Chapter 28

Hayden

Mia's waitingfor me when I leave the trailer, leaning against the outside, scrolling through her phone. She tucks it into her pocket when she sees me, straightening up and closing the distance between us.

"So," she says, putting her hands in the back pockets of her wide-leg jeans.

"So," I answer, standing with my arms crossed, feet planted like I'm bracing for a fight. I know better, though. It's Mia. We've been friends for years, and she's seen me through some hairy relationship ups and downs. I know she only wants me to be happy.

Chuckling, she shakes her head. "Look at you, all defensive, and all I've uttered is one syllable. What's that all about?"

I work my jaw back and forth, trying to decide how to answer. Finally, I shake my head. Sighing, I drop my arms. "Just say it."

Her eyebrow arches high up her forehead. "Say what, exactly?"

"Whatever it is you've been waiting out here to say."

She looks me up and down again, and I realize my hands have found their way to my hips now, and I let them drop to my side again. She snorts and holds up her hand in the gesture of surrender she made before leaving the trailer. "I'm not trying to bust your balls, Hayden," she says softly. "I just wanted to reassure you that I'll keep your secret. But also that I'm here if you need a friend to talk to."

Blowing out a breath, I nod. "Thanks, Mia. I appreciate that."

Her eyebrows climb her forehead again. "Do you?"

Chuckling, I stuff my hands in my pockets and look away. The costume trailer is away from the main hustle and bustle, and we're unlikely to be overheard here, but I still keep my voice quiet. "I do, actually. I feel like I'm getting in over my head here, and I'm not sure what to do about it."

"Well, you know what Dory always says."

My eyebrows crunch together, and I cock my head in confusion. "Dory?"

"From Finding Nemo." She shakes her head in mock exasperation. "And you call yourself a movie buff."

"Sorry. No kids. No reason to watch Disney movies."

Another exasperated shake of her head. "Like that matters. Anyone can watch Disney movies at any time."

Laughing, I hold up my hands before she can launch into a lecture about the value of animated films. It's especially funny coming from a costumer, since she can't work on animated films, but she's always loved them. This isn't the first time she's started in on me about this. "Just tell me what Dory always says."

She pauses, mouth open to deliver her lecture, then smiles. "Just keep swimming."

My eyebrows shoot up. "Just keep swimming?"

"Yeah. You know. Keep moving forward. Keep doing what you're doing, and you'll figure out the answers as you go. Just keep swimming."

I cross my arms, narrowing my eyes as I study her. "That's your big relationship advice. Just keep swimming."

She shrugs. "It worked for Dory and Marlon."

"And were they romantically involved?"

She laughs and shakes her head. "Okay, well, you got me there. But they did find Nemo, which was the actual goal, so I still think it works."

I scratch my jaw, considering her words. Honestly, it's not terrible advice, though I'm not a hundred percent it applies that well here.

Stepping closer, she pats my arm. "Seriously, though, Hayden. As much as you're obviously into her—and from what I can see, the feeling is mutual—how long do you think you can keep this a secret?"

Shaking my head, I let out another sigh. "I hear you. I do. But she's the one insisting on secrecy."

"And you haven't tried very hard to dissuade her."

I spread my hands, my shoulders lifting in a shrug. "That would only serve to push her away. She has reasons for not wanting the attention dating someone like me would bring."

Mia nods slowly. "Okay. I believe you. And I'm sure it feels nice to know she wants you for your own sake instead of for what you can do for her career."

"She's a dental hygienist in a small town. What could I possibly do for her career?"

"She's a talented seamstress in a small town who suddenly has Hollywood connections. What couldn't you do?"

That thought freezes me in my tracks, my mouth hanging open as I process that. But then I shake my head. "She wouldn't?—"

"I'm not saying she would," Mia interrupts. "And the fact that she doesn't want people to know about you two certainly points to the fact that she has no designs on using your influence to get her more jobs like this. She has a kid, friends, and family here. A life here. I doubt she wants to disrupt that. But then, why's she with you at all? It seems like all you bring is disruption."

Another twist of the proverbial knife. "Which is why this is over as soon as filming wraps."

Surprise on her face, Mia looks between the trailer and me as though she can see Victoria through the walls. "Really?"

"That's the deal."

"Huh." She takes a step back and crosses her arms. "Well, then. I guess maybe it won't be so hard to keep it a secret if you only have a few more weeks together anyway. There's no point in telling people if she doesn't want to blow up her life. And it seems that she doesn't."

"No. She doesn't." That much I'm confident about.

Mia nods. "Okay, well, I do need to finish for tonight so I can get out of here. And so Victoria can too. Let her get back to that life she wants to keep intact. But seriously, Hayden. You can talk to me. Now that I understand the situation, I'll only give advice if you ask for it. I can be a place to vent if you need it, though."

"Thanks, Mia. Really."

Grinning, she shrugs one shoulder. "You'd do the same for me, right?"

I return her smile. "Any time."

I spend the evening waiting for Victoria to call and ruminating over what Mia said.

The reality is that I could help Victoria's career, assuming she wants to work in costuming beyond this movie.

But she doesn't want that.

Does she?

Would she?

Perhaps …?

I respect the hell out of her decision-making and the way she approaches life. She's not looking for handouts or someone to rescue her. It's clear that she loves her life here, her town, her family, and the deep connections she has.

But what about her dreams?

Maybe it's just because I grew up in a family and surrounded by people who've achieved their dreams. Dreams of acting, dreams of directing, dreams of producing films. These things have always seemed attainable if only you work hard. Some part of me is aware there's a big luck component to it, and that having the right industry connections helps a ton. And even though my dad told me I had to audition for roles and make it on my own, the reality is that being the child of Ethan Stone and Grace Barlow meant that I knew how to find those auditions and what to prepare and send in to give me the best chance of success. Someone who grew up like Aurora in a random town in the Midwest wouldn't have that knowledge fed to them along with learning to tie your shoes and ride a bike. They'd have to figure it out on their own.

Victoria was just at the start of figuring out how to follow her dreams when she had to shelve them entirely.

Having a kid when she was barely more than one herself, learning to be an adult and be responsible for another life—that doesn't allow much time for dreaming.

And yes, she's busy now, but would she want to take that leap? If she could?

What if she's not trying to use me, but I'm offering my connections to her? If she doesn't want to work in costumes but instead follow her original goal of fashion design, I know lots of movie stars who are always looking for up-and-coming designers to dress them for red carpet events. My connections could help her regardless of what she chooses—as long as she chooses something other than staying here as a dental hygienist.

And if she did want that—to work on more movies or pursue fashion design—could we become more than just a filming fling? Would she want that?

Would I want that?

That last question is an easy answer. It reverberates through me like a gong.

Yes.

Absolutely yes, without reservations.

The more time I spend with her, the more time I want to spend with her. The little bits of time fit between the cracks of our respective obligations are nowhere near enough. I want to have free and full access to her.

Of course, we'd still have to navigate our respective schedules. But the ability to do that openly appeals to me more than I realized before Mia caught us.

The fact that Mia knows—and Victoria didn't completely lose her mind—is a huge relief. And Mia's offer to let me talk through everything is also welcome. My feelings are a big tangled knot, and if I could work through them out loud with someone, I think that might help.

Especially with Mia's perspective that I might be able to help Victoria more than either of us realized before now.

I'm pacing my room, waiting for Victoria to call, my mind whirling with all my ideas and suggestions. Maybe I should talk to Mia before broaching all of this with Victoria, but there isn't time.

First I'll find out what Victoria wants—really wants, if she could have anything she wanted—and then I can enlist Mia's help to make it all become reality.

When my phone buzzes in my hand, a huge grin spreads across my face. "Hey." I do my best to infuse all the affection I feel for Victoria into that single, paltry syllable.

"Hey, yourself." Her answer is just as warm. Then she sighs, and it's obvious that this week has been draining for her.

"How're you holding up?" I sink into the armchair, her voice on the phone soothing my nervous energy enough that I can sit down instead of pacing a hole in the carpet.

Another heavy sigh. She's so tired. I wish I could just show up at her house and take care of her. Get her a snack—or a meal, there's no telling if she's eaten a proper meal all day with how busy she's been—sit with her, then climb into bed and hold her until she falls asleep. That sounds entirely perfect, but it's not possible right now.

She chuckles softly. "What's with your sigh? I thought this week was pretty light for you."

Grinning, I shake my head. "Did I sigh? I guess I was just unconsciously mirroring you. Yeah, this week is lighter for me. Especially compared to you."

Her chuckle is more rueful this time. "I think everyone in the world's schedule is lighter than mine this week. Oh my god. I'm so tired."

I make a sympathetic sound in my throat. "I bet you are. I wish I could do something to help."

Another sigh. "There's not really anything anyone can do. I just need to get through it. Fortunately, the week is almost over."

"Yes. And then hopefully we can schedule some time to see each other. More than a few stolen moments in the costume trailer, anyway."

This time she lets out a groan, and the smile freezes on my face. That's not a promising response. "Let me get through the next two days before I start finding time to see you, okay?"

"Hey, I'm sorry, I just?—"

"No, no," she interrupts. "Don't apologize. I'm sorry for groaning like that. I'm just exhausted and overscheduled. I want to see you. I do. It's just hard right now."

"I know." The words come out as little more than a whisper, and even though I'd planned on talking about the future, if she can't even think ahead beyond the next two days right now, I feel like that conversation will go even worse. That's not a risk I'm willing to take. "Do you want me to let you go? So you can go to bed?"

She whimpers. "No? But also yes. I want to talk to you, I'm just"—her words are interrupted by a jaw-cracking yawn—"I'm just so tired."

"Go to bed," I tell her, smiling again, wishing I could take her to bed myself. "I'll still be around tomorrow or the next day or whenever you have time to talk again."

"I'll talk to you tomorrow. I promise."

"Good. Sleep well. Sweet dreams."

"You too." The words come out around a yawn. After saying goodnight, she hangs up, and I stare at the phone in my hand for several long moments before sighing and putting it down.

That didn't go at all how I'd hoped. But I can wait a few more days, at least until she's recovered from this week and able to contemplate anything beyond it.

I know how to be patient. And I can be patient now too.