Page 111 of Love on the Byline

Ollie pulled out his phone. “A week ago today, Bran had beenon set for five hours already.”

“Was that after the night we did twenty-three takes of thetank scene and I fell into bed at four in the morning?”

“That’s the one,” Ollie replied.

“You were on set until three and had to be back there,” shecalculated the math, “four hours later? Why not just crash in your trailer?”

“That’s what I said!”

Bran shook his head. “If I slept on the lot every time I hada short night between calls, I’d never go home. Besides, there’s always thechance the morning call will change and then you’ll have stayed for nothing.”

“That happen a lot?” she asked, taking notes.

“Depends on the project.” Bran removed his sunglasses andtossed them on the table. His shoulders were tense, and she wondered what aboutthis line of questioning was getting to him.

“Anyway, the schedule isn’t just call sheets and red carpetstuff, it’s...” Ollie let out a breath. “Meetings with studio execs, Bran’sagent, his publicist, whom you’ve met. A stylist for a shoot or a designer fora fitting. It’s working-in his trainer, his nutritionist, and finding time forhim to actually eat and work out.”

“Who handles Bran’s travel?”

“Me.”

“What about his finances?”

“I take care of the everyday stuff, mortgage, phone bills,etcetera, and his financial advisor handles his accounts.”

She had a hunch. “Who works with the financial advisor?”

“That would be Oliver,” Bran said, looking at Ollie intently.

“And with all of that, when do you find time to do...you?Your entire life seems to revolve around his.”

Ollie opened his mouth but then closed it. She could see thewar raging behind his eyes. He wasn’t happy with her at the moment, but shedidn’t particularly care.

She wanted them both to understand everything that Ollie hadbeen sacrificing. It was also a good angle to lead into the story: best friendsnavigating the intricacies of the business together.

“I’ve been trying to get you to finish your script, yourwork,” Bran said, his voice a little gravely. His laugh was self-deprecating.“Not sure how the fuck you’re supposed to do that when you spend all of yourtime chasing after my dumb ass.”

“Bran.”

“No, man,” he cut him off. “You know how much I love you butI’ve been a dick about this. I didn’t realize...” He ran a rough hand down hisface. “All that shit you’re doing? The small stuff is assistant stuff, and it’sbeneath you. I shouldn’t be telling you to pick up my fucking dry cleaning. Andthe rest of it? That’s high level shit. Manager shit.”

“You pay me as much as most managers make in this city,”Ollie said, his voice calm. “And I don’t have to pick up your drycleaning.”

“No, but I know why you do.”

She sat back and let this scene play itself out, content towatch and take notes.

“You do it,” Bran continued, turning to him, “because you’rea good fucking dude. You do it because you’re my best friend. You doit because you’ve always tried to make my life easy, even at the expense ofyour own. You’ve always bailed me out.”

“You bailed me out first.”

The look Bran gave him was somewhere between anger andsorrow. “I told you. You never have to make up for that. Or thank mefor it.”

Whatever it was had the two of them breathing hardand staring at each other in another silent conversation.

She closed her notebook and set down the pen. “If you don’twant to tell me, I understand, but... I really want to know what happened thatforged this incredible bond between you.”

Both Ollie and Bran turned to her, equal expressions ofsurprise on their faces as if they’d forgotten she was there.

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