Chapter 17
AFTER WASHING HER brushes and tidying up, Lila stepped out of the trailer and looked up at the overcast sky. Three days ago the news channels had predicted snow for most of the week. So far they’d only had passing flurries, which turned out well for the crew and shooting schedule in general.
For Lila, the shorter days meant she had more time for Clint.
They hadn’t needed him on the set, so she didn’t get to see him until after work.
But since dinner with his family, he’d spent every night with her.
Lila wasn’t sure how she’d feel about running into his mom again. She’d probably blush to high heaven.
She scanned the groups of crew and extras, hoping to spot Erin.
They still hadn’t talked, though not for lack of Lila trying.
Erin had become wily about disappearing the minute they wrapped each day.
Lila was beginning to think she should ask Clint for a ride to Shadow Creek so she could corner Erin.
Finally Lila saw Erin conferring with the new camera assistant.
They were between scenes, so Lila grabbed a jacket and hurried toward them, hoping to pull Erin aside the second they were finished.
The borrowed jacket was big, but Lila wrapped it snugly around her body and pulled up the collar.
Just because no snow had fallen didn’t mean she wasn’t freezing her butt off.
Yeah, so much for her big, fat, glamorous Hollywood life.
Too late she saw Jason approaching Erin from the other side.
He reached her first and barged right into the conversation. “What do you think, Erin? Were you happy with that last take? I’m not sure I was feeling it.”
She glanced at him, and without answering, returned her attention to the young assistant. The poor guy shifted nervously. First rule on any set, don’t piss off the director.
Lila hung back and imagined the steam coming out of Jason’s ears. To say he was pissed would be putting it mildly. He folded his arms across his chest and glared at Erin’s back. But he didn’t say a word.
It wasn’t unusual for him and Erin to get into disagreements. They’d been crossing swords since college. But they rarely argued in public. That was, until a few weeks ago.
Knowing Erin and the terrible mood she’d been in, Lila figured she’d keep talking and make Jason wait. Since Lila wasn’t about to get in the middle of their feud and he hadn’t noticed her yet, she decided she’d catch Erin later.
She slowly swiveled around and made it a few feet.
“Hey, Blondie.”
Cringing, she stopped, counted to five and turned to face Jason’s silly frat boy grin. “Do you really want to dig out the old nicknames? Let’s see, what was yours? I’m sure it’ll come to me.”
“The grouch must be rubbing off on you,” he muttered, glancing at Erin.
“Huh.” Lila paused, then moved closer so no one could overhear, even though he didn’t deserve the courtesy. “No, it’s you. Annoying Erin and me.” And most of the crew, but she wouldn’t speak for them.
Jason spread his hands. “What did I do to you?”
Interesting. He hadn’t included Erin.
“Your lack of communication is unprofessional and rude, for one thing.” She waited for the denial, but he just shook his head. “How many people have the final revision?”
He didn’t answer, and Lila was fine with stretching out the silence. Hopefully it would make him uncomfortable. Sure, he was under a lot of pressure and worried about the weather. She even sympathized...to some degree.
Erin walked up, looking Jason straight in the eye. “Don’t ever interrupt me like that again.” Just as she turned to Lila, as though it was an afterthought, Erin added, “The take was fine. Come on, Lila. What is it you need? We’ll have to walk and talk. I’m late.”
Lila caught a glimpse of anger in Jason’s face before she fell into step beside Erin.
Her stomach rebelled. She hadn’t seen them interact for a while, and the animosity between them was worse than she suspected.
Erin didn’t hold grudges. She might not agree with something, but she always kept a tight lid on her emotions for the sake of the work.
“What are you late for?”
“Nothing.” Erin glanced at her phone. “I just didn’t want to talk to him.”
“Can you sneak in a break?” Lila asked casually.
“Sure.” Erin blinked and slowed down a step. Probably figured out what was coming. “I only have a few minutes, though.”
“Baloney. We need to talk, and we’re doing it right now.”
“Come on, Lila. I’m working. You know this isn’t the time or place.”
“You’ve been avoiding me, and you haven’t told me anything about what’s going on. So no, actually, I have no idea if this is the time or place.”
“Look, we’ll talk. Later.” Erin stopped when Lila did, and they faced each other. “This evening. I promise.”
“You’ll disappear on me.” Lila felt the sting of tears. She blinked them back and held firm. “Now.”
Erin’s snorted. “Turn off the waterworks. I don’t need you playing me, too.”
Lila could barely breathe. Shocked and hurt to the bone, she stared at her friend. After several long seconds, afraid she couldn’t hold back the tears, Lila turned and walked away.
“Wait. Please, wait.” Erin caught up with her. “Dammit. I’m sorry, Lila. I didn’t mean it. Jesus. I’m such a shithead.”
“Yes, you are,” Lila muttered and kept walking, anger overtaking hurt.
“I’m sorry. I really am. You’re the last person on earth I’d want to hurt.”
Three weeks ago Lila would’ve believed it. She walked faster, her much longer legs making it hard for Erin to keep up.
“Okay, we’ll talk.” Erin jogged a few steps ahead and swung around to face her, walking backward. “Right now. Wherever you want. I’ll explain everything. God, I’m so sorry,” she said, her voice cracking. “Please believe that, if nothing else.”
Lila stopped and looked at her friend’s stricken expression. Tears glistened in Erin’s eyes. She’d cried maybe twice in the twenty years they’d known each other. But it was the crack in her voice that had gotten to Lila.
“I don’t have an excuse,” Erin said. “I’ve been horrible, I know, and I—”
“You don’t need an excuse. We’re friends. You’re allowed. I’m sorry, too.” Lila swallowed back a lump of tears. “But if you don’t follow me to the trailer right this minute and spill everything, I’m going to tell Baxter you have a huge crush on him.”
“Huh.” Erin sniffed. “I turn my back for a couple weeks and you morph into this evil being.”
“Couple weeks, my foot.” Lila turned around and resumed her breakneck pace.
Erin sighed and followed.
Ignoring the stares, neither of them spoke until they were inside the hair-and-makeup trailer with the door locked.
Lila sank onto a chair. “Remember, you said everything.”
Rubbing her eyes, Erin nodded. She lowered her hands. “Baxter is going to be the first AD for the sequel.”
A startled laugh escaped Lila. “Come on...don’t waste time joking.”
“I wish I were joking. I really do.”
“How is that possible? He’s an idiot!”
“I’m pretty sure the whole crew and cast agrees with that.” Erin exhaled harshly. “His uncle wrote a large check.”
“Jason promised you that position and not just because he owes you. You know the job better than anyone, and you’ve worked harder than anybody else. How many months did you spend scouting locations, living on junk food because there’s no per diem money in the budget—”
“It’s okay, Lila. Yes, I’m upset, disappointed, all those things. But Jason did what he thought was best for the project. We can’t understand what kind of pressure a director is under. In his shoes I might’ve done the same thing.”
“Oh, please. I don’t believe that, and neither do you. We’ve always hated the Hollywood double-talk, the empty promises, using people... You would never have done that to Jason, or any of us.”
“You’re probably right.”
“No probably about it,” Lila muttered. “I’m so mad at him.”
“See, that’s why I didn’t want to tell you. Your role is safe. You’ll be playing Tara. Don’t do anything to mess that up.”
“How can you say that? Nothing’s sacred. Jason just proved we can’t trust him.” Lila closed her eyes for a second. “You know, even though he’s been short-tempered and annoying, I still believed in him. I wanted him to succeed. He’s worked hard since college.”
“I still believe in him.”
“How can you, Erin? Why would you even stick around? Jason needs you. Let him flounder and see just how much.”
She turned away.
Lila frowned. “Baxter has no idea what he’s doing. The sequel is going to end up a complete mess.” She stared at her friend’s back. “Erin? What else? You promised.”
She cleared her throat and turned around. “Unofficially I’ll be the first AD. I’ll be paid a salary and everything—”
“And Baxter gets the credit.”
Erin nodded.
“You don’t care about the money, it was always about the credits for the Director’s Guild. What’s Baxter going to do with them? Nobody’s ever going to hire him to do a film.”
“Look on the bright side.” Erin smiled. “I’ll be making sure our investment pays off. We can get rid of our loans.”
Lila stared at her hands. She was almost glad when Erin’s phone signaled a text.
They probably needed her back on the set, and Lila could use some alone time.
How could Erin not be furious and hurt? How could she think Lila wouldn’t be, as well?
If Jason screwed Erin, then he screwed Lila, too. She didn’t even want the role anymore.
“Yep, gotta go,” Erin said, looking up from her phone. “Actually I’m glad I finally told you. I’ve been nasty to Jason, and it’s not really fair since I agreed to the deal. We’ll all benefit in the end.”
Lila forced a smile. It was the best she could do, considering her friend had sold her soul to the devil.
IT HAD BEEN another long frustrating day on the set, and while Lila had avoided most everyone she didn’t want to see, she’d had two encounters with Baxter that made her want to FedEx him to Iceland. In his tighty-whities.
At last, though, she was in the right place with the exact right person.