Page 27 of Hot Mess

“Isaac? Isaac?”

“…all me…” Pop, static, fuzz.

“If you can hear me, I’m going to go find Pat’s PA. The kid has one of those satellite phones. Text me anything important.”

I ended the call. I pulled on the coat I bought after my first day on set. The one I packed was entirely too lightweight for the wind. The snow and the cold were one thing, but the wind. It could cut through concrete. Make ice cubes instantly.

Everyone had images of Hell as a burning lake of lava. Flames and heat and burning. Hell seemed like it would make a great tropical vacation right about now. No, if there was Hell, it was dark and stinging cold.

Why had I agreed to this? Oh, right, because it sounded like fun. Because I got smaller interesting roles, even after my fan-favorite success with Lions of Medea. Because Captain Wonder was still in post-production. And not set to release for another year.

Teasers were out, but they only announced next year, not when. Was the studio going to go for a summer blockbuster or a Christmas hit? The franchise was big enough to risk a blockbuster, but the character was from a little-known spin-off comic, and I wasn’t exactly a box office pull. At least not yet.

I shrugged into my coat and fastened it up. It was too cold to try to be a badass and wear the coat open. I had weeks of this left. It would be nice to know that Isaac had made headway on finding Kayla. I wasn’t exactly letting thoughts of her distract me, but honestly, I much rather think of her than brood over the weather situation.

I pushed the door to my trailer open. The trailer wasn’t exactly warm. The wind sliced through me, my supposed warm coat, and my lined jeans. I hated this weather. I pulled my coat around me more, as if it wasn’t already zipped, and snapped.

I headed toward the warehouse we were using as a sound stage, and where the production crew and their offices were. The steel warehouse felt like a giant refrigerator without the lights on or the staff and crew actively working.

“Hey, have you seen Pat?” I asked at the open door to one office.

“No, what do you need?”

“I’m looking for Pat’s PA, you know the little redhead. She’s got one of those satellite phones.” I held up my useless cell phone. “I’ve got to talk to LA and I can’t get a signal for shit.”

The guy nodded and pulled something off his belt.

“Here, use mine. We’ve all got satellite connections out here.” He held his phone out to me.

“Thanks, man.” I took the phone. I hooked my thumb over my shoulder. “I’ll be out here.”

The guy scoffed. “Too cold in the warehouse. Use one of the offices, they’ve all got space heaters. You’ll be a lot more comfortable.”

“Thanks.” I waved with the phone and headed a few offices away. I found an empty one and switched on the light, and the space heater. It was comfortable enough I even unzipped my coat.

I punched in Isaac’s number.

“Isaac Werner,” he said in precise business diction.

“Isaac it’s me.”

“I thought it might be. You’re lucky I answered. You know I don’t answer unidentified numbers?”

“Isaac,” I grumbled. “What’s so important you couldn’t text me?”

“I have an update on your little girlfriend situation.”

“I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“And that’s exactly why we have a situation.”

“Did you find her or not?” I felt my blood pressure raising.

I wasn’t in the mood for Isaac’s games. I was cold, I was tired, I was hungry. I was fully cranky and aware of it. My nude scene was filming the next day. I hadn’t had anything to eat, or drink for almost twenty-four hours.

I couldn’t risk being bloated. I had to be muscularly defined, cut with sharp definition. On top of the whole hunger situation, tomorrow's scene was being shot outdoors. I wasn’t looking forward to having to be naked long enough for the director to get a good shot of my ass in this cold.

“I found her, but she is a shrewd customer,” Isaac said.

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