Chapter 14 #3
“No, not like this.” Drew took a step toward her and pulled her into a hug.
Jessica sobbed and sagged against him. “I’m sorry things turned out like this,” he said.
“I didn’t plan it at all. You know I’ll always love you as a friend.
You’re a good person, Jess. Right now, you’re just tired, and you’ve been thrown for a loop.
But you’re strong. You’ll get over this.
Your star is rising, too. You’re going to get to the top and get everything you want from life without me, I just know it. ”
“But I want you,” she wept, resting her forehead against his shoulder. “I love you.”
“I think you love the idea of me,” Drew said, nudging her back and letting go of her. “That’s not who I am anymore. I need to figure out me, and you need to figure out you.”
“This isn’t how things are supposed to happen,” Jessica continued to weep.
“I know, and I’m sorry,” Drew said with a sigh. He glanced toward the door, then back at her. “I really have to go now. But you’re going to be okay, I swear.”
He wished he could say a longer goodbye and make sure Jessica would be alright, but the studio car was waiting, and he absolutely did not want to be one of those actors who held up an entire production for personal reasons.
His misery and anxiety didn’t ease up once he was in the car, though, or once he was on set. He did everything he could to separate his professional life from his personal, but even with his efforts, he knew he was having an off day.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Sawyer asked after they’d shot the same scene five times in a row without getting everything the director was after.
“No, it’s just some personal stuff,” Drew said, his head starting to throb.
“I get it.” Sawyer thumped his back supportively. “Everyone has a bad day at the office now and then.”
Bad day was a good way to put it. And it got even more uncomfortable when he got a call from Abby between scenes.
“I take it you’ve heard everything by now,” Drew answered with a sigh.
“I have,” Abby said. “I’m not sure if you’ve heard everything, though.”
Drew frowned, wondering what that was all about. “Heard what?” he asked.
“Jessica is on a flight back to L.A.”
Drew’s eyes popped wide, but only for a second. “I can’t say I’m surprised, really.”
“She says you broke up with her, but she’s not going to accept it,” Abby went on.
“Well, she’s going to have to accept it,” Drew sighed.
“That’s what I told her. But you know Jessica. She’s nothing if not stubborn,” Abby sighed, too. She paused before going on with, “So, did you really sleep with Lee?”
Drew immediately flushed hot. He glanced around to make sure no one was near enough to overhear before saying, “Yeah.”
“And?” Abby asked, way too much excitement in her voice.
Drew couldn’t help but smile as the conversation shifted his focus to everything that had happened the night before. “And it was game changing,” he said.
“That good, eh?” Abby teased him.
Drew smirked. “You knew all along, didn’t you.”
“Knew you swung both ways? Yep. I also knew you and Lee were perfect for each other as soon as I met him,” she said.
“We are kind of perfect together,” Drew admitted, smiling. Those happy, horny feelings were confusing when they rammed up against his anxiety about Jessica, though. He sighed and said, “I’m kind of a mess right now. This whole thing is a lot.”
“Of course it’s a lot,” Abby said. “But you’ve got this. I have complete faith in you.”
Drew wanted to keep talking to Abby and to get her advice for how the hell he was supposed to navigate his life now, but another call came through. A call from Lee.
“I have another call,” he told Abby. “I have to get this.”
“Okay. Take care. We’ll talk later.”
Abby hung up, leaving Drew free to answer Lee with. “Hi.”
“How did it go?” Lee asked right away.
“Terribly,” Drew answered with an ironic laugh. “Jessica screamed and sobbed, and apparently she’s gone back to L.A.”
“Yikes,” Lee said. He paused, then went on with, “I almost feel bad for asking if you want to come to Kent later to celebrate Dan with me and Mum. Mum asked about you and would like you to come.”
Heat spilled through Drew. Lee’s mom wanted to meet him? Already?
Then again, running away from his life to celebrate someone else’s might be just what he needed to distract himself once filming was done.
“I’d love to come,” he said. “As long as filming doesn’t run late today. I’m only needed here until about noon.”
“Come if you can, then,” Lee said. “I’ll text you the address. If someone can drop you off, I’ll drive you back.”
“Thanks,” Drew said. He wanted to say so much more, that he missed Lee, that he’d had a great time last night, that he wanted more of that. But those words wouldn’t come out, and they were far too dangerous on a crowded set. All he could say was, “I’ll see you later.”
Lee said a much more affectionate goodbye, then hung up.
For a while, Drew just sat there, staring at his phone.
Everything in his life had been thrown up in the air in the last twenty-four hours, and he still had no idea how all the pieces would land.
The only thing he knew was that he needed more of Lee. More than he’d ever needed anyone.