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“Courtesy of my boyfriend. He said to take you somewhere nice today.”

“He’s a keeper, that one.”

“Hell yeah, Mom.” He turns so I can hook my arm through his. “Have I told you how much I like him?”

CHAPTER21

NORA

“I’m sorry. Oh, god. I’m so sorry, Nora,” Stella says. “Fuck. I can’t get it right today.”

“Take five,” the director says. “It’s okay. It happens to the best of us.”

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“Silas didn’t sleep a wink last night and no one could pacify him. Not me, not Kate, and not the nanny. It’s been like this all week. All he does during the day is sleep, sleep, sleep. Then once we all go to bed, he decides to wake up and have a party in his crib.” She rubs her palms against her eyes gently so as not to ruin her makeup. “I’m going to try some breathing exercises in my trailer.” Stella walks off set, holding up her hand in apology to everyone for keeping them waiting.

During short breaks, I prefer to stay in the zone as much as possible, to linger in the vibe of the scene we’re shooting. I’ve worked with most people on this set for almost three years, so they know not to bother me in between takes. But from the corner of my eye, I see someone approach who doesn’t necessarily belong here. Instantly, at the sight of her, I’m pulled from my state of flow. I wonder how things went with her ex—and what hold that woman still has over her after all these years that she can just call Mimi and have her drop everything.

My focus is ruined, so I walk over to Mimi.

“Hi, Nora.” Her smile is dazzling and connects with something deep inside me. Maybe Stella won’t be the only one messing up today. But when you’re shooting a show, you can’t just take a personal day. This entire production relies on Stella and me showing up every single day. If we’re not here, the production company bleeds money. “How are you?” It’s as though the studio lot disappears, and it’s only Mimi and me. I’d best get a grip. I shouldn’t have let her massage my shoulders last weekend. For the life of me, I can’t get the memory of her hands on my skin out of my head.

“Good.” Next thing I know, I’m giggling like a school girl. “You?”

“Fine. Wanted to check in on my favorite show. Looks like Stella’s having a rough day.”

“She didn’t get much sleep last night.”

Mimi nods. “I remember what that’s like.” She looks around the set. Our show runner, Jo, is lurking in the distance. “Do you think it would be too obnoxious of me to demand that Stella has time to take a nap?”

“You want to overhaul the schedule?” Surely Mimi knows that delaying a shoot will have a knock-on effect of further delays.

“I just feel for Stella. I know what it’s like and I’m sure a lot of other parents here do as well.” She pins her gaze on me. “It will give us a chance to catch up.”

Catch up? We spent almost an entire day together only last weekend. Yet, the prospect is enticing.

“I’m not the boss here. You do what you think is right.”

“Don’t pretend you have no say in this, Nora. This affects your schedule and I know you don’t like that.”

“It’s okay. It’s better for me as well if Stella takes a nap.” She has been pretty hit-and-miss all morning.

“Okay. I’ll take care of it.” Like a boss, Mimi calls Jo and a few other people to her. Five minutes later, a message is spread that shooting will resume this afternoon.

“Way to throw your weight around.” It’s kind of sexy that Mimi can just show up here and have all these people do whatever she wants—and what’s best for us, actors. “Do you want to have an early lunch?”

“Um, yes, definitely.” She taps her phone against her palm. “Let me just rearrange a few things.”

“Please, Mimi. Don’t change your schedule on my account.”

“I just changed yours. It would be rude not to follow suit, really.”

“If you say so.” While she makes a few calls, I ponder our lunch choices. I usually have a poké bowl—hold the rice—in my trailer while I go over my lines for the next scenes.

“Can I take you somewhere?” Mimi asks. “Unless you’re very attached to craft services.”

I chuckle because surely she knows that I’m not. “Somewhere private?” I’m not going to a restaurant in the middle of a day of shooting, although I get the feeling I’ll have trouble finding focus again this afternoon.