15. Cole
Chapter fifteen
Cole
Her actual birthday was yesterday, and I sent flowers to the set.
Deep red roses were delivered by Grangewood Garden—forcing Jude to yell ‘cut’ —and she accepted them gracefully in front of everyone.
I watched from my mark as she took them directly out the back door, presumably to her trailer, without so much as looking at the card to see who they were from.
When she walked back onto set, her eyes were red and puffy.
I wish I knew her in a way that gave me permission to ask why she was upset, but I didn’t.
Instead, I walked over to her, cupped her cheek with the palm of my hand, and wiped a falling tear away with the pad of my thumb.
All without a single word said.
It seemed like something a boyfriend would do and I wanted to make it look as believable and realistic as possible—that’s the reasoning I’m going with, anyway.
She took my hand in hers, kissed my palm softly, and mouthed the words, ‘Thank you for the flowers,’ before carrying on with the task she was assigned to do.
The vulnerability that I’d just witnessed moments prior, vanished into thin air, and she became her usual, confident self.
Like she was only allowed to feel what she felt for a split second before getting back into work mode.
I’ve been on the job for less than a week, and it already feels like second nature to me.
Somehow even more natural than working at the Lotus, or having my picture taken from different angles. But there’s a hell of a lot more work that actually goes into this job.
I’m up at ungodly hours of the morning, working anywhere between eight and twenty hours at a time. All while somehow finding the time to workout and keep my body in shape, ready for the scenes that require my shirt to be nowhere in sight.
Even if I had friends in town other than my brother, I could guarantee I wouldn’t have a social life.
There’s just simply no time for it.
Part of me wants it to last forever, but the other part of me is looking forward to reaping the benefits that I know this life can bring.
I’m not stupid. I know it could all fail, and I could wind up living back in that bar. Or worse, having no place at all to call home.
I just need to work hard, keep my nose down, and do what Tate asks me to do.
It’s been another long day on set, but it’s over. With our first days off slowly approaching, I’m desperate for a break.
Heading out of the barn after a long day of shooting, I search for the car Tate and I borrowed earlier this morning, only to find the convertible—and my brother—nowhere in sight.
Checking the phone in my pocket, I see a text from him saying he had to run and would meet back at our apartment later tonight.
“Fuck,” I mutter to myself, massaging the back of my neck. Of course, Tate would just…not bother to consider anyone else.
“Hey, Cole.” I hear a man’s voice call out from the other side of the car park, and quickly realize it belongs to none other than Harley Wingrove himself.
I chuckle to myself. Serves Tate right.
“Hey, man,” I reply as I head in his direction, my hands shoved deep into my pockets. I quickly spot a petite, brunette woman holding his hand. She’s talking to a visibly disgruntled Jenna. The three of them are standing beside his car and what I assume is Jenna’s rental.
An expensive, pearly white G-Wagon.
The same one I’ve watched her come and go in all week.
After yesterday and the flowers, I could see the look on her face when she saw me walking off set.
Like she wanted to talk to me, maybe thank me again, or even offer me a ride back home.
But instead, she climbed into the car and sped out of her parking space, leaving a cloud of gravel smoke behind her.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she was forcing herself to avoid me.
I’m not hindered by her avoidance, though.
She’s guarded. I get it.
Just like I also understand that it’s only a matter of time before she lets me get to know her on a level outside of those big, barn doors.
Casually, of course.
Or not.
It’ll depend on where we are.
It’s not like I tried to hide my want for her, though. I told the entire cast and crew on day one that she was mine. Whether I meant it or not, no one has to know.
She was the one who invited me over for dinner, then proceeded to kiss me in front of everyone.
Well…she let me kiss her, but it felt like the right thing to do.
They just assume she’s keeping her distance to make our time at work strictly professional, unaware of the underlying tension that simmers between us.
Harley sticks out his free hand, and I shake it as he introduces me to the woman by his side. “This is Cassandra Wingrove, my wife.” His smile is wide and genuine while he looks at her with hearts in his eyes. “Herring, this is Cole Green.”
“Hi, Cassandra. It’s nice to meet you.” I hold my hand out, and she gently shakes it, her big hazel eyes averting from her husband to her best friend, and finally to me.
“Likewise, Cole.” She gives me a lopsided, shy smile with a quick nod, before she nudges the blonde beside her, who stubbornly keeps her back to me. “Jenna, aren’t you going to say hello to your boyfriend ?” Cassandra teases.
Jenna groans, arms crossed over her chest. I laugh out loud, knowing how badly it irks her that the people in her personal life are now going along with it, too.
“Hello, Cole. Good to see you,” she mutters, glancing over her shoulder, flashing me her ocean eyes before ripping her gaze from mine entirely.
“Snow.” I smirk, careful to make sure my enjoyment at her discomfort isn’t overly obvious, but she knows.
“While you’re here, Cole, we’re having a games night at our place tomorrow night for Jenna’s birthday. Unfortunately, I’m usually the only guy at these things. Do you have plans?” Harley asks me. The two of us share a knowing look while his wife’s eyes pop out of her head as she mouths the word ‘sorry,’ to her best friend.
An unplanned invitation.
I turn my attention to Jenna. She’s rummaging through her purse, probably searching for her keys to get the hell out of this awkward situation she’s been put in by the two people closest to her. “Do you want me there, Snow?”
“She does,” Cassandra replies for her, completely ignoring the silent treatment her friend is dishing out to the rest of us.
“Great, then I wouldn’t miss it.” I nod, and Harley hands me a card with his number on it, before clapping a palm on my shoulder.
“Text me so I have your number, and I’ll send you the details. Where’s your car?” he asks as he looks around the car park, realizing it’s empty aside from us.
“That’s a good question. One I’ll have to ask my manager when I see him back at the apartment.” I laugh awkwardly. “It’s a nice night, though. I think I might walk. Want to join me, Jenna?” I ask, placing my hand gently on her arm, and for a split second I see her body relax, but she realizes it as soon as I do, and pulls her arm away.
“No need,” Cassandra says. “This car here is Jenna’s for the next few months, so any time you need a ride, just ask her.” She nods toward the G-Wagon, a grin slapped across her face, like she knows exactly what it is that she’s doing.
“C—” Jenna begins to protest, but Cassandra cuts her off.
“No need to thank me, Jen. Off you go.” She flicks her hands at us, and I watch as she wiggles her brows. Jenna huffs loud enough for the rest of us to hear, and stalks off to the driver’s side door, aggressively pulling it closed.
“You guys love to meddle, huh?” I ask, slowly shaking Harley’s hand. The longer I stay and chat with her friends, the more frustrated Jenna is going to be.
“Who, us? Meddle?” Cassandra gasps, pretending to be shocked. “We wouldn’t dream of it.” She laughs. “By the way, next time we have dinner at Jenna’s place like we did the other night, feel free to join us. I’m sure she won’t mind.”
“With the way that just went, it looks like she minds being around me, period. Could you imagine me being in her space for dinner with her friends?” I rub my thumb across my lips.
“The invite is there,” Cassandra says. “See you Friday, anyway.” I watch as my new friends climb into their car, and Jenna waits visibly impatient for me, fingers tapping rapidly on the steering wheel.
“Are you getting in or not, Cole? I will leave without you,” she warns, and I believe her with every fiber of my being. Rounding the side of the car, I open the door, and slide into the passenger seat with a shit-eating grin on my face. She clenches her jaw and rolls her eyes.
Breaking her down is going to be fun.
“How was your day, Snow?” I ask, shattering the silence, hoping small talk will bring out some sort of conversation from her, but somehow the silence grows louder. “No? Okay. Mine was great—thanks for asking. What’s your favorite movie?”
Still, nothing. It’s so quiet inside this expensive car that I can hear the moisture in her eyes when she blinks.
“Mine is Infinity War, because I bet you were wondering.”
She rolls her eyes again, but a slight smile tugs at the corner of her lips.
Progress.
For the rest of the journey home, I fire questions at her rapidly, only for her non-existent answers to shut down each one until she puts the car into park, and stares directly out the window onto the busy streets of Grangewood Creek.
Locals are all finishing work, in a hurry to get home, and yet it’s still not as frantic as back in California.
I kind of like it.
“Meet me in the middle, here, Snow. I’m just trying to get to know my girlfriend,” I jokingly say, shifting my body to face hers. She surprises me by doing the same thing.
“Shouldn’t you know all there is to know?” she says, turning her head slightly to look back at the road and away from me.
Probably to hide the smile that I know wants to break free so badly.
God forbid she displays any sort of emotion.
“I just make up answers on the spot. People already think your favorite song is Firework by Katy Perry,” I say, and she scrunches up her nose while shaking her head.
“You went with a song about a plastic bag?” she asks, her tone lighter than it was.
“I didn’t know what else to say, and I’d heard Jude singing it earlier, so I panicked.” I shrug.
“Why?” She sighs, then swallows. It’s only one word, but it’s the most genuine one that’s come out of her mouth since day one on set.
One word, holding a multitude of possible meanings.
It’s the first time she’s spoken directly to me while looking into my eyes with nobody around, and something stirs inside of me.
What? I’m not sure.
“I don’t want you to spill all your secrets, Jenna. I just want to know the woman who’s going to be in my face, putting on my makeup and styling my hair every day.” I push aside my sarcasm, if only for a moment, but she doesn’t reply. She does, however, stare at my lips while nibbling on her own, and that’s how I know she wants me just as badly as I want her. “Or, if you don’t want to open up your mind to me, you can open up your—”
“And, moment ruined.” She steps out of the car, closing the door behind her, and marching toward the entrance with her purse slung over her shoulder. My laughter follows behind her.
“I was kidding, Snow.” I call out, surprised at how quickly her legs move when she no longer wants to be around me. “Will you wait?”
She ignores me, thanking Marv for opening the door for her, with me close on her tail.
“Hi, Ms. Rogers, Mr. Green.” He greets us with a smile. His white hair is still neatly combed over as though it’s not the end of the day.
“Hi, Marv. How was your day?” Jenna asks. The sass from earlier is no longer apparent, making it clear that she’s interested in everyone but me.
“It’s always quiet during the day, Ms. Rogers. How was your afternoon?” he asks, and this little minx goes into detail about her day, barely taking a breath, while he stares at her the way I imagine most men do.
“See you tomorrow, Marv,” she calls out, ignoring my existence all together before heading toward her apartment.
“Jenna, come on. Will you just wait a minute? Give me something. I’m trying, here.”
She stops in her tracks, spinning on her heels, arms crossed over her chest. “Why?”
“Why, what?” I press her, and she shakes her head, her keys wiggling in her door knob.
“Why the flowers? Why the persistence? Why did you tell everybody I was your girlfriend?” She drops her arms by her side. “Do you know how much that humiliated me?” She tilts her head, watching as my eyebrows pinch together in confusion.
“Humiliated you?” I ask, trying to make sense of the situation, but she just sighs, biting the inside of her cheek.
“Just forget about it, Cole. We’re not doing this. I’m here to do my job. Please don’t get in the way of that before I’ve even gotten the chance to show everyone what I’m capable of.” She attempts to close her door, but I jam a foot in before it closes.
“Jenna, come on.” I push the door open, refusing to let this go without some sort of resolution.
“Why are you trying so hard? Why do you care ? Am I the first woman to ever tell you ‘ no’ ?” She taps her foot on the hardwood floor, waiting patiently for me to say something, but I hesitate. “Cat got your tongue, Cole? Or are you just not used to a woman telling you she isn’t interested?” Her body relaxes slightly.
“I don’t believe that for a second.” I take a step closer to her, into her apartment, the door still wide open, her chest rising and falling heavily at the nearness between us.
“But you still haven’t told me why you—”
Before I can stop myself, I take the final step and our chests crash together, her door slamming shut behind me, my fingers threading into her hair at the back of her head. My forehead rests firmly on hers, lips hovering a fingernail apart. “Can I…?” I ask, because while I want to kiss her as badly as I do, I need her to want me just as much, and I need to hear her admit it, to agree to it. And she does, with a simple nod.
Cupping the side of her face with my other hand, my thumb caresses her cheek when our mouths collide, a soft moan leaving her lips, swallowed up by our kiss.
My tongue teases the edge of her lips before sweeping into her mouth, gliding across her tongue. I feel her heart pounding against my chest, matching the erratic rhythm of mine.
I pull away from her reluctantly, and she whimpers at the break in contact, but I need her to need me.
I need her to beg for me.
And I won’t get that from her if I just hand it to her.
Her black, painted fingernails find her pink pouty lips, a little fuller than normal, no doubt missing the feeling of mine against hers when I take a step back.
Her cheeks are flushed, and her eyes are glazed over.
“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.” I smile, genuinely, this time. There’s no hint of arrogance or sarcasm left for me to display.
Turning, I open her door and make my way to the elevator when I hear her soft voice from behind me. “Hey, Cole?”
I know it’s taking everything in her to say aloud whatever it is she’s about to.
“Yeah?” I ask, pressing the up button, waiting for the doors to open for me.
“Next time you want to kiss me, just do it, okay? Don’t fucking ask, or you risk me saying no. You’re my boyfriend, right?”
I nod.
“Then act like it.” She opens her door quickly, and I laugh to myself as she hurries inside, slamming it shut behind her.
Noted.