Page 28 of Beyond the Spotlight Discreet Version

I turn to leave, but not before seeing her frown at my abrupt need to end this conversation.

“Reynold,” she says. I pause and glance over my shoulder. “I know I talk a lot, but I also love listening.”

I nod once and smile. I plan to take her up on that offer.

When I’m ready.

“Good night, Savannah,” I finally say and leave her standing in the kitchen.

I’mthelasttoarrive for the table read this morning. I woke up to Savannah and Addy in the kitchen making pancakes. They had music blasting, giggling like schoolgirls, and were covered in batter: their hands, arms, clothes. Savannah even had a drop of batter on her nose. I couldn’t help myself when I wiped it off with the pad of my thumb and stuck it in my mouth. The move made her blush beautifully.

I didn’t want to leave, so I stayed until the last possible second, which made me late.

I take the last seat at the table next to Mylan. He’s looking great. I remember seeing photos of him splashed all over the tabloids during the worst of his addiction and he appeared slimmer, paler. Now he’s bulked up with muscles that could almost rival my own. He’s shaved his curly hair to the buzz cut required for his character. His wife, Lana, was not happy about that.

He smiles, his blue eyes lighting up as we greet with our not-so-secret handshake that we made up as teens with Jensen. Three palm slaps, two fist bumps, a fist to the chest over the heart.

“How was the honeymoon?” I ask.

“Man, two weeks was not long enough.” He slinks down in his seat and ruffles the pages of the script with his fingertips. “Lana and I could have stayed in Greece for a month if I hadn’t booked this role, but...” He shrugs. “It was time I returned to acting. I’ve missed it, and I’m pretty sure Lana is tired of me being around all the time.”

“Isn’t she coming up here next week?”

“Yeah, but she’s not staying long. Maybe a month and a half.”

I frown. From what Jensen has told me, Lana keeps him grounded and distracted from his disease.

“Don’t give me that look, Ren. I’ll be fine. I’m happy and madly in love with a woman who fulfills me in ways booze and drugs never could.”

I grimace. “Sorry, I didn’t mean...”

“I know. You’re just worried, and I don’t fault you for that. Honestly, it happens all the time. People tend to remember mistakes and hardships.”

He’s right. I’m worried for my friend who I lost a lot of years with because of our busy lives. WhenMetal & Mayhemended, I was nineteen and already had a full year of projects booked. I stayed too busy to hang out with Mylan and Jensen, enough that I don’t think Mylan even considered me a friend anymore. Being there for him, caring for and protecting him, like we did as teenagers, is all I want now that he’s back in my life.

My phone vibrates with a text message, and I take it out of my pocket to read it.

Sexy Savvy

See what you missed after you left?

She sends a photo and I belt out a laugh.

Sexy Savvy

I let Adeline do my makeup before taking her to school. What do you think?

She looks like a clown. Literally. Bright blue eyeshadow and red lipstick that has more around her lips than on it.

Me

Did you go out in public like that?

She sends the side-eye emoji followed by another picture of her walking down the sidewalk with Sarah and Henry trailing behind.

Yep. She went out in public like that.

Me