Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
“You sure you’re ready for what’s next?” Eli eyed me nervously.
In response, I snaked my arms around his torso and squeezed. “If you’re there, I’ll be fine.”
“He’s going to act like he’s this charming guy whom you’re lucky to be meeting, which, of course, makes him come across as a total dick,” he warned.
“I’m a writer, remember? I have thick skin.” Not entirely true. I might have cried a little when Piper had read my first manuscript and given me a critique on the ending. Eli didn’t need to know that, though.
“Eli. Calla. We’re ready for you to go out front and talk with Tim,” Shay said, walking out and waving her clipboard.
“How did your meeting with him go?” I whispered as we followed Shay’s heavy steps.
“About as well as can be expected. He asked if I’d met someone, or somehow screwed this experience up, too. Then we argued for about fifteen minutes before his phone rang and he insisted that it was important and he had to take it. ”
We walked down a long hallway, toward one of the doors that led out front.
“They let him keep his phone?” I asked. I hadn’t seen a phone on set since I arrived.
“Of course. He’s Tim Price. He can do whatever he wants,” Eli said mockingly. “If we’re lucky, he’ll get another important call five minutes into our conversation. That’s really all the time you’ll need to get to know what he’s all about.”
Shay led us through a door toward the front of the building. I had barely been this way since first arriving; we did any onsite challenges on the property and the vans we took to offsite challenges were kept along the side of the building. But as we walked out onto the front porch and massive entryway to the lodge, the windy drive that led up to it brought memories crashing back.
I had been so nervous upon arrival I had practically been shaking. And that was when I’d still thought I’d just be here writing. The memory struck me as funny. What if that had been the truth? I doubted I would have been able to get past my substantial mental block on a show like that. Meanwhile, just a few days of getting beaten up in challenges and opening up with Eli had my mind already filled with inspiration. I could hardly wait to start outlining my next story.
Shay pointed us in the direction of three rocking chairs that sat facing the gravel drive. The view out here was just as stunning as everywhere else, but something about the road being in view made it less magical—like I could just drive away and back to reality at any moment.
Eli’s demeanor grew stiffer as we approached the chairs, one of which was already occupied. Tim held up a finger as he relayed something in a hushed tone over the cell phone that was pressed against his ear.
After another awkward few seconds of us standing there, Tim ended the call and stood up. “You must be Callie,” he said, taking my hand.
“Calla,” Eli corrected gruffly, glaring at his father.
“It’s fine. Happens all the time,” I said, trying to make light of the mistake. “And you must be Tim.”
It was strange seeing Tim in real life. While I wasn’t a big fan, or anything close to it, I had inevitably seen many reruns of his movies on television growing up. He was shorter in person. Isn’t that what everyone says about meeting actors in real life? But with Tim it was true. He stood quite a few inches shorter than his son. His hands were oddly smooth when he shook my hand for an extended time before releasing me; almost as if he had them exfoliated daily.
“Calla, of course. I knew that,” he said, lightly smacking the top of his head. “Please sit. I’ve been dying to meet the girl who has my son so captivated.”
As we sat, and I could see Tim up close, I noticed the lack of fine lines on his face. It looked artificial. Much like his too-perfect teeth, which were an unnatural shade of white.
“I’m pretty captivated, too,” I started, trying my best to seem charming. Although the last time I had met a significant other’s family members for the first time, I had been only eighteen. “Your son is an amazing guy. I feel really lucky that it worked out this way and we got to meet each other.”
Tim snorted and threw his head back in amusement. Eli bristled in response. “Amazing? That’s funny. The tabloids might have some other choice words for him.”
“Only because they don’t really know him.” I leaned in closer to Eli, already feeling defensive. “They only print whatever cheap drama they think will sell.”
“They know enough, trust me. My son has always been trouble. I’m just glad he finally found a girl who will get him to straighten out. ”
Wow that was. . . almost nice. I think.
“He’s done a lot for me, too,” I insisted, reaching over and grabbing Eli’s hand. His lip turned up a little but his jaw remained clenched so tight I worried he might chip a tooth.
“He’s helped you get over your fiancé, right? Terrible what you’ve been through.” Tim pouted.
“Watch it,” Eli warned. It was the first thing he’d said since we’d sat down.
My smile froze in place. “I wouldn’t phrase it like that. What happened to Michael...it was a long time ago. Eli has really helped me deal with my grief and learn a lot about myself.”
“And you two think you have a shot at making this work in the real world, outside of all this hubbub?” Tim asked, clearly unconvinced.
“Yes,” Eli said forcefully.
Tim just chuckled. “See? Totally smitten. I’ve never seen him like this with a girl.”
“You’ve never seen much of me at all,” Eli countered.
Tim frowned and sat forward. “Excuse me? I raised you. You’re a household name because of me, you ungrateful little?—”
“Eli tells me you’re producing now,” I interrupted, hoping to divert the argument that had bubbled to the surface. Eli and his dad were not going to get into all of their issues here and now. We just had to play nice for the cameras for a little while.
Tim cleared his throat and forced his eyes away from Eli. “Yes, my production company is going to put out some of the biggest action movies in this decade. I offered to put Eli in a huge series we’re adapting, but he said no. He’d rather have his career go up in flames. ”
Eli blew out air. “For the millionth time, I want to be behind the camera.”
His father waved off his comment. “Not your silly screenplay again.”
“I’m excited to read it,” I chimed in, forcing myself to sound cheerful.
“You’re not missing much,” Tim said before returning his attention to me. “And what is it you do again? You’re a singer?”
I gulped, anticipating a judgmental response when I gave my answer. “That’s Trace. I’m-I’m actually a writer. A novelist, specifically.”
Tim frowned. “Talk about an impossible industry. You’ll be lucky if anything you write sees the light of day.”
“She already has a publishing deal for her first novel,” Eli seethed next to me.
Tim eyed me up and down, considering me. “Well, aren’t you impressive.”
I wasn’t sure what to say to that.
“She is,” Eli responded for me, bringing my hand to his lips and pressing them to it softly.
“Well, I’m glad my son met you, then. I hope he’ll finally clean up his act once and for all.”
Before I could say anything in response to his snide remark, his phone rang. He held up a meaty finger and said, “Gotta take this,” before standing and walking away.
“Cut!” shouted Shay. “We got what we needed.”
The crew took down the cameras and started to move the equipment.
“You two stay put for now. I’ll come get you when it’s time for interviews,” Shay instructed.
“Will I get to say goodbye to my sister?” I asked.
“There won’t be time before her flight,” Shay said cooly. “ But you fly home after the finale tomorrow; you’ll see her soon enough.”
My chest deflated at the news. But it was comforting to think about all this being over tomorrow.
As soon as Shay departed, Eli was in front of me and searching my eyes in a panic.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “Please don’t hate me because of him. I swear you never have to see him again if you don’t want to.”
His concern made the lackluster conversation that had just taken place not so bad. We had each other’s back. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I had someone in my corner whom I could trust, someone that wasn’t my mom or Piper.
“I’m fine. I’m more worried about you. I hope you know all that stuff he said about you isn’t true.”
Eli shrugged it off. “I’m used to him. I can handle my father.”
Judging by how triggered and defensive Eli had appeared throughout the whole conversation, I wasn’t quite sure that was true.
“At least it’s over. I would have had to meet him eventually.”
Eli stroked my arm. “Actually, I was planning on never subjecting you to him.”
“Really? Never?” I asked, playing along.
He patted my knees. “Well, maybe after a few years when it’s too late for you to change your mind about me.”
I leaned in and kissed him. “It’s already too late.”
His lips lingered for a moment before he groaned against my mouth. “I really can’t wait to get the hell out of here.”
I pretended to check an imaginary watch. “Only about twenty-four hours to go.”
“And it’s going to feel like a century,” he insisted .
“Sure you still want to come home with me?” I teased. But if he listened closely enough, he could easily detect a hint of nerves. Meeting Eli’s dad had reminded me of what his real life was like—and how little sense I might make as part of it.
Eli’s face fell. “Of course I do. Did something he said get to you? I swear, he’s always like that. Actually, no. He’s usually worse. But you can’t take anything he says seriously. I sure as hell don’t.”
I sucked in a deep breath, reminding myself that this was still my Eli. The one I had stayed up all night talking to. The one I had cried with. The one I had shared the darkest parts of my grief with. The one who gave me hope. I tried to pick my words carefully.
“It’s just, seeing him and my sister made it all real, you know?”
His jaw clenched. “No, I don’t know, Calla. This has been very real for me for a while now.”
“Me too,” I said hurriedly. "I just...just seeing your dad was a reminder of our real lives, I guess. And I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous about fitting into yours.” Looking down at our intertwined hands for a moment, I let the vulnerable parts of me show. Had our short time together really changed everything for him like it had for me?
“Come here,” he said, tugging my hands and pulling me onto his lap. He pinched my chin between his index finger and thumb. “I need you to listen to me very closely, Calla. You are a big part of my life now. I’m sorry if that’s too overwhelming, or I’m not playing it cool enough. There’s probably a more eloquent way to say all this stuff, but I need you to understand. Before I met you, I was just stumbling through my life in a haze. Honestly, it felt like I was living someone else’s life. Like I was just a spectator, watching it all from a distance. But now, with you, it’s like I’m finally experiencing everything for the first time. I don’t even know exactly what’s going to happen next, but whatever it is, the only thing I’m sure about is that you’ll be there.”
His face blurred in my vision. I couldn’t speak. Because everything he’d just described was how I felt about him.
Eli’s eyes searched mine, a question written in them. “Unless you’re not sure how I’d fit into your life...”
If he didn’t look so serious, I might have laughed at the ridiculous notion. I bridged the few inches that separated us and placed a gentle kiss on his mouth.
“For the first time in a really long time, I’m happy. And I can’t wait for what’s coming next. That’s because of you.”
Eli’s gaze turned piercing before his lips came crashing onto mine. There was nothing gentle about this kiss. I could feel his raw need as he kissed me even deeper.
“Break it up, lovebirds!” Shay shouted, walking outside and clapping her hands. “We need you inside.”
Eli sighed, breaking away from my lips and pressing his forehead against mine.
“Have I mentioned that I can’t wait to get the hell out of here?”