4. Cassie
Somehow the day is over, and I”ve made it back to the car. Marcy had me running between the set, wardrobe, and offices upstairs. It was all a blur. I”ve never walked so much in my life. My legs are heavy, and I know they”re going to be sore tomorrow.
I allow myself to sink into the driver”s seat. I”m exhausted. I need to figure out my sleep schedule if I”m going to survive. I need time to reflect on the day, from working with Marcy to the surprise that is Emmett.
I thought I wouldn’t see Emmett again, that he was too big of a celebrity to notice me more than once. It just wouldn’t happen. I’m normal me, a simple server working at a diner. A girl with too much on my plate and hair that never lays the way I want it to. In the diner, I assumed him asking me to sit with him was him being nice? Or maybe he was lonely? Hard to say.
I’m taken out of my thoughts by my phone ringing through my car’s speakers. It’s Annie.
“Hello?” I answer.
“You didn’t call me yesterday!” she says.
Oh, shit. I call Annie, my only sibling, most days before my shift at the diner. We’re five years apart, and she still lives with our mom back in Indiana.
Annie is currently a senior in high school. She’s planning to move out here to attend UCLA in the fall, but she hasn’t told anyone yet. Definitely not our mom. When I left, our mom didn’t take it the best. While aware of my love for acting, she thought my dream was unattainable, so she tried to talk me out of moving here. She bluntly informed me that because I wasn”t from here, my aspirations of becoming an actress were trivial.
Aren’t parents supposed to support and root for you? Aren’t they supposed to tell you that you can do whatever you put your mind to?
Well, not my mom. If it weren’t for Annie, I wouldn’t have moved out here. Little Annie encouraged me and, even though she was only 13, I believed every word she said.
I wanted to achieve my dream so she knew it was possible, that you can do hard things. Failing is just a part of life”s journey. You fall; you get back up. Discover the people that will support you and encourage you. You choose the people you have in your life and you hold them tight.
Yeah, it’d be nice for your family to want to know what you’re up to, to ask questions, and to support you, but that’s not the case for everyone. That’s not the case for me. It’s why I don’t talk to my mom a lot. Maybe once a year when I come to visit to see Annie for the holidays.
“Sorry Anns. It’s been a busy day. Well, busy two days. I, um, got a new job?”
“You got a new job? What new job? What about the diner?”
“Still at the diner. It’s a long story and my drive home is short, so to summarize: I forgot I applied for a job, and I ended up getting it. I started today as a production assistant at January Studios.”
She gasps. “The studio Emmett Davis films at?”
“How do you know that?” I ask.
“His Instagram, sis. And the online forums. Seriously? You don’t know what’s going on at the studio closest to your apartment?”
That’s what Lucy said to me as well.
“I hardly have time to think about what’s going on in my life. So, no, I don’t follow what’s going on in other random people’s lives.”
“Well, then yes, Emmett Davis is filming his new movie there. Did you see him? Is he as dreamy in person as he is in photos? Ugh, have you seen his smile? I just melt whenever I see him,” Annie says, practically swooning over the phone. She’s definitely laying in bed, daydreaming about Emmett. This is great, everything is great. My sister is obsessed with the guy that I am hanging out with tonight. Shit. I just remembered I’m hanging out with him tonight.
Emmett. Emmett “Hotshot” Davis. One of Hollywood’s most famous young actors. His smug smirks, dark brown eyes, shaggy mocha hair. Long enough to run your fingers through…
“You there?” Annie pulls me from my thoughts once again.
“Yep, sorry. Just distracted. Um, can I call you tomorrow or later this week? I just pulled into my apartment and I need to eat. I’m starving.”
“Yeah, that’s fine. I’ll want to hear about your day though, and know if you ran into the hottest actor ever!” she yells into the phone.
“Yeah, yeah. Next time. Love you, okay? Keep me updated on your college plans too. Don’t think I forgot about that.”
Her sigh and groan are loud enough to come through the phone. “Deal. Love you! Bye!”
I press end on the call. I sit in the car for a moment now that I’m parked and gather my thoughts.
Okay. I have a few hours to decompress and rest before I have to head over to Emmett’s. At least others will be there tonight, otherwise I wouldn’t have said yes. I don’t know why I agreed in the first place. I used to think that if I encountered a Hollywood actor, I would become even more anxious and withdrawn. Instead, Emmett pulls out the sassy side of me. I winked at him, for crying out loud. I don’t wink! Ever.
God, I hope it didn’t look weird. What if it looked weird and not sexy? Wait, I don’t want to go for sexy either.
Emmett is off-limits. Someone I can be friends with, but that’s it. That’s where the line gets drawn. I am mentally putting up a tall barrier as we speak. A barrier that will be impossible for either of us to break.
A knock on my window breaks me from my thoughts. I slam a hand to my chest. What is up with people today?
“Hey!” A muffled yell comes from the other side of my window. Peering to the left, I recognize that it’s just Lucy.
I grab my bag and open the door.
“Couldn’t have tapped the window any softer?” I ask.
“That wouldn’t have been as fun,” she fusses. “First day go okay?”
We walk in step to our apartment doors. Lucy is wearing her art overalls, which are all covered in various colors of paint, so I’m assuming she just came from the studio.
I nod. “Yeah, um, Emmett kind of asked me to hang out tonight?” I grimace and look over at Lucy in time to see her jaw drop. “Is that weird?”
She holds the door for me as we go in.
“What do you mean he kind of asked you to hang out?” she inquires.
I look back at her and shrug. I don’t want to see her facial expression when I tell her about my day with Emmett, so I turn back around and lead the way to our apartment.
“So, he’s kind of working there? You know that new movie?”
“Yeah…”
“Well, that’s kind of his movie. And um, he gave me a tour of his trailer and we got a little close and then he cornered me by the food table on set. They have fantastic blueberry muffins. Do you want to hear about those? I think they are the—”
“I don’t want to hear about the muffins,” Lucy interjects.
“Right, well um, so yeah where was I?” We get to our apartment, and I unlock the door to let us both in. I throw my stuff on the bench by the door and move to take a seat at the island.
“He cornered you by the food.” Lucy helps me remember.
“Right, so he cornered me with the blueberry muffins and just asked me to come over tonight. With his friends, not just him. And then I winked and—” I groan and throw my head on my hands. I lift my head up and glance at Lucy. “He didn’t seem repulsed by that. In fact, he was quite stunned.”
I place my hands on my lap to stop myself from fidgeting. Noticing Lucy”s eyes locked on me, I can only assume she’s thinking of what to say. Bless her. Here I was, talking away, while she patiently listened.
One of my favorite things about Lucy is her attentiveness when someone else is talking. She’s the best listener. Since moving in with her, I’ve had my fair share of tales to share. Lots of failed auditions, bad dates, and many stories to fill her in on the drama with my mom. She also gives great advice, blunt advice, granted, but it’s ordinarily what I need. Everyone needs a friend like Lucy.
“So, let me get this straight,” Lucy finally speaks. I sit there and nod, trying my hardest not to interrupt her. Where she’s good at listening, I’m not. I’m quite the opposite. I mean, I listen, but I also want to talk. My brain competes with wanting to keep quiet and wanting to “help” by inserting my commentary.
Lucy leans on the counter, passing a drink my way. I don’t even remember her grabbing it. I think I got sidetracked while trying to tell her about my day with Emmett.
“Emmett came into the diner last night. He asks you to eat with him, you say no—”
“Because I was working.” Damn it. She’s glaring at me for interrupting. I bite my lips. I touch my pointer finger to my thumb and drag them across my lips like I’m zipping them closed. This gets a chuckle out of Lucy.
“Mhm. And then you find out he’s working at the studio, which anyone who’s anyone would have been able to tell you. You flirt with each other alone?” she asks with a raised eyebrow. I nod in confirmation. “Alone. Then he asks you to hang out. Sounds like he just wants to spend time with you? That’s not weird. He’s hot, Cass. You could have some fun, ya know, you deserve a break.” She walks around the counter, grabs a granola bar from a bowl, and sits next to me.
A sigh of relief escapes me. I could use a break, but then I’d feel like I was slacking on everything else. If I take time for myself to “have fun” like Lucy is saying, that means less time dedicated to acting. It also means less time to read my lines for upcoming auditions.
“I can see your mind thinking through everything,” Lucy says. I peer over at her.
“You know I’ve been chasing this dream, Luce. I can’t let up now. Even taking this job at the studio is hard because I don’t know if it’s going to pay off,” I tell her.
“Why did you say yes to tonight?”
“I don’t know, honestly. Normally, I wouldn’t have said yes to hanging out with someone I barely know… especially someone like Emmett.”
“You’re just saying that because he’s an actor.”
She’s right. I am. If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t feel so off about my decision. The chances I’ve taken with guys in the past typically ended with me being taken advantage of, or I ended up being with guys who thought acting was just a hobby.
The last guy I was with ruined my trust in men. I know it’s the same story as everyone else, but it’s true. It wasn’t even a genuine relationship, just someone who promised they wouldn’t be like everyone else and ended up tossing me aside for some other girl one step above me. I wasn’t good enough.
That was about a year ago and I haven’t been with anyone since, not even for one night. It was the wake-up call I needed. I ended up taking more shifts at the diner, reading more, watching more movies, and immersing myself in the local acting scene. Nothing has happened yet, but I’m a more confident actor than I was a year ago. If I were to get an opportunity, I’d be ready for it.
“You’re right, but do you blame me? Honestly? You know what I’ve been through,” I say.
“Yes, but,” Lucy draws out, “Emmett seems harmless.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re just saying that because Emmett is hot, and he was nice to you at the diner.”
She shrugs and her lips curl inward. She gets up from the stool and stands next to me. “Maybe I am, or maybe I just want you to have some fun. You’ve been working so hard, Cass. All the past can do is hold you back. Don’t overthink it. Just be friends with the man. What’s the worst that can happen?”
Best-case scenario, we become friends and it makes my job fun. Worst-case scenario, I fall in love with him. There is no middle ground. I don’t think I’d be able to do casual with him. There’s too much of an attraction between us, and I know myself. My feelings would make an appearance.
I only spent one hour alone with the man and made a fool of myself. Smart Cassie would have said no and reminded herself that it will only be a distraction. Hanging out with Emmett will only lead to confusion and complications because of his position and status in the industry.
I smile to myself.
For once, I don’t want to be Smart Cassie. I want to be reckless, impulsive, and fearless.
I’m so tired of keeping myself guarded. Lucy is right. I deserve to have fun. I’m allowed to have more friends. Just because I choose to go hang out with Emmett tonight doesn’t mean anything will come of it. We’ll be friends, just friends. It’d be nice to know someone in the industry that isn’t a complete asshole.
“You’re right. I am overthinking it. It’s scary sometimes how well you know me.” I laugh.
“Mhm, I know. Okay, well, I’m going to head into my room to watch a little something and rest. I have to go to the diner soon. Have fun tonight and be safe, okay? Text me if you need me and I’ll come save you.”
I smirk. “I’ll be fine. Thanks Luce.”
She walks past me, giving my shoulder a squeeze on her way to her room.
My phone buzzes on the table. I reach out to slide it over to where I can view the screen to see who texted me. It’s from Emmett. He’s sent me his address. He said to come over whenever, but I have nothing else to do. My stomach is already in knots, and I can’t stop my fingers from fidgeting with everything in sight, so I react to his text with a thumbs up. It’s enough to let him know I saw it without me sitting here for the next hour trying to think up a response to him that doesn’t seem too eager.
When I get nervous, my extroverted side comes out at full force. It’s why I winked earlier. I would end up texting him 10 exclamation marks and a heap of emojis.
Emmett’s apartment is surprisingly just down the road from me. It only takes me 10 minutes to get there. I park in the garage like he told me. The guard at the entrance just waved me through when I told him who I was here to see, which makes me wonder if women arriving for Emmett are a regular occurrence.
On the elevator ride up to his apartment, I can’t help but think about how tonight will go. I pace the length of the elevator while I wait for it to open on his floor. His friends will be there, so it will be good. I’ll just talk to them all and it will be fine, yep. I don’t even have to worry about being alone with Emmett.
The elevator stops and I get out on his floor. His apartment is the last one at the end of the hall. I barely get a third knock on the door before it swings open.
Emmett stands in front of me with one hand on the door and the other in his jean pocket. He’s wearing a brown v-neck, matching the color of his eyes.
Emmett’s gaze drifts down and back up my body. When his eyes reach mine, he smiles. “Hi.”
“Hi. You going to invite me inside?” I ask.
His eyes go wide and he steps back, opening up the door wider for me to enter.
“Thanks.” I bump his shoulder with mine. I suppose I’m flirting early tonight.
“Hi, Cassie!” I look up to see Tyler waving from the kitchen.
I walk over to the island. “Hi.” I smile.
Max and Lane wave from where they’re sitting on the couch. Emmett comes next to me, leaning his elbows on the island.
I turn my head to the right to find him looking at me. “So, Cassie, can I get you something to drink?” he asks.
I nod. He pushes off the counter, which looks sexier than it should, and walks over to the fridge. He calls out some options they have stocked, and I decide on a non-alcoholic drink. Something fruity.
He hands me the can and then walks into the living room area. I follow him.
The front room is open-concept, decorated minimally with a few art prints on the wall. My seating options are either a spot on the large sectional couch or the oversized chair. I decide on the chair because it’ll be easier to have conversations with others in the room.
I thought Emmett might join the rest of the guys on the couch, but he comes and sits on the flat arm of the chair. When he sits, he doesn’t even look at me. He just continues to talk to the guys like it’s not a big deal that I’m here.
I don’t like it.
I want him to talk to me. I should be grateful that we have other people here, diffusing the tension between us, except Emmett is sitting so close to me that all I want to do is reach out and touch him. Anywhere. I want to pull him to sit next to me and snuggle up under his arm.
Emmett says my name.
“Hm?” I ask, looking up at him.
“You okay?” he asks, studying my reaction.
I nod. “Promise.”
“So, Cassie, what brought you to the City of Angels?” Max asks.
Emmett leans back, catching his body with the back of the chair. He snakes his arm along the cushion, resting his hand close to my shoulder. If I shifted two inches to the left, I’d touch him. When he turns his head to look at me, waiting to hear my answer even though he already knows, I also realize that a mere foot separates his mouth from mine.
“Well,” I return my gaze to Max, “I arrived with a single suitcase and a dream. I figured if I wanted to become an actress, there were limited places to do so, so I decided to move somewhere I hoped would bring me the most opportunities.”
“And? Has it?” Lane asks.
I turn to him and say, “Has it what?”
“Brought you opportunities.”
“Um,” I hesitate, not wanting to dump all my problems on this group of friends. Emmett’s hand comes in contact with my shoulder and he gives it a light squeeze. All eyes are on his hand touching me. Claiming me.
“I’ve been in a few things, but I’m determined to land something larger.” I smile softly, also remembering that Max and Lane could one day hire me.
“Sometimes it takes a while. It took Max and I a few years to get our company off the ground, then when Tyler started working at the studio, he brought us on,” Lane says.
“And the rest is history,” Max chimes in.
“Have you all been friends for long?” I ask, looking around the room to each of them.
“We have been,” Tyler says, gesturing at Max and Lane. “Emmett is the newest addition to our crew.”
Emmett leans toward me, his mouth inches from my ear, and whispers, “They forced me to be friends.”
I bite my lip to stifle a laugh as the guys talk about some memories from working together at the studio.
They try to tell me embarrassing stories of Emmett, but that gets shot down. All it takes is a glare from Emmett and their lips zip shut.
I’m having so much fun that I don’t realize it’s past midnight. Max and Lane left an hour ago, so it’s just Tyler, Emmett, and me.
“I think I’m going to head out. You two going to be okay?” Tyler asks with raised eyebrows.
I look at Emmett. Emmett looks at me.
I look back at Tyler. “Yeah, we’ll be okay.” I smile.
Tyler winks at Emmett. Goodness. You’d think we were high schoolers being left alone for the first time. It feels like that a bit. This little crush that I’m trying hard to push down is slowly making its way to the surface.
It doesn’t take much for my stomach to flutter. The entire night Emmett has been doing things that make it hard to ignore him. Every glance and small touch is enough to drive me insane.
With Tyler gone, we both just stand facing the front door. I suddenly realize he may want me to leave soon also, since it’s getting late.
“Do you want me to leave?” I turn to face him to try to read his expression.
His eyes are soft. His lips curl into a smirk, the kind of smirk that makes my stomach do flips.
“No, I don’t want you to leave, Cassie. Do you want to leave?” He poses the question as he walks past me into the kitchen.
I turn around and follow him.
“I should leave, but no.”
Emmett glances over his shoulder and smiles in my direction.
It seems neither of us have a clue what’s going on. I know I should have left already. There’s no reason I need to be here this late, but I can’t bring myself to say goodbye. The pull between Emmett and me is… something else. It’s clouding my judgment. It’s making me want to be pinned against the counter and have his lips pressed against mine.
We move to sit on the couch, plopping next to each other. The brush of his leg meeting mine, enough to feel his warmth.
We spend the next little while just talking. I’m learning a lot about Emmett.
He opens up about his childhood and tells me about his parents. I always thought they depicted a picture-perfect family. I only saw the pictures online, of course, but they just looked happy. He tells me how he likes to write, but when I ask about it, he says it’s just a hobby right now. Him opening up to me is a sign that he trusts me. Even just a little.
I tell him about Annie and how she wants to move out here this fall. I also tell him about my mom. That’s a hard subject, but I feel comfortable around him. I only talk about my family to Lucy, but she knows everything about me. If I ever meet someone new, they don’t get to know me like this. They get the public-facing version of myself and not my inner demons.
The Emmett I’m getting to know is different from how I thought he would be. I didn’t think he’d have such a soft interior.
His arm is on the back of the couch, and his fingers lightly caress my shoulder. I let him. It’s comforting. He’s not trying to make a move or push any boundaries. His affection is subtle, yet endearing and intentional.
I don’t know what I’m going to do about Emmett, but I hope we get to have more nights like this.