Cold rushed through him. “It doesn’t reflect badly on you if you go home and rest for a few days. Surgery is covered in the contract.”
She shook her head. “It’s fine, Matt. How’s Ashley?”
Her words made his head spin. Fine was always his answer, even when it wasn’t true. She’d asked about the one womanwho deserved better from him. He pushed his hand in his pocket and leaned against the door frame. “I don’t know.”
“Oh, did y’all break up?” She barely looked at him, the question a toss-away comment.
His heart beat faster but he didn’t move as he said, “She’s your cousin.”
Jennifer settled back in her chair with a small sigh. “She never wanted to see me again.”
Ashley’dhad a busy night last night, clearing her life of those who had hurt her. He straightened and sipped his coffee as adrenaline coursed through him. “Guess that’s two of us then.”
She picked up her mascara and added it without even glancing in a mirror.
He didn’t leave and she pouted her lips. “That’s too bad. She really was in love with you.”
His pulse pounded and he wasn’tsure what he’d do. He tossed his horrible second cup that lacked flavor into the trash. “Love means trust.”
She snorted and put her makeup back on the table. It hadn’t helped. She was still ready for a death scene more than a romance. “I guess. Ashley has little reason to trust you or any Morgan. If she was smarter, she’d have learned to keep her lips closed and taken you as you are. Whyshould you change for her?”
Where he chose others over her and ignored her? “That doesn’t sound like happiness or love.”
She stood but winced as she pressed her hand to the lower right side of her abdomen. “What do you know about love?”
That you don’t chase after people who don’t love you back was something he knew for sure. “More than you I guess.”
She walked towardhim, more of a march, actually, like a wounded soldier. “Look, we all have to take care of ourselves first. I’m hoping Ashley learned her lesson that you can’t pin your hopes and dreams on one person fulfilling your life.”
Which he’d destroyed when he’d betrayed her trust in him. He stepped out of her way and asked, “Then why are you obsessed with Peter?”
She stood next to him inthe door frame and stared up at him. She wore Ashley’s perfume—the rose scent would always remind him of Ashley. “I’m not obsessed. He loved me.”
How was Jennifer the currentitgirl of Hollywood and no one saw the truth of how she used people to get what she wanted? His stomach twisted because he was exactly the same.
He’d used Ashley too. “That wasn’t love.”
She patted hischeek and stepped into the hall. “You weren’t there to see, but I know you. You’re afraid of love. No wonder you’re so wooden in love scenes. I get it now.”
“Get what?” he called out behind her.
Jennifer’s walk lost some of its sway as she stiffly soldiered on.
She mirrored him when he’d broken his leg on that stunt three years ago and continued to show up to film until theywrapped.
His doctor said he’d almost ruined his ability to walk, forever. He swallowed and wished he didn’t see himself in Jennifer, of all people. She hurt people just like he’d done—she glanced over her shoulder and said, “Look, the audience sees your easy-going charm as meaning your heart is still out there for them to have, but you don’t have one to share. No wonder Ashley was hurt.”
His stomach twisted like she cut him with a knife but he walked next to her as he said, “She said you used her.”
Jennifer huffed as they made it to the black room where they’d block near the green screen later. Crew passed with set props for the hotel room scene. Jennifer said, “She let me, because she has this need to be cared about. It’s her weakness.”
At least Ashley hadtried to live fully. He couldn’t recall one moment he’d ever given anything to anyone other than himself. He crossed his arms and said, “Or her strength.”
“See you on set.” She winked and headed toward her seat.
Right.
He glanced at the taped spot on the floor where he was due to stand for an hour.
