Chapter 36
CALLUM
He let go of Tasha’s hand so she could eat her food.
How kind, yet how typical of Lettie to read the situation and immediately invite Riley and Erin to join them.
She was a natural host and he supposed it was probably helped by growing up with a mother like Lindy who always had enough food to cater for any unexpected guests.
Callum smiled at his sister and swapped amused glances with her.
She seemed happy and he wondered whether it was because her morning had gone so well, or because she was enjoying spending time with Riley.
Riley’s eyes kept returning to Erin and resting on her face for a few seconds before he seemed to remember he was in the middle of talking about himself.
Callum enjoyed seeing his sister happy but wished it could have been with someone other than this actor who was so very satisfied with himself. He wondered if older siblings always had a sense they should look out for their younger brothers or sister. Probably, he decided.
‘Have you enjoyed filming this series, Riley?’ Brodie asked before eating another forkful of pasta.
‘I’ve enjoyed being on this beautiful island,’ Riley answered, shooting a bright smile at Erin. He raised his eyebrows at Tasha, who Callum felt tense next to him.
As if Riley sensed Tasha’s tension, he turned his attention to her. ‘I couldn’t do any of this without Tasha’s help.’ He smiled at her.
‘It’s my job.’
‘And you do it very well, if I may say.’
‘Thank you,’ Tasha said, sounding grateful, but Callum didn’t miss the undertone of irritation in her voice.
Lettie took a sip of water from her glass and set it back down on the table. ‘Well, we’ve loved having the crew here and watching you all filming. It’s a new experience for all of us, isn’t it, Brodie?’
‘It is,’ he agreed. ‘And thankfully the animals don’t seem fazed by any of it.’
Riley seemed delighted. ‘Thank you. I’m glad it’s all going well and that you, or the animals, haven’t been too bothered by us being here.’
Callum began eating his food until he realised Riley was talking to him. ‘Sorry, I didn’t catch what you said.’
‘I was asking how you enjoyed your part this morning.’
Callum decided not to dwell on his mistake. ‘I enjoyed it, as a matter of fact. I wasn’t as nervous as I’d expected.’
Riley nodded. He seemed to be waiting to say whatever was on his mind. He grinned. ‘Tell me, what were you thinking about when you smiled and we needed to go for another take?’
Callum wasn’t surprised Riley wanted to draw attention to his mess-up. He had no intention of admitting his real thoughts to Riley though.
‘I’m not really sure I was thinking of anything,’ he said vaguely. ‘I suppose I had a momentary lapse of concentration – probably thinking how much I was enjoying myself.’
‘Hmm.’ Riley didn’t seem convinced.
‘Why?’ Lettie asked. ‘What did you think was on Callum’s mind?’
Riley frowned and rested his elbows either side of his plate and then his chin on his hands. He gazed thoughtfully at Callum before returning his attention to Lettie. ‘I thought it might be because he had seen my wonderful assistant standing on the sidelines watching my scene.’
He saw Tasha’s hand nearest to him clench slightly and knew she was irritated.
That might be her role but they both knew she was so much more than that, being available at all times of the day or night to reassure Riley, manage his mess-ups with ex-girlfriends, apologise to people on his behalf when he had offended someone and keep an eye on what he posted on social media when he had drunk too much.
‘No, it wasn’t that,’ Callum argued.
Riley tilted his head slightly and narrowed his eyes, smiling. ‘I saw you looking in her direction though.’
Callum purposely hesitated, wanting Riley to feel uncomfortable for pushing the subject. ‘My sister was also standing there.’ He smiled at Erin. ‘Weren’t you?’
‘That’s right.’ She blushed at the admission and immediately Riley’s attention was diverted to her.
It was a relief, although Callum wondered how long his sister and Riley would stay interested in each other.
How was she going to feel when filming finished and he left the island?
Would Riley ask his sister to visit him?
Whatever happened, he was sorry that when Riley left, Tasha would be going with him.
With lunch over, Callum thanked Lettie and Brodie for their hospitality and followed Riley and Erin with Tasha back to prepare for his last scene. Erin and Riley made their way to the hair and make-up trailer while Tasha took a call.
As Callum walked back to join the crew, he thought how it had been interesting to take part in the series in such a small way. He had not really wanted to do it, but now knew he would probably look back and be glad that he had.
‘Ah, there you are.’
Callum saw the director walking over to him and felt a sense of unease. ‘We were at lunch. I hope we haven’t kept anyone waiting.’
The man shook his head. ‘Not at all. I was coming over to ask you if you would agree to be in some stills for advertising the show.’
Callum didn’t see why. ‘I’m surprised you’re asking me.’
‘Why?’
‘I’ve only got a tiny part.’ He shrugged. ‘I clearly don’t know a thing about how all this works but, thinking of promotional photos from television shows I’ve watched, I’ve always assumed it’s the main cast who would be used for this sort of thing.’
The director lowered his voice. ‘I like the contrast between both your looks. You come across as the boy next door, whereas Riley has something darker about him. You’re also from here and we need the locals to take the new series to their hearts and help spread the word on their social media platforms. I think both those things will work well and help entice as many viewers to watch as possible. ’
Callum still didn’t like to imagine Riley’s reaction to this news.
‘Well, what do you say? You can have time to think about it, of course. Not long though. Say, an hour?’
Callum laughed. ‘Boy next door? I’ve never been called that before.’
An assistant standing near the director said, ‘Boy next door who would make a perfect Tom Ford model.’ She gave a flirtatious laugh before walking off.
‘So, what do you think? Will you consider it? You’ll be paid, of course.’
Callum wasn’t fazed about being paid, but wasn’t sure whether he could be bothered with Riley’s reaction.
He might not know the man all that well, but he knew enough about Riley’s arrogance to suspect he would not be impressed about having someone with barely any lines standing in the same shot as him for promotional photos.
‘Say yes,’ Tasha said from somewhere behind his right shoulder.
He turned to her and laughed. ‘Where did you spring from?’
‘I was coming to chat to you and was intrigued to see the pair of you here.’ She smiled at the director. ‘Sorry to interrupt your conversation with Callum, Mike.’
He shook his head. ‘Don’t apologise, Tasha. If you manage to persuade him, then I’ll be very happy.’
Deciding he needed to broach what was concerning him, Callum checked that Riley wasn’t anywhere nearby before doing so. ‘I’m not sure Riley will like the idea.’
The director didn’t seem at all bothered. ‘And?’
‘He’s your star. I’m not even an actor. You’ve already had to redo several scenes and I would hate for anything I do to cause further issues.’
Mike put a hand on Callum’s shoulder. ‘He might be the main character in the show, but that doesn’t make him the one in charge.
Not that Riley seems to remember that too often.
We all know he’s the reason some of the cast and crew needed to stay for filming.
As far as I’m concerned he’s lucky we had already recorded the vast majority of the series, otherwise we would have fired him and replaced him with another actor.
’ He frowned and leant slightly closer to them.
‘And that latest drama with him being photographed with someone other than his girlfriend really isn’t the sort of coverage we need to promote our show.
I don’t think it’ll do him any harm to feel slightly threatened by having another good-looking man in the photos.
If you don’t have a problem being that person, that is? ’
‘It’s true,’ Tasha said quietly, glancing over her shoulder, probably to check Riley wasn’t anyway nearby. ‘And if there’s to be another series, then there’s a lot riding on this being launched to as many people as possible.’
Callum was shocked to hear them talking so openly.
He focused on the point the guy was making. ‘But I thought a second series had already been commissioned?’
Mike groaned. ‘Not yet, but we’re all hoping it happens. Whether we like it or not, Riley has a big audience and most people believe he’s the fun, charming chap he likes to portray.’ He glanced at Tasha who was nodding and didn’t seem at all bothered to hear her boss talked about in this way.
‘So, will you agree to do the photos?’ Mike asked, a hopeful tone in his voice.
Callum wasn’t sure what to do for the best. It wasn’t as if he had a career as an actor and needed the promotion. Would it matter that much if he didn’t do it? Would he regret not doing it? Or be glad that he had turned the offer down?
‘Go on, do it,’ Tasha urged. ‘It’ll be fun.’
He wondered whether the fun from her perspective would be in seeing Riley’s reaction.
Was she wanting Callum to do this as payback for Riley messing everyone around for the past few months?
For behaving so badly that delays were caused, costing the production money and time?
Hearing his sister’s voice and Riley’s laughter as he’d left her at the doorway to the trailer, Callum thought of Erin and how Riley’s adverse reaction might affect her.
‘I’m not sure it’s the right thing to do.’
‘What isn’t?’ Riley asked, joining them.
Without thinking, Callum said, ‘For me to agree to join you for the series promotion shots.’
He realised what he had done when Mike’s eyes widened and Tasha cringed.