Chapter 25
Hannah
“How’s your ankle feeling?” Channing asks as we make our way along the path toward the car.
I’m navigating with the crutches, while he carries my bag. It’s still dark because it’s so early, and I catch myself smiling at heading back to work.
Truthfully, I’m getting used to the pain.
“It’s okay,” I tell him, adjusting my grip on the left crutch. “I’m taking less pain relievers now, and the doctor said just a few more weeks until I’m free of these torture devices.”
“That’s great, miss.”
It is.
I climb into the car, more of an awkward slide than a graceful entry, and settle into the seat with a soft exhale. My phone lights up, and I see a message from my ex. He sent it last night.
Billy: I read that you’re injured. Do you need me to come and look after you? Just buy me a ticket, and I’ll be there.
I stare at the words on the screen, snorting. “Buy me a ticket.” Of course. Those four words say everything.
Once again, I’d need to take care of him. He doesn’t want to come here and care for me. He wants to get his face in the papers, his name on TMZ. The concerned ex-boyfriend angle would play well for him.
I should block him. I know I should. But blocking him feels like it still matters, like he’s still worth the effort of a reaction. Leaving him on read is so much more satisfying. Let him wonder. Let him refresh the screen, waiting for a response that’s never coming.
I’m not giving him anything—not a conversation he can twist, not a quote he can sell to the press. No thanks.
The quiet life here, with minimal cameras except the ones on set, is exactly what I need.
Yes, there was an article about my injury, but a few tabloid pieces are nothing compared to back home.
In LA, cameras followed me daily, shoving lenses in my face outside coffee shops, gyms, my own front door.
I’ve spent years living out of suitcases, moving from hotel to hotel with paparazzi tracking my every move.
Here, I’ve actually unpacked. Well, Zac did that for me yesterday, but still.
My heart flutters at the thought. The way he kissed me last night, like he couldn’t help it, and then pulled back, his forehead against mine, his eyes closed like he was battling himself against his own self-control.
The way he looked at me when he said he couldn’t, not yet, not like this, as if it was costing him something real to say it.
He’ll be here today, and that alone makes all thoughts of my dickhead ex disappear.
I’ve been replaying that kiss since the moment he pulled back from it, the way his forehead dropped to mine like he needed a second to recover too.
Like it hurt him to stop. He’s a true gentleman.
The man won’t even let me walk past him without insisting on carrying me, his arms steady and sure, his eyes searching mine for any sign of discomfort.
And because I’ve been so deprived of real desire, real care, I let him.
I fought it once, just once, until I thought, why not? I deserve this.
We pull up at the set, the familiar rows of trailers coming into view. Channing parks and comes around to help me out, his hand firm on my elbow as I manoeuvre the crutches.
“I can stay until—” he starts.
“Dr. Sterling will be here today,” I interrupt gently, and the knowing smile that crosses Channing’s face makes color rush to mine.
“Say no more, miss.” He helps me to the trailer door, then tips his head and walks back to the car.
I step inside, and immediately Jaina, Karyn, and Mia all squeal with excitement, their voices overlapping in a chorus of welcome.
“You look great!” Jaina gushes, pulling me into a careful hug.
“Let her sit first,” Mia says, stepping in close on my left side, her hand grabbing my arm as I tuck the crutches against the wall and lean into her. She guides me toward the makeup chair carefully.
As I lower myself into the chair, Jaina speaks, “I’ve been dying to tell you that I reached out to Nikkita yesterday.”
“What did she say?”
Jaina breaks into a smile. “She wants me to come to LA for a trial.”
“Jaina, that’s amazing.” I grab her hand.
“It’s just a trial. I could fail drastically—”
“You won’t.”
“I got you your green tea with honey and some breakfast.” Karyn gestures to the small table where a steaming cup and a covered plate wait. “Bagel with cream cheese.”
“Thanks.” I pick it up with a grateful sigh. They’re too kind. “I really needed this.”
“We know,” Jaina says.
“I’m going to read through my lines.”
The energy in the room shifts. Karyn exchanges a look with the other girls before turning back to me, her expression careful. “Dain’s been extra demanding lately, so it’d be a good idea to nail it today.”
“I’ll be fine,” I say. “Let me read, and then I expect a full debrief over lunch.”
“Sure thing.” Mia’s face brightens, her fingers already working through my hair.
“You got it,” Karyn says with a squeeze of my shoulder before moving away.
I’ve finished with hair and makeup, confident with my lines, so now I’m getting dressed in front of the trailer’s mirror.
I reach for the unusual shirt dress hanging on the rack that has a gray blazer fabric at the bottom and a blue-and-white-striped collared shirt at the top.
I slip it on, and I’m surprised by how well it fits, how nice it is.
The structured hem gives me an almost editorial look, while the striped top keeps it softer.
I slip a slingback pump onto my good foot, straightening and giving myself a once-over as the excitement to be back at my job takes over.
Fear swept through me a few times, both when I found myself in the hospital, staring at the ceiling and wondering if this was it, if my career was over before it really began.
I shake the thoughts away and roll my shoulders back.
I’m here. I deserve this. I’ll go out there, do my job, and ignore the scooter waiting for me like a bad reminder of my limitations.
I push open the door with my shoulder, and someone pulls it the rest of the way. I freeze.
Zac’s here.
My heart does a little jump. He’s dressed in a more relaxed fit, but he still looks put together, wearing jeans, a navy t-shirt, blue button-up, and a brown jacket with brown boots.
What time is it?
I glance at the clock mounted on the trailer wall; seven forty-five a.m.
“Hey,” he whispers.
“Hi.” The word comes out a little high because I’m ridiculously happy to see him. And from the way his piercing eyes are tracking over my face, lingering on my mouth before meeting my gaze again, the corners crinkling slightly, he seems to feel the same.
I wasn’t nervous before, but something about Zac being here, and watching me today, makes my stomach knot with anticipation.
I need to channel this energy; use it to show him my work.
He’s shown me how incredible he is at his job, and I need to do the same.
Prove I’m not just the accident-prone reality star.
“You didn’t have to come until later,” I say, letting him know that I personally don’t expect him to do long hours. “But it’ll be nice for you to see me do something other than fall.”
His lips tip up in that almost-smile that makes my chest warm. Then he leans in close enough that I can smell his freshly sprayed cologne. “Damn, I was hoping to catch you again.”
Heat blooms from my chest to my neck and up to my cheeks. I remember what it felt like when he didn’t hold back. Later, I mouth, fighting my own smile.
“Do you need to re-read your lines?” Karyn asks from behind me, in a way that clearly says, do I need to give you two a minute?
I tear my gaze away from Zac’s. “No, I’m good. Ready to work.”
Mia has her hands clasped in front of her chest, smiling while Jaina beams at me, practically bouncing on her feet.
Even Zac has a softer expression. No one would be able to tell, but I’ve been around him enough lately to read the subtle shift in his features, the relaxation around his eyes, the way his shoulders aren’t quite so tight.
A loud bang rattles the trailer, making bottles on the counter clink together. My heart lurches. If I had to guess, I’d say it’s Dain.
The door swings open and, sure enough, there he stands.
Hands on his hips, filling the doorway like he owns it.
He’s wearing his usual expensive jeans, a fitted back t-shirt, and a production vest covered in pockets.
His eyes drop over me, assessing every detail of my appearance with the critical eye of someone looking for flaws. “You ready?”
So, I must look okay?
“Yes. Heading out now.”
I step aside to grab my crutches from against the wall, and that’s when Dain’s eyes shift past me.
His head jerks slightly as he registers Zac’s presence.
His expression flashes with surprise. Zac is tall.
He’s got a good few inches on Dain, and it’s funny to see Dain momentarily uncertain, like he’s a little taken aback.
I shift my gaze to Zac, and his face has gone tight, a muscle jumping in his cheek. I remember he overheard Dain threatening my job, which made me beg Zac not to let it happen. Zac dislikes Dain, and when he thrusts his hand out with barely concealed anger, Dain actually looks nervous.
Dain takes the offered hand, and Zac gives him a firm shake, the kind that makes Dain wince. I press my lips together to keep from laughing.
Dain quickly removes his hand, flexing his fingers as he turns back to me. “I’ll see you at Jessa and Kejuan’s house.”
“Will do.”
He opens his mouth like he wants to say something else, probably another warning, but then he thinks better of it and exits the trailer with quick strides. The door bangs shut behind him.
Jaina and Mia swoop in immediately, combing my hair and touching up my makeup as if they haven’t already spent hours perfecting every detail. Mia powders my T-zone while Jania adds hairspray.
Zac takes the scooter and crutches down the steps with Karyn beside him. They talk—well, she does—about the schedule while he’s back to short responses and that unreadable expression firmly in place.