Abbi’s eyes darted around as she looked at all the chairs for a moment until she found the one with my name on it. She gave me a thumbs-up before she sat down on it.
Today was going to be a boring day for me since I was delegated to lay in bed for every scene. Luckily, with my character being in a bad way, it was going to be a short day for me. Maybe I’d ask Abbi if she wanted to go out to dinner instead of making us something. It would be a real date. Something I’d never attempted before.
Slowly, I was starting to like chasing after Abbi and wooing her with my charm.
I may have been on top of my game for the day, but it seemed no one else was. Even from across the room, I saw Abbi’s eyes flare as Rick called cut for what had to have been the thirtieth time, and it was only the first scene of the day. Rick had every right to call cut each and every time because my two co-stars were fucking up almost every line. Courtney’s eyes darted up to the ceiling every few seconds, and Martin looked as if he hadn’t slept in two days. He had to have every other line called out to him.
“Do not make me call it a day again,” Rick growled out as he stormed up to where they were standing next to my deathbed. “Has hell frozen over? Jenner is spot on while the rest of you are acting like it’s your first day acting. I’m giving you all an hour break for lunch, and you better have your act together when you get back, or I’m going to dock your pay five thousand dollars for every time I have to say cut before the scene is finished.”
It took everything in me not to smile because Rick was on Courtney and Martin’s asses like he was usually on mine, except I always knew my lines. Instead, I stayed in the bed where I’d been for the last two hours, and watched them all walk away while Abbi watched everything unfold.
Once everyone cleared out, I crooked my finger to the beautiful brunette who’d occupied my chair all morning. She smiled shyly before getting up and walking toward me.
Sidling up to the edge of the bed, she looked down at me. “Are you staying in character?”
“No,” I patted the space beside me. “Come join me here for a second.”
“Why?” She scrunched her nose at the bed.
“When will you ever get a chance to lay on a set bed?” The moment I said the words, I knew they were wrong. They could be taken to mean she’d never be on-set again. Grabbing her hand, I pulled her down next to me and turned on my side to look down at her. “Don’t take that the wrong way. What I meant to say is I can’t say this bed will be here the next time you’re here.”
Her small hand lifted to cup my cheek. “It’s okay. I understand.”
Turning onto my back, I pointed up to the left. Do you see the light that’s out?”
“Yeah,” she answered quietly.
“That whole metal part is what fell yesterday. I’m not sure how Jim didn’t get injured worse than he was. If that would have . . . ” I couldn’t even voice thinking about if it had hit me.
“But he’s fine, and you’re fine.”
I didn’t want to think about what could have happened, so I asked her, “Are you hungry? We should get something to eat while we can.” Jumping up from bed, I moved to grab my robe off the back of a chair. When I looked back over my shoulder, Abbi’s eyes were glued to my ass. “Do you like what you see?”
“Ugh,” she rolled her eyes. “Take me to lunch.”
With my arm around her shoulders, I directed her out to the catering tent.
“Is it always like this?”
Looking down at her with the sun glinting off her shiny chestnut hair, I asked. “Like what? The food or being on set?”
“Both?” She shrugged as if she didn’t know.
“The food is always catered. Some days it’s good and some days not so good.” I leaned down to speak quietly in her ear. “Most of the time, it’s not great, but I have to eat.” Her body tensed beside me. “Today, it looks good. They’re trying to make everyone forget about what happened yesterday.”
Abbi pulled back with her brows pinched together. “That’s fucked up. I have to say being here is killing all the Hollywood ambiance I had about making a TV show.”
“It’s not glamorous,” I admitted.
“Except your trailer,” she amended.
“Except for that. Maybe we should rent an RV and go on a road trip sometime since you like it so much,” I joked.
Her eyes lit up as if I’d just come up with the best idea ever. “That would be so fun.” She clapped, her smile wide, and I was surprised when she didn’t spin around in her spot.
I guess we were going on a road trip someday.
“You’d like that?”
Abbi linked her arm with mine, and her lips turned down. “Growing up, we never went camping and then, after my parents passed away, it wasn’t an option.”
“I’ve never been camping or on a road trip either. My father isn’t one for family time or the outdoors, which I’m sure you’re not surprised to hear.”
“Can’t say that I am. He’s . . . I don’t even know the word to describe him, but I can say I’m happy he hasn’t been by the house again.”
I started to move us closer to the catering tent. “Let’s get in line and get our food before my time runs out.” There were only ten people in front of us. Everyone knew to eat when you could. We might not break again until late into the night.
As we stood there, I turned to Abbi in the hope that not everyone around us would hear me as I spoke. “He won’t be around much, that I can promise. The only reason he was there the day we came home from Vegas was because he wanted to throw how I’d screwed up once again in my face.” I lowered my head as well as my voice as I said the next part. “Right before I went into rehab, I fired him from being my manager. He’s still sore and likes to point out any trouble I get into now that he’s no longer a part of my life. My life has been much simpler without him managing every little aspect of it.”
“Even though I’ve only met him once, I think it was a smart move not having your dad as your manager. He’s toxic.”
She could say that again.
“Who’s your manager now?”
“As of right now, I don’t have one. Luke said his manager would take me on if I proved myself. Catherine has been my stand-in since I fired my dad. She’s gone above and beyond trying to help me put my life back together. If it wasn’t for her, I don’t know where I’d be.”
Her face softened as she leaned in and pressed an innocent kiss to the corner of my mouth. Even with only a touch of her lips, my cock strained against the confines of my pants. If I turned around now, everyone would see what Abbi did to me.
Pulling her in front of me, I wrapped my arms around her waist as we waited in line and rested my chin on the top of her head. When she felt what I was trying to hide, Abbi tried to turn around, but my grip on her only tightened.
“Give me a minute,” I said under my breath. I tried to think of every gross thing I could think of to will away my hard-on, but the feel of my dick against her pert ass was making it difficult. Finally, the thought of my father kicking puppies did the trick.
Luckily, the line moved quickly, and the moment we sat down at a table far away from everyone else, Abbi’s face lit up in delight. “Was that bulge I felt when we were in line from my kiss?”