by Lana Xavier
“Hey.”
We stood together and I marveled at the fact that he seemed just as uncertain as I was. He scratched the back of his neck as he searched for words, seeming to settle on asking me a question.
“So, how’s everything going?”
“Uh… Fine, I guess. You?”
Het let out a harsh breath and shook his head, obviously displeased with our tense conversation.
“Why is this so hard?” he mumbled, more to himself than to me. “I wanted to apologize.”
“Oh?” I asked, eyebrows both raising high on my forehead.
“Yeah. I was a bit of a dick last time we saw each other.”
“A bit?” I asked dryly.
Caleb laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners. The sight made my heart warm and I silently berated myself for still being so drawn to him.
“Fair point,” he conceded. “So… You and Nathan?”
He already knew the answer so it kind of irritated me that he was even asking. I crossed my arms over my chest and said, “You know there’s nothing going on.”
“He wants you,” he said simply. “He wants something to be going on.”
“Well, I don’t.”
Caleb’s head cocked to the side and his eyes narrowed. “Is that right? Because you looked pretty cozy the other day.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, in a friendly way. At least until I saw you.”
I didn’t realize my mistake until after the words were out of my mouth. Caleb’s eyes bore into me with the same intensity they did on that night. The night that I threw away all my reservations and let him take me in the way I so desperately needed.
I swallowed hard as he stepped closer, invading my personal space to the point that I could smell the masculine scent of his cologne.
“Sabrina, I can’t stop thinking about-”
“CALEB!” a shrill shriek interrupted whatever he was going to say.
His eyes closed and he let out an angry snarl as he whipped around. I craned my neck to look behind him, the color draining from my face as I laid eyes on Marlena Hardin. Had Anne gone back on our agreement to not cast her?
If that’s not the case, then what the hell is she doing here?
“Wait for me in the trailer,” Caleb commanded angrily, grinding his teeth together in frustration as she blatantly ignored his words and kept walking towards us.
Oh, right. Perhaps she came to be with her boyfriend.
I started to back away, jerking my arm roughly away from Caleb as he reached out to stop me.
“No!” I hissed. “Just… Just don’t.”
He let me go and I refused to turn back to watch as Marlena completely finished her march to his side. Even though I was rushing away as fast as I could without breaking into an all out run, I still heard her irritating voice as she asked, “Who was that?”
I rolled my eyes. Of course she wouldn’t remember me even though we had been introduced only three short weeks ago. I was honestly surprised that Caleb even remembered my name.
“No one,” Caleb replied and the immediate sting in my eyes as tears began to form was a harsh reminder that that was exactly what I was to these people.
No one.
* * *
Chapter Eight
“So what made you change your mind?” Nathan asked as he opened the passenger door of his rental car for me the following Friday night.
A myriad of reasons, I thought to myself.
First and foremost was the brutal reminder about the fact that Caleb and the majority of the people around set considered me a ‘no one’. The second was the constant cold shoulder I received on set every day, as if nobody could understand why I was here and didn’t care enough to ask.
The third and final reason was the snub I received from Marlena the day before when I nearly barreled into her as she came flying out of the one of the offices.
“Watch where the fuck you’re going, you stupid bitch! God!”
I still wasn’t entirely sure why Marlena was on set and neither were the few people around who actually spoke to me. It seemed like she was hanging around just because she had nothing better to do and I couldn’t deny that the thought made me secretly smile inside.
She must’ve pissed someone off and now she can’t get a job. Serves her right.
A twinge of guilt rushed through me at the smugness of my thought and I pushed aside the negativity. Besides the one outburst, Marlena hadn’t really done anything to deserve my hostility.
“I don’t know,” I answered with a shrug. “I’m just getting bored of sitting around in my trailer every night.”
That was lower on my list of reasons for accepting his dinner invitation, but it was still true. It was painfully boring on set without anyone to talk to.
Nathan laughed lightly and I slid into the car. As he moved over to the driver’s seat, I couldn’t help but notice that he was dressed a little more formally than normal and it made me feel like an ass for wearing simple jeans and a t-shirt.
He clearly thought of this as a date and I was dressed for an outing with a friend. I hoped he’d read into my outfit and behavior and realize I wasn’t interested in him in a romantic way, even though a small part of me wished I was. Life would be so much easier.
“Ready to go?”
“Let’s do it.”
I cringed at my terrible choice of words, then settled back in my seat as he pulled the car out of its spot.
* * *
“Nathan, I’m totally underdressed for this place,” I whispered as I tugged at the sleeve of his button down shirt.
He scoffed and shook his head. “No one’s going to care, doll. I think you look lovely.”
Nathan had taken me to a trendy restaurant where everyone seemed to be wearing meticulously planned, high-end designer outfits. If I was more of a label kind of girl, I was sure I would be able to spot the most elite designers hanging off the patrons well-groomed arms and bodies.
I felt like I had just rolled out of a trailer park compared to these women, but Nathan drug me through the restaurant like he didn’t have a care in the world.
He really is a good guy.
I sat down and sighed, understanding that the reason we had been led to a corner booth of the place was likely because of my attire. Nathan slid into the booth beside me and casually slung an arm over the back of the seat. I bristled, already painfully aware how much of a mistake this was.
A waiter came by to take our drink order and Nathan requested a bottle of wine, the man sauntering off to fetch it before I could voice a protest.
In that moment, I couldn’t stop myself from thinking back to my quasi-date with Caleb and how he laughed when I told him I preferred wine that tasted like beer. Asshole or not, I couldn’t deny how handsome he was when he smiled and the memory of our night together stuck out in my brain, playing on repeat much like it had every day since.
“Something on your mind?”
The world snapped back into focus and I looked to Nathan with a bashful smile. “Sorry, just zoning out.”
“That’s alright. If you—Oh, hey guys!”
I frowned as I turned my head to follow Nathan’s line of sight, my discomfort reaching an all time high when I noticed that Caleb and Marlena were standing directly beside our booth.
“Oh my goodness, Nathan Whitby! What are you doing here?” Marlena asked excitedly as she willfully ignored my presence.
Unfortunately, Nathan wasn’t ignoring me. His arm dropped from the booth to my shoulder and he casually tightened his hold on me.
“The same as you two I assume. Just having dinner.”
The ‘I’m on a date’ wasn’t spoken aloud, but it was heavily implied.
“Mind if we join you?” Caleb abruptly asked, sending a forced smile in our direction.
At that point Nathan had started to pick up on the tension, but Caleb had already begun to slide into the booth before he could say anything. I knew Nathan’s manners would prevent him fr
om sending them away so I smiled stiffly as they sat down in front of us.
This has to be the worst non-date ever.
“Oh, hi,” Marlena greeted after she finally looked up at me. “I’m Marlena.”
I blinked slowly, searching her gaze for any sign of recognition. When I found none, I sighed and said, “Sabrina.”
I reached my hand over the table to shake hers, but she eyed it like she was offended by the mere idea of touching me. I clenched my jaw tightly and pulled my hand back.
“I don’t like germs.”
I forced a smile. “I understand.”
There was a long, uncomfortable pause as we all wondered what the hell we were doing at the same table. The only person who didn’t seem put out by this arrangement was Caleb.
“So, how long have you two been dating?” he asked with wide, innocent eyes.
“We’re not dating,” I said sourly, glaring at him in hope that he would let it go and shut the fuck up.
“Oh, I’m sorry. How long have you two been fucking?”
Nathan coughed into his hand and Marlena’s high-pitched laugh hit my ears. I rolled my eyes and shook my head, about ready to throw in the proverbial towel and just walk away. I was sure I could find a cab to take me back to the set.
But the reappearance of the waiter halted my departure. “Your wine, sir. Oh, my apologies. I didn’t know you had additional company,” the waiter said politely as he turned to Marlena and Caleb. “What can I get you to drink?”
“Two bottles of Guinness,” Caleb ordered, his eyes never leaving mine. “And whatever she wants,” he added, tilting his head in Marlena’s direction.
After Marlena ordered, the table went completely silent as we looked through our menus. The waiter fetched their drinks, coming back shortly with the two beers for Caleb and a dirty martini for Marlena. She drained it immediately and I stared at her in shock as she demanded another.
Caleb slid a beer towards me with a small grin. “Guinness is still your favorite, right?”
Nathan and Marlena both frowned, looking between the two of us with suspicion as I blushed.
“Lucky guess,” I mumbled as I pulled the beer to my side of the table.
There was no use in declining the drink when it was already obvious that he had ordered it specifically for me. I sucked back a long gulp as I pointedly avoided the three sets of eyes currently locked on me. The waiter returned in perfect timing, setting down Marlena’s second drink and taking our meal orders.
Sadly, the distraction was only temporary. As soon as the waiter retreated, Nathan’s curious gaze returned to me.
“Not a wine person?”
“No,” I admitted with a slight grimace. “I’m more of a beer fan.”
“How’d you know that?” he asked, his attention turning to Caleb.
“Oh, you didn’t tell your date how we know each other?”
I shot him my filthiest glare, trying to silently tell him to shut his mouth. Marlena was suspiciously quiet through the whole thing, but watching me with barely concealed hatred.
“Sabrina and I met in the airport during that hurricane a few weeks back. We kept each other company until the flights started boarding again,” Caleb explained with a shrug, leaving out the important part that happened next.
Nathan seemed to be appeased by the information, but Marlena wasn’t so convinced. I could tell by her fake, sugary sweet smile as she slid closer to Caleb that she was trying to mark her territory.
Caleb looked put off until the flash of a camera briefly lit up the table. There was someone snapping pictures of the celebrity couple from a nearby table and they both ignored the attention even though they surely saw it just as clearly as I did. Even Nathan acted like nothing unusual was happening.
It led me to wonder if Caleb had really been telling the truth when he said that his relationship with Marlena was nothing more than a farce for publicity. She had chosen the perfect moment to slide up to him, but she still glared at me hatefully from across the table.
Perhaps she had real feelings for Caleb and they weren’t reciprocated? I wasn’t sure and I knew with her lingering around the set, I wouldn’t get a chance to ask Caleb any time soon.
Still, the thought rolled around in my head unwelcome all the way through dinner. There was plenty of small talk going on around me, but I just couldn’t focus on anything besides trying to sort out the tangled web of confusion circulating in my mind.
“Ready to head out, doll?” Nathan asked as he rubbed my shoulder.
Caleb’s eyes tracked the movement like a bloodhound, but I knew Marlena’s eyes were on me as well. Deciding on the better of two shitty options, I leaned into the touch and nodded.
“Alright. We’ll see you guys tomorrow,” Nathan said before sliding out of the seat.
“Later,” Caleb said with a nod towards the other man before he turned his sharp gaze to me. “Have a good night.”
I didn’t miss the pointed way he spoke and I knew what he must have been thinking. I shoved away the weird guilt I felt swirling around in my gut, reminding myself that—fake relationship or not—he’d still be taking Marlena home tonight.
That thought made it far easier to hold my chin up high and lean against Nathan’s side as he guided me out of the restaurant with a hand on the small of my back.
* * *
The ride back to the set was painfully quiet. I think Nathan was completely aware that this ‘date’ wasn’t going to go any further and I was too much of a chickenshit to look over at his face and see if he was angry about it.
“So, you going to tell me what the hell is going on between you and Caleb or should I just start slinging wild accusations?”
I don't think 'surprise' was a strong enough word to describe what I felt after he finished speaking. I turned equally suspicious and shocked eyes to look at Nathan as he causally continued to drive us back to set, wondering how the hell I was supposed to respond to that.
“I... I don't know-”
“What I'm talking about?” he finished for me, glancing over with a smirk for a moment before turning his attention back to the road. “Of course you don't. Just like you didn't get close to me as we were leaving to get some sort of twisted satisfaction out of his reaction. That’d be ridiculous.”
I flushed, thoughts of denial fleeing from my head instantly. “Nathan, it wasn't like that at all. I’m so sorry if I made you feel that way.”
“I’m just giving you shit, Sabrina. I know you aren’t that kind of person.”
A heavy sigh of relied escaped me and he glanced back over to me, this time with concern marring his features.
“So?”
“So what?”
“You want to talk about it?”
I studied my hands closely while I twisted them together, gently shaking my head as I mumbled, “Not really.”
“Well, if you ever need someone to talk to, feel free to bend my ear. I don’t mind and I don’t judge.”
I nodded to myself then looked up through the windshield when I felt the car slowing down. With a hint of disbelief, I realized we were already back on set. The ride to the restaurant felt so much longer than the ride back.
Once we were back in the parking lot, Nathan kindly offered to walk me to my trailer. I accepted, even though a small part of me was worried he was going to attempt to make a move on me regardless of what he just uncovered.
But Nathan wasn’t that type of guy. He bid me a sweet goodnight and a sincere thanks for accompanying him before he retreated down the stairs without complaint. I truly wished I felt something besides friendship for him, but alas, I couldn’t force myself to want him.
Just like I couldn’t force myself not to want Caleb.
“Oh, and Sabrina?”
“Yeah?” I asked as I turned back to face him.
“I spoke to Anne about what you asked me the other day. Your sister is free to come visit for a few days as long as she stays in your trailer and off the se
t while we’re filming.”
A huge grin lit up my face and I was overwhelmed by the need to hug him. I marched down the stairs and did just that, extremely grateful to him for asking Anne for me.
“Thanks so much,” I mumbled against the front of his shirt.
He chuckled and loosely wrapped his arms around my back. “Not a problem. Just let me know when she’s flying in, I’ll have a car sent for her.”
“You’re the best,” I told him as I pulled away, the ecstatic smile still stuck on my face.
“I know,” he said with a wink before turning around and heading down the row of trailers towards his own.
A wave of paranoia rose in my gut and I glanced around the relative darkness of the area, wondering if anyone—if Caleb—caught sight of what just happened. Sure, it was only an innocent hug, but I was quickly learning that appearances were everything in this world.
The coast looked clear and it made it a hell of a lot easier to go into my trailer and call my sister, the majority of the weight lifting from my shoulders as we excitedly started making plans for her visit.
* * *
I nearly screeched in excitement when the car pulled up to the parking area on Monday afternoon. The only reason I managed to hold it back was the groups of cast and crew who were eyeing me with disdain as they walked around me.
Not that I cared. Over the weekend, I had decided to stop giving a shit. The only two people here who actually wanted me around were Anne and Nathan. If it wasn’t for them, I gladly would have been out the door the moment I started dealing with the condescending attitude I’d been getting left and right since stepping foot on the set.
Shoving away the negative thoughts, I grinned when the car door open and I spotted my sister’s strawberry blonde hair.
“Candace!” I yelled, unable to contain my excitement any longer.
“Sabrina!”
Her luggage forgotten, my sister rushed over to me and encircled me in a much needed hug. I had missed her something fierce. Hell, I had missed seeing any friendly face.
Anne may have wanted me here, but she still had the attitude of an ice queen. Nathan was the only solace I had, but that friendship had been slightly tainted by his obvious interest in me.