Of course Jimmy would like nothing better than to talk to and spend time with Coop. Okay, there were maybe one or two things he'd like more, but he wasn't silly enough to think Coop was going to walk up to him and say, "Take me to bed, handsome securityguard." But it would be amazing to spend some time with him. Jimmy got such a good feeling about the guy. He was appealing on multiple levels, an appeal that grew all the time. His genuineness matched his beauty.
"I'll ask him," he'd told his dad, while at the same time trying not to get his hopes up. He made excuses for why it might not work out and convinced himself it was silly even tohope.
Jimmy was agreeable and restless enough that the crew had started getting him to run the occasional errand for them. Nothing that made him leave the studio, just some extra fetch-and-carry when everything was busy and there weren't enough hands to go around. Hope strongly objected, of course. "Do what they pay you for, nothing more!"
But he got bored just watching, not having somethingmore to do. He'd never minded being the one to run errands back home, the kid sent to fetch something from the fridge, or hop up and change the channel on the TV when the remote was broken, or run and get the ball one of his cousins had knocked out of the scruffy ball field. He liked being busy, on the move, active and helpful. So, yes, he carried things when asked and delivered notes, goodies,props, and today, the first day Coop was back on set, some lunch.
Obviously, there was the usual spread, but someone had gotten some special sandwiches, and it was his pleasure to be the one carrying them in. Coop smiled at him, his eyes friendly, his expression oddly tentative, even shy. Jimmy hesitated, then approached Coop.
"Hey, thanks for what you said to me before," Coop said.
"You'rewelcome. I meant it."
Now would be the perfect time to ask. But he couldn't do that to Coop. He had a short break to eat something before he went back to act his heart out. If Jimmy monopolized that short break to make Cooper feel awkward or waste his time coming up with a polite no or an excuse (because of course he would be polite), it would be a shitty thing to do. Cooper's schedule wastight, with little or no leeway right now.
Maybe he could ask when Coop got to leave for the night.
Coop took a sandwich with a nervous smile. "I'd better not eat too much of this. I think there's another shirtless scene this week."
Jimmy's mouth went dry. He knew it wasn't flirting—this was the guy's job, after all—but Coop, shirtless. Wow. It had been something to behold. Jimmycould definitely stand for them to film shirtless scenes all week. Although Coop clearly felt self-conscious about it, so he supposed he shouldn't wish that on the guy. Still. Shirtless Coop.
It was an extraordinarily long day of filming, and the hostility between the stars was almost palpable when they weren't acting. Jimmy wasn't sure when it had become so strong, because he'd been herebefore and it hadn't seemed nearly so bad. Sure, he'd gotten the feeling Lincoln didn't really like Cooper, which was weird and deeply unnatural. How could anyone not like the guy? But it hadn't been this marked, and he'd even thought that Coop kind of looked up to Lincoln and wanted Lincoln to like him. It was a shame if they weren't going to get along, although they still did a good job of pretendingto while the cameras were rolling.
As night set in and they still weren't done, everyone seemed to get more tired and cranky by the minute, actors and crew alike. Hope was ready to bite somebody's head off. She didn't like working overtime, but she also didn't say no when they asked her. She was still one of the few women on security here, and he knew she didn't want to risk that positionby saying no to extra hours.
Lincoln left at last, driving off in a squealing of tires in his sleek, brand-spanking-new muscle car. Some of the crew left, too. But not security, and not Coop, and not most of the film crew or the director. This wasn't normal, was it? He was filming an emotional moment in the moonlight, acting all on his own in the darkness. It made Jimmy feel shivery andweird to hear those lines over and over, Coop crying out, looking for his partner, stumbling in the dark. If he'd really been a wolf hunting for his partner, he'd have shifted long ago, but the stuntman wasn't scheduled today, so Coop had to emote. Over and over again, his voice more ragged with each take.
Jimmy was beginning to wonder if they were going to lock the gates and make Coop stayall night for retake after emotional retake, when finally, Coop was cleared to go. It had been appalling towards the end, and Jimmy was so relieved when it was over that you'd think he'd been the one spilling his heart out and working into the wee hours. It felt like more than what it had been, and the air was emotionally charged.
While Coop changed out of his wardrobe, Jimmy hurried to clockout. He was waiting near the parking lot when Coop emerged, walking like he was exhausted, his hair still in the roguishly handsome style of the character he played, dark and sleek and gorgeous. His face was completely blank, and you could see exhaustion in his every step, as if he was weary down to his bones.
Jimmy stepped forward before he could lose his nerve. "Mr. Hayes? It's me." Hecleared his throat. "Jimmy." Oh, his hands were clammy.
Despite his trying not to startle the guy and thinking that surely Coop had seen him there, Coop jumped and let out a squeak.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Jimmy backed up, raising his hands, heart pounding.
For a moment, Coop's face was ashen and terrified. Then his expression cleared with recognition. "Oh, Jimmy. It's you."
"Yes. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."
"It's okay." Coop raised a trembling hand to push back his hair a little and gave Jimmy an anxious smile. "What is it? Did I forget something?"
"No, I—" Suddenly, this felt like the worst idea in the world. Cornering him now, with Dad's question? The man was exhausted. Yet he felt in his bones that he couldn't let Cooper walk away feelingthis exhausted and discouraged, that it would be dangerous and wrong. "I wanted to talk to you. I'm sorry they were so hard on you today."
"Oh, well." Coop waved a hand. "It's the job. Hopefully, I won't have to shoot that scene again."
It had seemed cruel, making him go through the scene that many times. It was like the director didn't see him as a human being capable of suffering, orif he did, that it was a good thing to make Coop suffer for the camera. For 'art.'
"What did you want to talk about?" asked Cooper.
"A lot of things," said Jimmy. "But right now, are you okay? Do you need somebody to drive you home?"To make sure you actually get home, he wanted to add but didn't dare. There was something fatalistic and faraway to Cooper tonight, and it scared him.
Cooperhesitated. "I think I'm safe to drive."
"Maybe you're hungry? I could take you to get something to eat, and then drop you off, if you want."
"But my car—" began Cooper.
"And pick you up in the morning," Jimmy added desperately. He had the growing, unnerving sense that he shouldn't leave Coop alone right now. He reached out and touched Coop's arm, putting all the urgency and affection hecould into his gaze. "Please?" he added wretchedly, in case Coop had noticed his infatuation and was put off by it. "I promise I'll be a perfect gentleman."
This seemed to decide Coop, and his smile brightened into something shiny and filled with relief. "Will you? What a shame." He grinned at Jimmy, roguish and beautiful even in his exhaustion and after all the stress of the day. Therereally wasn't a more perfectly gorgeous man alive.
Jimmy's heart thumped wildly. "If you want me to," he said, trying to adopt the same light, teasing tone.
Cooper laughed. It was a glorious sound. "All right, then. Take me for dinner, big man. And tell me all about yourself."
"There's not much to tell," said Jimmy. "But it's all yours if you want it." And then he wondered if thathad come out sounding as appalling sexual as it felt like it had—and if it wasn't exactly what he meant, every single word.
