Crashing into Liam

by Marion Myles

  “Are you serious?”

  Cindy raised her right hand in an oath. “As God is my witness, I swear it’s the truth.”

  Rebecca smiled and sank onto the bed. “Miracles really do happen. That makes me think he might actually finish this damn movie.”

  “Like you said, only six more days. Good night.”

  “Good night, Cindy. And thanks for the food and good news. I know I’ll sleep a whole lot better now.”

  Marisa was gone the next morning. Liam, pale but composed, studied his script all the way to set. No one mentioned the disastrous previous day. Rebecca poured the first Jack and Coke when they arrived at the trailer. Liam took it with a shaking hand while his eyes slid away from hers.

  “I’ve got lattes and a macchiato,” Cindy said, stepping into the trailer. “Freddie says everything’s on schedule, so we’d better head to makeup.”

  “Liam’s changing,” Rebecca said.

  “How is he?” Cindy asked, handing Rebecca her coffee.

  “Okay, I think. He’s got the shakes, and I’m betting he’s not feeling all that great physically, but he seems to have his mind on the job.”

  Cindy sighed. “That’s good.” She lowered her voice. “People are still pissed about yesterday.”

  “I can only imagine.”

  Liam came out from the bedroom dressed for the scene in the jeans, T-shirt, and leather jacket. He smiled when Cindy raised the Starbucks cup.

  “You’re a lifesaver, Cin. I could really use the extra jolt this morning. Is it time to go?”

  “Yep. You ready?”

  “As I’ll ever be.”

  He swallowed, and his shoulders hunched. Rebecca thought he looked like a lost little boy.

  “You’re going to be fine,” she reassured, patting his arm. “I’ll bet you knock it out of the park today. Even Harry Quinn will be impressed.”

  She saw gratitude in his eyes before he worked up a smile. “Thanks. I appreciate the vote of confidence.”

  As it turned out, Liam was better than fine. He had the lines down cold, and his performance was spot on. The filming progressed quickly, and Malcolm called “Wrap,” in the middle of the afternoon and sent everyone home. Harry, who’d been stone-faced during any breaks in action, had softened considerably by then and even shook Liam’s hand and clapped him on the back before they parted ways.

  Rebecca felt elated. Watching Liam perform so brilliantly after yesterday’s debacle, it almost seemed like her own personal victory. For the first time, she didn’t regret the decision to take the job. Glancing to the back seat, she smiled seeing Liam lying across the length of it sound asleep.

  “It was a good day,” she said turning to Cindy.

  “You can say that again. And it’s great to get home early for a change.”

  Rebecca leaned toward her. “Will Marisa be at the house?”

  “Nope,” Cindy said, keeping her voice low. “Liam told me she’s in Milan for a couple of days.”

  “Awesome,” Rebecca whispered.

  Chapter Twelve

  The next few days were the best of any since Rebecca had begun working for Liam. No drama. No conflict. Just a man going to work every day and doing his job, albeit while consuming a shot of whiskey most waking hours. Still, she’d made her peace with it. Seeing Liam achieve even this much stability felt like a blessing.

  Home from the set after another long day, Rebecca lay on her bed and flicked through one of her textbooks. The thought she’d be heading home the day after tomorrow was hard to grasp.

  “Yes,” she called when a knock sounded on her door.

  Cindy stepped into the room. “I’m heading out. How do I look?”

  “Like a woman who’s going to have a great second date with a really cute guy. Love the skirt, love the top, but I especially love the shoes. You must have quite the collection.”

  “What can I say? Shoes are my weakness. Anyway,” she said, smiling broadly, “I’ll probably be late if you know what I mean.”

  Rebecca flapped a hand at her. “Just go already. It’s cruel to lord it over those of us who haven’t been able to say, ‘I’ll probably be late,’ for close to a year.”

  “I know it’s mean, yet I can’t seem to help myself.” She paused and smoothed down her top. “I was wondering if you could do me a favor though? They sent out the call sheet with the times. Liam’s in the pool, so I don’t think he saw my text. In case he doesn’t check his phone, could you tell him we need to leave at six tomorrow morning? Thanks, I owe you one.”

  “I’m heading down to the kitchen anyway, so it’s no problem. Have fun and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

  Outside, it was full dark. The air was pleasantly mild with no hint of the sharpness they’d had the week before. Rebecca stepped off the patio and wandered the stone pathway passing citrus trees and flowering shrubs before climbing the three steps up to the pool.

  Wisps of steam rose from the surface of the water, and the bottom of the pool was lit so that it shone a brilliant emerald green and made her think of the sea and tropical islands and mermaids. Liam swam laps and his arms sliced gracefully through the water. Sitting on one of the lounge chairs, she watched him for a time.

  When he reached the far end of the pool, he executed a neat underwater flip then switched to the breaststroke and glided along like a dolphin, the distortion of the water making his body appear elongated. She found it incredibly soothing sitting in the dark beside the mermaid pool and listening to the rhythmic splashing. Stretching her legs out, she lay back and lifted her face to the stars searching for the Big Dipper.

  “Hey, what are you doing out here? Don’t tell me you’re finally going to make use of the recreational facilities.”

  Rebecca sat up to see Liam hanging off the edge of the pool, his hair slicked back and his beautiful face seeming to glow from within.

  “Just delivering a message from Cindy. She wanted you to know we have to leave at six a.m.”

  “Okay. I’ll be ready.”

  Rebecca stood. “Great. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Wait. You’re really not going to swim? It’s a gorgeous night for it.”

  “I didn’t pack a suit.”

  “I’m sure Isabella can scrounge up one for you.” When Rebecca shook her head, he pushed up until he was sitting on the ledge. “At least dip your feet it. You won’t be sorry. I promise.”

  He patted the deck. She blew out a breath and kicked off her flip-flops. “Fine. I’ll dangle my legs in for a minute.”

  Lowering down beside him, she sighed in contentment when her legs sank into the warm water. “It does feel good,” she admitted. “I can’t remember the last time I swam.”

  “I used to hit the water a couple of times a week…but lately…” He trailed off and shrugged. “Anyway, I decided I needed to get back to it. It’s a great workout, and I find it calming.”

  “You’ve been doing so well these last few days,” she said softly. “I know it sounds condescending to say, but I’m really proud of you.”

  His feet kicked back and forth against the side of the pool. “I feel like I’m white knuckling my way through and barely hanging on. I couldn’t have done it without you, that’s for sure. What do you think of me trying the next two days without booze?”

  Her heart leaped. “I think it’ll be hard, but it’s a great idea. Just the fact you want to try is fantastic. What happens after the movie is done?”

  “Dunno. I keep hoping you’ll agree to the tour.” He paused and glanced over at her. When she shook her head, he shrugged. “I guess I have a lot to figure out.”

  They sat in silence, legs gently kicking while they gazed out over the pool.

  “Did you always want to be a musician?” she asked.

  “Not even close,” he said, smiling. “I thought it would be a good way to get girls, so me and my friends got a band together in high school. I didn’t even know how to play guitar, but I took some lessons, and we started
out doing cover songs. We mostly played dances and parties.”

  “Did it help get girls?”

  He snapped his fingers. “Oh, yeah. But I also realized I liked playing music even without the girls. I started devoting every spare moment I had, and lots I stole away from school and homework, to learning and practicing. It drove my parents crazy.”

  “They must have been incredibly proud when you became such a huge star.”

  “My dad died when I was twenty. Heart attack. He never saw any of my success, which pissed me off to no end after all the lectures I’d had to sit through. My mom passed a year after he did in a car accident. Siobhan, my sister, is real proud though. She has little kids now, but before that, she used to come out on tour. It was nice having her with me.”

  Her hand closed over his, squeezing gently. “I’m sorry about your parents. It must have been hard.”

  “Feels like it happened a long time ago.” He shrugged. “I never talk about this stuff. It’s weird remembering.”

  He turned his hand and mated their fingers, his eyes intent on hers. Somewhere deep in her belly, an excited spark of electricity began to dance.

  “Sometimes it’s good to remember,” she said.

  “Not usually…but telling you, I didn’t mind so much. You have a way of listening that…I don’t know…it feels like you really hear me.”

  As she stared into his blue-green sea eyes, her body started to tingle, and everything around her whirled. What was wrong with her? Was she falling into a trance? He took a breath, and she swore she could feel the oxygen filling her own lungs. Finally dropping her head, she stared down at their joined hands in awe.

  After several beats, he released her hand and set it on her thigh then slid back into the pool and treaded water directly in front of her. With the water lit up all around him, his skin shone like some magical being. It took a force of will to tear her eyes away from him.

  * * * * *

  Two days later, Rebecca and Cindy sat on location watching Liam film the final scene of the movie. It was set in a graveyard. The morning had been devoted to recording long shots and numerous angles of Liam walking among the graves. Now he stood by the headstone of his recently murdered girlfriend, heartbroken and with head bowed, bared his soul to her.

  Rebecca had been fighting tears ever since Liam began his monologue until finally, she could no longer stop them from flowing down her cheeks. She believed every word he spoke, and the way his face crumpled in pain hit deep in her soul until she was a sniveling mess sitting hunched over in her chair.

  “This is too much,” she sobbed.

  “I know,” Cindy said, wiping her nose. “He’s crazy good. I can’t wait to see this on the big screen.”

  When Malcolm called for a pause two hours later, Rebecca felt limp and bereft and as though every drop of emotion had been wrung from her body. She wondered if she’d ever be the same again.

  “Liam, you rock,” Cindy said, hopping down when he approached. “What can I get you? Water maybe?”

  “Water would be great.” He slumped into the chair beside Rebecca.

  “I can’t even.” Rebecca shook her head. “That was amazing. It really touched me.”

  “You don’t have to say that…” He trailed off and took the bottle of water from Cindy.

  “I mean it. You must know by now I don’t mince words. You’re truly a talented actor. You should be proud of yourself.”

  He blinked at her. “I’m hardly ever proud of myself…but today, maybe a little,” he said.

  Malcolm approached, all smiles, and saluted Liam. “And that’s a wrap, my friend. Great work today. There were times I doubted we’d finish this fucking movie, but you came through in the end.” He turned and addressed the crew. “Okay, folks. Dangerous Intent is officially in the can. I’d like to thank each and every one of you for all the hard work. I’ll see everyone tonight at the wrap party.”

  There was a round of applause then Liam got to his feet and cleared his throat.

  “I’d like to say something,” he called out, raising his hand. “First off, I want to apologize. I know a lot of times my behavior was unprofessional. I’m sorry for all the inconvenience I caused. I’m trying hard to change my ways, and if I ever work with any of you again, I hope you’ll see a big difference in me next time. You guys were an awesome crew. The best. Thank you for putting up with me…um…yeah, that’s it. See you tonight.”

  Another round of applause rolled through the crew, and Rebecca saw faces nodding and smiling. Everyone liked seeing a bad boy made good.

  “You should come to the party tonight,” Cindy said to Rebecca during the drive back to the Warner Bros. lot.

  “I need to pack.”

  “Come to the party, and after you can stay at the house. There’s no rush on the packing,” Liam said.

  “I don’t know…maybe.”

  The driver dropped them at Liam’s trailer, and when they stepped inside, the bedroom door slid open. Marisa walked out.

  She wore a siren red dress that dipped down between her breasts and had cutouts along the side making her already narrow waist seem impossibly tiny. Flipping back about a mile of silky hair, her lips, painted in matching red, curved into a wicked smile.

  “I’m back,” she said. “And now that the movie’s done we can finally have some fun.”

  Liam stood frozen, his face a blank mask. Marisa sashayed across the sitting area and cupped his chin with her hands before kissing him. He didn’t respond at first but then his arms lifted, coming around her, and he pressed into her body.

  “Hi, baby,” he said when they broke apart. “How was Milan?”

  “Fabulous. Everyone asked after you. I hear there’s a party tonight?”

  “Yep, starting basically right now.”

  Rebecca had been transfixed watching Liam and Marisa, but when Cindy sighed beside her, she shook herself, and her mind clicked back into gear. The admiration for Liam that had been building during the last few days turned to disgust. He was never, ever going to change. Once an addict, always an addict, she thought.

  Pulling out her phone, she ordered an Uber then turned to Cindy. “I’m gonna take off now.”

  “Really? That’s too bad. It would have been fun partying together tonight. I was going to introduce you to Jim.”

  “Maybe another time.”

  Flicking a glance to Liam, she saw he was watching her. She couldn’t read the expression on his face. Marisa had somehow managed to wrap practically every square inch of her body around him and at that moment reminded Rebecca of the serpent in the Garden of Eden. Suddenly, Rebecca knew she couldn’t leave without urging Liam to do the right thing.

  “Could I talk to you for a moment…in private?” she asked him.

  “Um…okay…”

  He gently pried Marisa’s arms from around his waist and pushed back before turning to the bedroom and beckoning Rebecca to follow. She passed by Marisa, and when the girl smiled at her, she no longer resembled the serpent. Instead, she seemed nothing more than a beautiful, happy woman looking forward to a night out with her boyfriend.

  “You really don’t have to leave tonight. I don’t care how long you stay at the house,” Liam said.

  “I care. My job is done, and it’s time for me to get back to my own life.”

  They stood staring at one another until Rebecca blew out a breath and stepped up to him.

  “All right, here’s my pitch. You’ve done fantastically well with the drinking and drugs. You must see the difference in your work? Everyone’s talking about how great you were toward the end of shooting.” She reached out and closed her hand around his wrist, hoping the physical contact would somehow increase the impact of her words. “It’s obviously none of my business what you do from now on, but it would be a crying shame if you went back to partying your life away.”

  “I’m not planning to,” he said, a note of defensiveness in his voice.

  “Then you shouldn’t go place
s and spend time with people who are drinking and doing drugs. It’s hard enough staying sober without that kind of temptation. Marisa is probably a nice person, but she’s not good for you. And going to the wrap party is a bone-headed move. Go home, Liam, and figure out where you’re going to find people who can support you through this. This decision, right now, could be the single defining moment of your life. You could literally save yourself.” She let go of his arm and stepped back. “There, I’ve said my piece. Good luck. I wish you all the best.”

  He nodded slowly, his eyes staying fixed on her face. “Do you really think it’s possible for someone like me to change?”

  “I don’t know, but you’ve made such a great start. Wouldn’t it be worth it if you could? You deserve to be happy and healthy and whole.”

  This time he was the one reaching out to her. His hand came down on her shoulders, and he pulled her to him, holding her tightly against his chest.

  “I can’t thank you enough. You put up with all my shit and kept on trying to help me no matter what. I don’t know how you did it, but you’re an amazing woman. I’ve never met anyone like you. And I want you to know I heard what you said. I’ll break up with Marisa tonight. You’re right. I don’t think she’s good for me.”

  He felt so warm and solid against her and before she realized what she was doing, her arms wrapped around him. “I know it will probably be hard, but it’s the right move.”

  Liam went to step back, and Rebecca clung for several seconds before forcing her arms to let go.

  “Goodbye, Rebecca,” he said when they moved apart. “Wish me luck, okay?”

  “You’ve got this. No luck needed.”

  She patted his cheek then turned, slid open the door, and walked out to the waiting Uber.

  Chapter Thirteen

  It was two days later when the call came. Rebecca jolted awake in the early hours of the morning and fumbled for her phone. She stared blankly at Cindy’s name on the display before her mind kicked into gear.

  “What’s wrong?” she croaked.

  “You have to come…it’s so…they’re…I don’t know what to do.”