She wakes me up. “Wes?”
“Mmm?” I hum, sleepy.
“Can we go on our date tomorrow?”
I blink and swallow and fight to something akin to wakefulness. “Might be able to get the director to move things around, film some scenes I’m not in.” I see her in the darkness, a shape in the shadows. “Feeling better?”
“Yeah.” She rolls to me, warm and soft and smelling sweet and clean—she took a long shower before falling asleep, her mom told me. “Sorry I woke you. Go back to sleep.”
“S’okay.” I’m already tumbling back into sleep. “Missed you.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
Don’t apologize, I try to say, but it doesn’t come out. Just a negative grunt.
“I am.” She pets my head, traces the shell of my ear. “I missed you too.”
“You did?”
“Of course.” I hear a smile in her voice. “I miss the things we do together.”
I snort. “Created a monster.”
“Yep. Rawr.” She holds me close, and I hear her heartbeat. “Sleep.”
“’Kay.”
* * *
I sleep late.When I wake up, it’s almost ten—late, for me. I smell food—eggs, toast, bacon. I sit up, rub the sleep out of my eyes.
Jo dances in—she’s got earbuds in, phone in her hand. She has coffee in the other hand, sees me and sits on the edge of the bed. She’s in sapphire blue hipster panties and a tank top, nothing else.
“Here,” she says, handing me the coffee. “I felt you waking up.”
“You did, huh?” I ask, taking the mug from her and sipping it gratefully. “You felt me waking up?”
She nods, touching her chest. “In my spirit.”
I eye her over the top of the mug. “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
She brightens. “Me too! That was awful, my god.” A happy sigh. “Today is a good day. I feel good. You’re here. And if everything works out with your director, we can finally go on that date.”
“I should call him,” I say. “I’m supposed to be on set for a couple quick scenes.”
I grab my phone and call the director.
After I explain what I want, there’s a long silence. Finally, he sighs. “Yeah, yeah, fine. We can shoot some B roll, and some of the scenes with Ryan and Shania that you’re not in.”
“That’s what I was hoping. You know I wouldn’t—”
“Yeah yeah,” he cuts me off. “You wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important. I understand the situation. Take the day. Be back on set tomorrow bright and early, with bells on. Yeah?”
I’ve never heard anyone use the word “yeah” as much as he does. “Thanks.”
“You’re really killing it, Wes. We’ve all been impressed…especially considering what’s going on with you personally. Hopefully this day off will inspire some even better performances outta you.”
“It will.”
