“Shawna, it was really nice seeing you again.” I make a show of looking at my watch. I’m hoping she hasn’t noticed it’s a prop and doesn’t even tell time. “I kinda overslept and they need?—”
“Coop! Shit, there you are!” Megan comes hauling ass around the corner, ready for anything. She wraps her arm through mine and starts dragging Pongo and me away from our new friend. “Doug has been searching everywhere for you. We need that reshoot before the sun shifts.”
“Absolutely!” I flash her a big smile and I nod to Shawna. The red in her face should signal embarrassment, instead, she’s pissed. Not at me, though, at Megan and the way she holds onto me.
“Okay, well, I can wait in your trailer with Pongo. It’s no big deal. I took the week off to spend it with you and I’ve read up on therapy dogs.”
My fake smile drops at the thought of her alone in my trailer with my dog. Aside from a few friends and my shrink, people don’t know Pongo’s role as a therapy dog. To the world, he looks like any other dog, and I never put a vest on him to advertise what he’s trained to do. Shawna’s awareness of that little piece of information has me more than a little spooked, and Megan can feel the shift in my mood.
“Coop, hun, why don’t you and Pongo go ahead to the set and find Doug? I’ll be right behind you.” Megan steps between us and Shawna. Megan’s not much over five feet tall, but she could kick my ass. She used to be a stunt woman until she had an injury she couldn’t come back from. “Sweetheart, where’s your badge?”
“Oh, no, it’s okay. I’m Chase’s fiancée.”
That escalated faster than normal. I pretend not to hear what she’s saying as I keep walking, holding the phone up to my ear to play it off a little better. I round a corner, and the looming figure of Jerry, head of security, heads my way.
“Sorry about that, Mr. Cooper. I have no idea how they’re getting in here. You two okay?”
“Yeah, we’re fine. Megan’s got her right now. Thanks, man.” Before he gets far, I add in, “Hey, if my agent calls and blasts you, I’ll buy you dinner to make up for it.”
Jerry waves me off. I wait for him to turn the corner before I lean up against the trailer, my hands covering my face. Jerry might be used to these kinds of things, but I hate this shit so much. I love acting and most of the fans are incredible. But man, there’s always one that has to ruin it for everyone else. Some days I wish I could just go back to being an unknown, but the rent and bills are a whole lot harder to pay that way.
“You okay, Coop?” Megan asks when she comes around the trailer. She rubs my shoulders, which should be funny since she has to stand on her tiptoes just to reach, but I’m too annoyed to laugh.
“Yeah. Thanks for the save. I was on my way out to find you and she was right there waiting by my trailer.”
“She’s the third one this week that made it all the way back here. They’re getting a little too good at acting like they belong on set. Last night, the guy even had a fake badge. A damn convincing one, too.” She gives me a sympathetic smile.
“Did he fuck up any of the shoot?”
“Nah, don’t worry. The takes from last night turned out fine, and they’re going to use them. I was on my way to your trailer to tell you that you’re free to go. Will I catch you in Romania next week?”
“I’ve got that awards show to hit, so I’ll be a day late, but yeah, I’ll be there.” I bend over and give her a hug, glad she’s going to be on site next week. Familiar faces always help me relax. “Thanks again. I owe you and love you forever.”
Once I change and turn the costume in at the wardrobe department, I check in with a few more people before Pongo and I head for the car. A piece of paper stuck to the windshield catches my eye as I get closer.
The note readsI love you Chase!along with a phone number. I unfold the piece of paper and find an actual marriage license filled out with the personal information of some woman named Julie.
“Jesus...” I climb in the car and toss the letter in the glove box so I can give it to my agent. She keeps things that go beyond the standard note or gift, just in case. I’ve never asked her whatjust in casesituation she’s kept them for—well, frankly, I’m not sure why she keeps them, but she has her reasons.
This will join the book from Shawna that security took from me at the convention. I remember it now because my agent said it went overboard in all the wrong ways, but I never flipped through it. I rock my head back against the seat and pet Pongo while we sit for a few minutes to get my head back to reality. After I calm down, I text Jamie back.
Yeah, I’m headed your way now. Just wrapped for the day.
JimJam
Sweet! Shower’s open and fixed if you wanna come straight here.
As the engine revs to life, a question tickles the back of my mind. Has anyone leaked tonight's appearance yet? It’s a kids’ charity event, and while I wish the paps wouldn’t show up to those, they still do. If it’s not out yet, I can at least get in and help Jamie set up before someone posts about it and they swarm the school. If they have leaked it, they’ll already be at Jamie’s house by the time I get there.
“It’s no wonder I can’t keep a damn girlfriend, eh, Pongo?”
* * *
I pick up coffee for Jamie and his wife, Lexi, on the way to the house because I’m dragging ass and need the pick-me-up. When I pull into the driveway and check around the house, I don’t find anyone lingering in the bushes, waiting to jump out, so there’s a chance this eventhasn’tleaked to the press yet. We get the van loaded up with easels, canvases, and other painting supplies in no time. Once we’re done, Jamie takes me to the studio garage in the back of the house. He opens the door and pulls back a sheet that’s covering the back wall. My jaw drops as I take in the giant mural he’s spent months on.
“What do you think, man? I haven’t shown her yet.”
“Dude, it’s fucking brilliant.” Jamie stopped painting after his dad died. That changed when he met Lexi. They have a textbook definition of a whirlwind relationship, sending them down the aisle in Vegas after only a few months. I didn’t believe in soulmates till they got together. Now, I can’t help questioning if there’s someone like that for me.
