Chapter 12

Hayden

I followthe highway into town, slowing to a crawl as I turn onto the main tourist street, eyes peeled for a likely parking spot. There are plenty of choices since Arcadian Falls' tourist season hasn't really started yet according to what I've been told, but it's not just about grabbing the first spot I see. I'm not exactly sure where I'm going, is the problem. Or if this is a good idea at all.

It's been two days since I kissed Victoria in my trailer. And I haven't seen her since.

I told Brady that I was feeling antsy and that's why I wanted to head into town after I finished shooting my scenes for today. My only scheduled scenes wrapped early this afternoon. Since he's happy with how things are going, he didn't balk at me taking time away or even ask questions. He's deep into his role as director in a way that almost feels like he's method acting the part, but it's working. He's shown me some of the raw footage, and I can see his vision starting to take shape. It has that spark, that something that makes a movie great, and stepping on set has that old excitement sizzling in my blood again, like when I was younger and studying acting, doing it for the passion more than the paycheck. Even those first few major roles, when I was getting paid, I was still so thrilled about successfully landing the roles that I woke up excited to film every day.

Not even the distraction of my infatuation with Victoria takes away from my enthusiasm for the film. In fact, I think it might be helping. I haven't felt like this about a woman since I was in my early twenties either. This whole project is like going back in time about ten years to before I'd made it big, when I would hope to catch a glimpse of a woman I liked to try to manufacture a reason to talk to her.

Which is the real reason I'm driving to town today. I'm hoping for a glimpse of Victoria. Maybe a chance to talk to her.

Except I have no idea where the most likely place of that happening would be. I don't really know anything about this town except that it's cute, they have a Christmas festival that apparently draws large crowds, and the summertime is filled with different events to attract tourists to the row of cute shops lining downtown as well as the various outdoor pursuits in the area.

This seemed like a great idea when I climbed into the car, put the town into the GPS app on my phone, and started driving. The sense of action suited me perfectly. Now that I'm here, though, I feel lost. The GPS brought me to town, but it didn't tell me where to find Victoria, and now I'm directionless.

And then there's the question of what will I do when I find her? If I find her.

The part of my brain that's influenced by seeing too many movies thinks I'll see her and she'll fall into my arms and we'll go to her place for uninhibited sex. But I'm not so delusional that I think that's a likely scenario, even if I'm on board with the idea.

I just … I want to see her. I can't get her out of my head, and the memory of her in my arms, her body pressed against mine, her lips, her taste …

Even if I know that nothing serious can happen between us—much as some part of me I barely acknowledge wishes it could—I need more of her. It's as simple as that. And I don't know if she's been deliberately avoiding me or if it's happenstance that our paths haven't crossed since the day before yesterday when I saw her almost daily before that, and I need to figure out which it is.

If she's avoiding me, then I'll figure out how to exorcise the memories of her and move on.

But if it's just chance that has her staying out of my way … I'm perfectly happy to bend chance in my favor.

Or try to at least.

I end up parking in front of a place called Beans Espresso and Ice Cream. I have no idea if she's likely to be in there, but a coffee sounds good right now.

Pulling my plain gray baseball cap low over my sunglasses, I climb out of the car and head inside. When I place my order, the young barista's eyes go wide, but she doesn't say anything. And when I hold a finger to my lips, she gives a tiny nod, and I mouth, "Thank you."

A few minutes later, coffee in hand, I push back out the door, a squeal sounding behind me that makes me chuckle as I leave. It's probably too much to expect her to keep quiet about me being there for long, but at least she didn't announce who I was while I was still inside. And at least there weren't a lot of customers at two o'clock on a Wednesday afternoon, so even if someone follows me out for an autograph, I'm unlikely to be mobbed.

I head down the main street, stopping into the various shops and browsing, picking up an Arcadian Falls magnet for my mom—it's been a tradition since I was a teenager that I get her a magnet when I travel without her.

Despite going up and down the street and in and out of every shop, there's no sign of Victoria. I'm not sure why I thought there would be. She's probably at home, feverishly working on costumes. Or some other work I'm sure she has. She's a single mom. It's not like a contract gig for a movie is how she keeps a roof over her head. Plus, she mentioned another job. I just don't have any idea what it might be.

"Um, excuse me?" says a hesitant female voice from behind me while I'm looking at the knickknacks in the last shop of my expedition. Since I've gotten Mom a magnet, I need to find something for Dad too. In all honesty, he probably wouldn't care, but the compulsion to keep things equal between them dates back to my childhood, and it feels wrong to get something for one parent but not the other. This store has a nice selection of kitchenware, and while the stemless wine glasses look nice, a set of those is hardly equivalent to a magnet.

With a deep breath, I turn to face the woman seeking my attention. Here it comes. The first autograph request of the day. The barista must've leaked the news. Honestly, it's a wonder I've made it this far.

I give her my most charming smile. "I'm sorry. I don't have a pen on me. Do you?"

Her eyebrows pull together. "Um, what? I mean, at the counter, sure. But … what?"

I study the delicate confusion on her face. She's pretty with her sleek dark bob, red lips—though they're nowhere near as tempting as Victoria's—pixie nose, and stylish clothes. "I'm sorry, didn't you want an autograph?"

A smile replaces her confusion, and she laughs lightly. "Oh, no. But you are Hayden Maddox, aren't you?"

I nod. "I am. Is there something you needed?"

Her eyes narrow. "Well, not me, exactly. It's just … I'm friends with Tori." At my blank look, she clarifies. "Victoria. Victoria Mathews? She's helping with the costumes on your movie."

My heart picks up speed at the mention of Victoria. Could this woman help me find her? But why is she approaching me like this? What does she want, exactly? "Right. Yes. I know who Victoria is." Her sly smile confirms that she knows about the kiss, too, and I let my charm drop completely. If she's here to extort me for money or … I don't know, her own fifteen minutes of fame, there's no reason to keep playing nice. I don't mind doing that with fans who want autographs, but I'm not here to be used by opportunists. "What do you want?"

Her eyebrows jump, her smile never leaving her face as she crosses her arms. "I could ask you the same thing. Tori's my best friend, and I look out for my friends. She's been through a lot, and I don't want to see her getting messed around."

"Why would you think I'd mess her around?"

She waves a hand up and down my body. "You're rich. Famous. Only in town for a short while. Inviting my friend into your trailer for ‘drinks'"—she uncrosses her arms to make air quotes before crossing them again—"then kissing her while she's trying to do her job."

"That's not exactly?—"

Holding up her hand, she cuts me off. "I know exactly what happened. And I know rich and famous pretty boys like yourself are used to getting what they want."

I press my lips together, then move my mouth from side to side as I contemplate her words. "Are you asking what my intentions are with your friend?"

Pursing her lips, she nods slowly. "You could say that."

Sighing, I scratch my chin. "Look. I'm not here for long, so I'm not going to say I plan on marrying her or anything. I don't know that I ever plan to get married." She nods like that's about what she expected to hear. "But I like her. I want to see more of her. In fact," I glance around the space, "I came into town hoping to find her today, but the longer I spend here, the less likely I think that is."

She gives me another long, contemplative look. "If you're just looking for fun, be clear about that up front. She could use something lighthearted and enjoyable in her life. So much of her time is spent running everything that she doesn't get to let go and enjoy herself that often."

I nod. "I can handle that."

After studying me a moment longer, she gives a decisive nod and turns to the counter. "You won't find her wandering around town. She's a hygienist at the dentist's office, and she doesn't get off until four." She checks the time. "You have about an hour to kill. Meet me here at quarter till. I'll take you to her."

I blink into the silence for a moment, replaying her words in my head to make sure I heard her right. But then she makes a shooing motion with her hands. "Unless you're going to buy something, you can't kill that hour here. Go on. Wander around a bit more. There's a park by the water. Grab yourself another coffee and go for a walk. I'll see you in a bit."

After grabbing another coffee, I start wandering farther afield. I could, of course, get out my phone and figure out where the park is that Victoria's friend mentioned, but I don't think I actually care about a park. Instead, I strike off in a random direction, taking note of the street names so I can find my way back when I need to.

A couple blocks down, a sign catches my eye on a cute building that looks like an old house that's been converted into a business. The white sign out front reads BANKS FAMILY DENTISTRY in a pretty font, the aesthetic blending well with the attempt at old-world charm that marks the rest of downtown, though I've noticed that farther from the main strip, that falls away for more utilitarian choices.

I stop across the street, staring at the building. What are the odds that I'll see her if I go in? What are the odds she'll even want to speak to me?

Shaking my head, I continue past it, but before long, I'm drawn back. Unable to control the impulse, I cross the street and go inside, bells jingling as I enter.

A woman with a medium brown bob and glasses looks up from the desk. "Hello!" she says with a warm smile. "Can I help you?"

"Oh, uh …" I look around, craning my neck and hoping to catch sight of Victoria.

"Are you picking someone up?" the receptionist asks.

"Not exactly. Um, I was looking for Victoria?"

Her eyebrows lift, but otherwise she gives no outward expression of surprise, glancing down at the computer in front of her. "She's with a patient right now. I can take a message if you like."

"Oh, no. No. That's … no. I, uh, she's helping with costumes on the movie, and since I was in town, I thought I'd stop and ask if she needed me to take anything back for her. But if she's busy, I'll …" I wave a hand vaguely toward the door and take a step back.

Before I get far, the receptionist sets a pad of sticky notes and a pen on the counter. "Why don't you leave your name and number. I'm sure she'll give you a call if she needs anything."

Since I can't think of a good reason to protest, I step forward and do as I'm told, scribbling HM and my number, because I don't want to write my actual name. When I pass the pad back to the receptionist, she looks between it and me with raised eyebrows. "She'll know who it is," I murmur, then leave.

Will she?I wonder as I walk back toward my car at a brisk pace. Will she realize I'm HM? And will she use the number?

Either way, it's clear that stalking her at work is a terrible idea. So I get back in my car and drive back to the house we've rented for the cast while we're here, torn between dread and hope over the next time I speak to Victoria.