“Never mind,” I said. “I’ll get them myself.”
“You’re late," my voice startled her, and she jerked.
Her head tilted slightly as her lips spread in a grin. The kind that screamed ‘I want you’ and ‘I missed you’ in one breath.
“I’m sorry, Damon. Traffic was—” she stuttered nervously.
“Save it for Sandy. He needs you two in the tent. Now," I ordered, my heart sinking at the sign of her weary eyes.
“What's the matter?” she asked, her hand twitching as she stopped it from grabbing mine.
“I should be asking you,” I stared into her eyes.
Her shoulders dropped.
“Why are you still standing here?” I scoffed, unable to conceal my anger.
She paused, winced her eyes at me, and turned around. I watched her walk away while my heart screamed for me to stop her.
“Are you okay, Damon?” Harry asked, placing his hand on my shoulder.
“Why? Do I look sick?”
“No. You just—” He motioned at Ava, marching toward the tent.
I shrugged. “So?”
How did he expect me to act after telling me he had seen her cruising downtown with Lily Rae?
“Did you ask her about it yet?” He quizzed me. "What if it's nothing?"
"Harry, how about we get to work? We have a movie to make," I changed the subject and motioned him toward the tent while I headed to my makeshift office.
The smell of the musky carpet and air fresheners filled the air. Yellow sticky notes crowded every inch of my desk. I swiped them off with one hand and watched them fall and scatter on the floor.
Pacing helped clear my head. I let out a gust of air. Beyond the fear of losing my career, something else twinged in my belly—fear of losing Ava.
There was a knock on the door. Harry appeared at the door.
“I didn’t say you could come in,” I stared at him.
He ignored me and sat on a chair while his eyes followed me. I leaned against the desk and gestured with my hands. "I just don't understand Lily's angle."
“What if there’s no angle?” Harry suggested.
I buried my face in my palm and muffled a groan. If that was the case, then I was overreacting.
“I don’t know, Harry—” I hesitated.
“Good thing I told her to come here, so we can get to the bottom of it and move on,” Harry announced proudly.
“You what? You could have—” I raised my voice, only to be interrupted by a knock.
I leaned against the desk as she walked in. She didn’t offer a smile. I wished she would.
“You asked to see me.” Ave stood at the door, face in a frown, ice cold.
“Come in, Ava.” I pointed to the seat Harry had just vacated.