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“What! No, you have to come.” Julia grabs my hand, looking slightly hilarious with half her face still painted with makeup.

“It’s basically a requirement,” Oscar states.

Yueyi places her hands on her hips. “Are you a team player, Ellie?”

“Of course I am!” I practically shout.

“You haven’t joined us for any post-film meals. You come to set, you film, and you leave. Does that seem like team playing to you?” Yueyi’s eyes narrow.

“Yes. I mean no. No, it doesn’t, and yes, I’m a team player. Of course I’ll be there tonight.” My heart pounds in my chest. The last thing I want is an unfriendly and anti-team reputation in this industry. The cozy movie community is a small one, and there’s a giant pool of talent trying to break their way in. As much as I want to give Matt his final lesson, and then hold Mariah in my arms and cuddle up under the blankets with her for what might be the last time, I can’t lose future opportunities.

“I’ll be there,” I state with finality.

“Great!” Yueyi purses her lips into a smile. Oscar slaps me on the back. Julia gives me her best toothpaste-commercial smile.

Is being the centre of attention with my co-stars and directorial team a dream of mine? Yes. Do I want to spend my last night in Chilliwack with them? No.

“Excuse me.” I back away before turning and hustling to the other side of the room.

“What was all that about?” Mariah uses another makeup wipe to remove what I’d missed.

“I have to go out with the crew tonight,” I say without enthusiasm.

She pauses. “I thought we had plans to get back at Jax.”

“We do. We did. But I can’t miss this.”

Mariah hesitates a bit longer. “I was hoping we could... talk.”

“Yes,” I say, eagerly. “I want to talk, too.”

“But tomorrow is the last day.”

“Yeah. And my rental is finished tomorrow. I have to have everything packed and cleaned up by eleven.”

Mariah’s face clouds like a storm rolling in. “Oh. So... tonight is our last night together?”

I nod, once again not quite sure what to say.

“And you’ll be spending it with them?” She juts her chin once toward the crew.

“I have to, Mariah. This is my career, and I can’t let anything...” I trail off.

Mariah’s face darkens further. “Can’t let anything get in the way of that.”

“Trust me,” I say, taking a step closer. “I’d rather be finishing what we started with Matt, and then curling up in bed with you.”

Mariah glances around, apparently nervous someone will overhear.

“Come with me,” I ask.

She perks up. “What?”

“Tonight, to the wrap party.”

She deflates. “Oh.”

“I’m sure other crew members will be there, too.”