He wasn’t standing by himself, which was good. Eva was going to play his love interest in the movie and they knew each other already from previous films. He stared at the cameras as required. “At least we can talk.”
“True. How’s everything, Matt?” Eva pushedher hair behind her face as the director instructed.
“Eva, you and Brandon seem happy.”
Both of them had lights shining in their eyes but she smiled as if not bothered. “He’s the only man who ever got me.”
And she was one of the few people in Hollywood actually happy when the cameras were off. He continued to stare at the cameras and lights as he asked, “How did you two meet?”
She spoke stiffly, her smile forced for the camera. “In high school.”
He squared his shoulders as the director motioned for him. “Got it. My brother ended up marrying the girl he loved in college.”
Eva bounced in her step as she said, “That’s really sweet.” The director left and they were both just staring ahead again at the bright lights when Eva said, “You and Ashley seemedto be getting along well. I saw the articles.”
His heart froze and it seemed everyone could see right through him. “That’s over.”
Matt’s body felt so empty that nothing would ever fill him.
Eva didn’t even blink as she said, “She realized fast you don’t open your heart?”
Jennifer’s comments hadn’t mattered because he used her flaws to block her observations. But Evawas a friend with no hidden motives for that comment. “You’re the second person to tell me that today.” Was it true? “I didn’t fall in love when I was young.”
She shrugged but then turned to her side as she was directed. “Neither did I. Brandon was someone I avoided as an adult. I refused him when I was stupid and young and I ended up hurt pretty bad. Brandon offered me a second chancein movies because I fit the role, being pregnant.”
Brandon and Eva were the only happy people he knew in the industry. “You won awards-”
“Brandon and I fell in love,” she interrupted and refused to change topics as she continued, “Despite how I mistrusted him, and I almost ruined my own happiness because I was afraid.”
“Of Brandon?” Their producer struck him as smart and hadone of the most sound minds in the business.
Eva shook her head. “No. Not of Brandon. Of being in love, and depending on someone else. I thought I was supposed to be alone because that’s the life I knew. Brandon showed me being in love and trusting the right person… well that’s worth everything.”
And he’d done the opposite. He’d proven he was untrustworthy and not worthy of love.
The director called out, “Cut. Let’s see how the scene might look now.”
Good. That meant he was finished for the day blocking his scenes which meant he stood for the cameras and moved an arm or leg when asked for a few hours. He left his mark and headed toward the door. Ashley was gone. He’d never see her again, never taste or smell or touch her again. And it was exactly what he deserved.
He marched through the studio and back to the lot for his motorcycle.
But he’d been wrong about one thing. When he’d said, “this was all too fast” it was just more proof that he never knew himself. He’d ruined everything because he didn’t know how to feel, or deal with his own emotions because he was an emotional disaster.
As he hopped onto his bike, he revved the engine andwished he could block out his thoughts as well as his scenes.
Chapter 17
The evening air wasn’t cold enough. Nothing stopped the house from reminding him of Ashley. Her ghost was in the kitchen, dancing to salsa music.
His bed still smelled of her.
The memory of her smile in the hall floated in the air.
Matt paced from the kitchen to the living room.
He hadn’t heard from his family since that night which only provedhe’d made a mistake.
He never should have called Anthony without discussing it with Ashley.
