think someone would have dragged you back again.”
I think of the caveman conversation he and I had and laugh. Maybe there’s more caveman in him than he’s willing to admit.
I grow serious. “And Chandra, what you’ve done for Mom. It means so much to me.”
“She did it all. She just needed someone new to believe in her.” Chandra squeezes my hand. “I’m happy to have made another new friend and thrilled to know I’ll be able to see you still.”
“We’re still going out to dinner tonight, right?” I ask Sally.
“Yep. River’s already here. Helovedyour pratfall.”
I grin. “I’m gonna go change so I don’t look like this thirteen-year-old when we’re out tonight. I’ll see you back here?”
“Why don’t we meet outside our trailer?”
“See ya then.”
I grab Glory’s hand and wave at Crispin, who is shaking hands with every crew member on the set.
It’s hard to say goodbye to Grimilda, my grumpy troll lady, whom I’ve grown to adore. It’s almost impossible to say goodbye to Remi. I’m so thankful to have Glory by my side to soften the blow. For some reason, her being here shows me there’s a possibility I’ll see them again. Even though I always knew that with Glory, I didn’t know it would be now, so it makes it feel more probable.
