Chapter Thirty-Three
Ethan wrapped filming two days earlier than expected. Jem had been so focused on ensuring he got away on time that she had his scenes finished ahead of schedule. His last scene was the one he’d been dreading, up close with all three dogs. Jem and Katherine had met with him to make sure he was comfortable, and he’d worked with Stan and his team to ensure they were all as prepared as possible. By now, everyone knew about Ethan’s history, and the support he got on that last day of shooting reinforced just how much he loved making movies. The crew, the cast – they were like a family, and they were all there to help him.
When the three dogs had jumped on him and licked his face while he lay on the bed, dressed only in the tiniest of boxer briefs, he’d actually laughed, just like his character was supposed to do. He wasn’t even scared, because he was prepared and because he didn’t have to hide anything anymore. He hadn’t understood how crippling his secret had been until that moment. How the fear of being judged for something that was out of his control had been even more terrifying to him than the dogs themselves. He was still incredibly happy when the scene was over and the dogs were off him – and he was even happier that there were no more dog movies in his foreseeable future, but he was proud of how far he’d come
Finishing up early gave Ethan three days before he left for LA, instead of just one. Which meant he had time to drop Harry off at his brother’s house before heading home to pack. Chris had agreed to look after Harry until Ethan was ready to have the dog sent to LA. He was thinking he might even shout Chris and the family a trip to bring Harry over for him. They could have that Disneyland holiday his brother had been talking about. So long as he got an invite this time.
‘Thanks for minding Harry for me,’ Ethan said, rocking back in his chair on his brother’s deck.
‘No worries. The kids have been bugging me about a dog,’ Chris said. ‘Harry can be a practice run.’
‘He might be a bit freaked out that I’m not around, so be ready for that. Hide your shoes. Though looking at him now, I think he’s going to be okay.’
It was an unseasonably warm April afternoon and Chris, Ethan and his sister-in-law, Janet, were keeping an eye on the kids as they splashed in the pool. Harry was charging around the edge barking at them, his tail wagging so fast it was just a blur. Later, the whole family were heading to a local restaurant where Chris had promised Ethan the best Italian food he’d ever had. Ethan doubted it. He’d already had the best Italian food at Hazel’s house, the first night they had dinner together.
The studio had already locked in his movie’s release date and had begun scheduling Ethan’s promotional commitments. Sit, Stay, Love II: Barks Will Fly would be hitting cinemas for Christmas. If things went to plan, he’d fly home for the premiere and spend some time with his family. It would be the first family Christmas he’d had in years.
‘Your arse isn’t in your new movie, is it?’ Chris asked as he reached into the esky, cracked open a beer and handed it to his little brother.
‘No arses this time, just my d—’
‘Ethan!’ Janet raised her eyebrows and nodded towards the kids, who were squealing as they hit each other with pool noodles.
‘I was going to say dimples, Janet. Where was your mind going?’ He gave his sister-in-law his best smirk.
She tutted and thumped him on the shoulder.
‘Ow,’ he said, rubbing his shoulder, his mind instantly flicking back to Hazel, thumping him when he’d teased her. Except she’d quickly put her mouth to his, kissing away his complaint. His fingers went to his lips at the memory. Fuck he missed her.
‘I’ve been meaning to ask you,’ Chris said. ‘Rain girl. The one you got stuck in the mountains with during that storm. Whatever happened with her? I got the vibe that something was going on between the two of you.’
Ethan blinked in surprise. It was as if his brother had just read his mind. Every time his phone dinged, a little jolt shot through Ethan, the hope that it might be Hazel finally replying to his goodbye text. But it never was, and the wave of disappointment that crashed over him never eased. The sooner he got to LA, the sooner he could make a fresh start.
‘Hazel,’ he said, working to control the expression on his face. ‘She left before we wrapped. She was actually a chef. She was only taking care of Harry while she looked for another job, and she got another job.’
‘Good on her. Chef is a bit of a step up from minding your dog.’
‘Mmm.’ Ethan took a long swallow of beer.
‘Was the job up the coast?’
‘Ah, nope. She’s from Sydney. The Northern Beaches, actually. The job is at a restaurant at Freshwater Beach.’
‘Nice. Will you catch up with her before you go?’
Ethan chewed his cheek. Tomorrow, he’d be in the same city as Hazel, and he still wasn’t sure what to do about that. Every part of him wanted to see her. But if experience was anything to go by, he suspected it might be better just to let the whole thing be, rather than hang on to something that wasn’t there in the first place and torture himself for months. Who knew if she’d want to see him anyway? And if she didn’t, it would break him.
‘I don’t think I’m going to have time,’ he said. ‘Besides, I’m sure she’s way too busy.’
Hazel laid a cluster of dill fronds across a Balmain bug salad.
‘Hands needed,’ she called, then turned to Blake, resting back against the stainless-steel prep top. ‘That’s the last one. These double lunch sittings are a killer.’
‘And we have to do it all again in a few hours,’ he said. ‘How have you enjoyed your first month? You ready to take over from me?’
‘Ready and raring.’ Next week, the kitchen at her favourite restaurant would be hers. She still couldn’t believe it.
‘Did you bring your swimmers?’ he asked. ‘I’m going for a bodysurf between shifts.’
‘I’ve just got to do something first,’ she said. ‘Meet you down there?’
Hazel watched him disappear over the restaurant deck and down the path to the beach, then she dropped onto a chair in the small office where she’d soon be planning out the menus, ordering produce and overseeing her staff.
She pulled out her phone and stared at the email she’d been holding off reading all day. She was still getting Ethan’s schedule from the production office. No one had thought to take her off the group list when she’d left, and she hadn’t alerted them about it. She’d made a concerted effort not to open any of the emails that came through, diligently transferring them to the folder labelled HARRY. That was until this one. The subject line said GOOD LUCK ETHAN. She glanced around her, as if worried someone might be watching, then tapped on the email, her eyes quickly swallowing the words.
Hi everyone, with Ethan wrapping two days early, he won’t be able to make the wrap party. He sends his apologies, and to thank the entire crew and cast he’s organised a taco and tequila truck for party night. Tacos and tequila on Ethan! He’s heading to LA on the 30th. Everyone wish him luck on his next big movie. We love you Ethan!
Josie – Assistant Unit Manager
A thread of ‘We love you Ethan’ messages followed. Hazel’s hand went to her mouth, smothering a smile, her heart swelling in her chest. She loved that they loved him, and she knew how important their love would be to Ethan.
‘Gosh,’ she whispered.
The 30th was the day after tomorrow. She pressed her lips together, stepped out onto the deck of the restaurant and looked north, towards the row of headlands jutting out along the coast. He might be just a few stretches of sand away already. And tomorrow was her day off.
Hazel wandered down towards the beach and flopped onto a bench at the edge of the car park. She had two choices. She could just let him leave, which was probably the healthiest idea. His goodbye text was a nice full-stop on their brief relationship. Or she could do what her heart wanted her to do – she could throw caution and fear to the wind and go and see the man. She wanted to see him so badly it was keeping her awake at night. She’d taken to looking at photos of him online. There were more of him and Ronnie, but they still didn’t bother her. Even if everyone else thought there was something going on between them, she knew it was nothing. Because she knew Ethan. He wasn’t some pretty, date a different woman every night kind of guy. He was a pretty, stay at home and watch Bake Off with his arms wrapped around his one woman kind of guy. Anyone who really knew him knew that. Hazel knew that.
Suddenly she stood, so quickly and decisively that blood rushed to her head. She’d go and see him, and she’d deal with whatever happened next. His Sydney address had been on some of the original information she’d received from the production office. She would go to his house and knock on his door, and if he was home, she’d wish him good luck and say goodbye. She’d make things right, make sure he knew that he was important to her, that there had been a them and that she had seen a future. She wanted them to have that moment, and maybe even one last kiss.
And if he wasn’t home, then that would be that.
Her hands began to shake.