Chapter Five
Miles
I stared at the disaster on my bedroom floor and sighed.
Clothes, chargers, socks, the one lucky jacket I always forgot to wear but refused to leave behind—scattered everywhere like a war zone. God, how did packing always end up like this? One week abroad and it looked like I was preparing for the apocalypse.
I scratched the back of my neck, biting back a nervous laugh.
“Okay... you can do this. It’s just a trip. Just clothes. Just... Julian Vale.”
And there it was—the flicker of nerves low in my stomach. The reminder of him.
That unreadable, guarded man with the sharp eyes and fake smile that wasn’t fooling anyone. Especially not me.
I bent down to pick up a crumpled t-shirt, sighing again.
Why was this making me nervous? I’d done trips before. New sets, new people. This should feel like any other job.
But this didn’t feel like any other job.
Not with him involved.
I tossed the shirt into my half-packed bag and ran a hand through my hair, glancing at the door.
Maybe Mom would know what to say to make this less...weird.
I grabbed my phone off the bed and flopped onto the carpet, sitting cross-legged in the middle of the packing disaster.
With a sigh, I hit Mom in my contacts. I always called when I was stressed. She knew. She expected it.
It rang once. Twice.
“Hey, baby,” her familiar, sweet voice filled my ear, instantly making the tight knot in my chest loosen. “How’s my favorite actor doing?”
I let out a laugh, rubbing my face. “Staring at a pile of clothes and wondering why I waited until the last minute. Again.”
“Sounds about right,” she chuckled. “Some things never change, huh?”
I smiled, pulling a pair of socks into my lap. “Guess not.”
A beat of quiet. Then her gentle voice again: “So... where are you going this time?”
“Abroad,” I said, shifting the phone against my ear. “For a shoot. Only for a week. But... uh... I’m going with someone.”
“Oh. A someone?” she teased lightly. “Do I know this someone?”
“Julian Vale.”
Silence for a beat on the other end.
“Wait—the Julian Vale?” she gasped. “The model everyone’s obsessed with? That Julian Vale?”
I groaned, falling back on the carpet and staring at the ceiling. “Yeah... him. He’s kind of... well... not exactly warm and fuzzy.”
“No?”
“He’s kinda mean, honestly. But... I think it’s because he’s suffering in silence, Mom. I see it. In his eyes. Like he’s drowning or something, but nobody notices.”
There was a soft laugh on the other end. Fond. A little sad. “Oh, honey. Always trying to fix everyone. You haven’t changed at all, have you?”
I felt my smile grow. “Guess not.”
A quiet hum. Then: “Just remember, Miles... not everyone wants to be saved.”
I gulped, eyes darting to the half-packed bag. “I know. But maybe he does. Maybe he just doesn’t know it yet.”
She sighed gently, the kind of sigh only moms could make. “Just take care of yourself first, baby. And call me when you land, okay?”
“I will. Promise.”
“I love you.”
“Love you more.”
I hung up and stared at the ceiling, heart a little lighter... but the weight of this
I finally wrestled the last shirt into my suitcase and zipped it shut with a victorious little grunt.
“Done,” I muttered, dropping onto the floor beside the bag like I’d just conquered a mountain.
From the hallway came the familiar thump-thump-thump of paws against the floor. I didn’t even have to look up.
“Hey, girl.”
Sunny—my giant, fluffy golden retriever—came trotting in like she owned the place, tail wagging so hard her whole back end swayed with it.
Her tongue lolled from the side of her mouth as she plopped down next to me with a huff, big warm eyes watching me like I was the most interesting thing in the universe.
I scratched behind her ear, grinning. “You always show up when I need you, huh? Best roommate ever.”
She leaned into my hand with a soft little groan. Pure bliss.
I sighed, letting my head rest back against the bed frame. “So... looks like I’m going away for a week, Sunny.”
Her tail wagged twice.
“A whole week without you stealing my socks. You gonna be okay?” I teased gently. “I don’t know if I’ll be okay without you.” I let my hand fall into the soft fur at her neck, quiet for a moment, listening to the soft sounds of her breathing.
“I’m gonna prove them wrong, you know,” I muttered. “All of them. The crew who thinks I’m a joke... the director who sighs every time I mess up... that jerk Ethan. I’m gonna show them I’m not some fluke who lucked into a movie role.”
Sunny gave a little snort, like she agreed.
“And him, too. Julian Vale.” My smile turned smaller. Softer. “I think... I think he’s not as tough as he looks. I saw it. In his eyes. Like he’s drowning, but no one sees it. Like he’s waiting for someone to notice.”
I rubbed Sunny’s head, letting the weight of the words settle in my chest.
“Maybe I’m crazy. Maybe I’m doing that thing again. You know... trying to fix people who don’t want to be fixed.”
Sunny just stared at me, tail swishing once like a quiet answer.
“But... I don’t think he really wants to be alone.”
I glanced down at my suitcase. Fully packed. Ready.
I let out a breath. “I can do this. I can make it through this week. I can get it right.”
Leaning forward, I kissed the top of Sunny’s soft head. “Take care of the place for me, okay? Don’t let the mailman in. Again.”
Her tail thumped lazily.
I stood, brushing off my pants, and glanced at the clock. Late.
With a small, tired smile, I reached for my phone and set the alarm for way-too-early o’clock.
Tomorrow. A week abroad. With Julian Vale.
I clicked the screen off and stared at the ceiling for a moment.
“Here we go,” I whispered.