Page 141 of Dream On, Ramona Riley

“No, no,” Ramona said. “Don’t apologize. This isn’t your fault.”

Noelle sighed. “What do you need right now?”

Ramona looked up at Noelle.TheNoelle Yang, Oscar winner and so tough and smart with her no-bullshit attitude. But here she was being kind, asking Ramona what she needed after learning that her girlfriend was actually her fake girlfriend.

A single laugh burst out of Ramona. She slapped a hand over her mouth, but it was all just so absurd. And right now, if Ramona didn’t laugh, she’d cry or scream or storm out of the wardrobe and onto the set and do something that would certainly make her famous in Hollywood for reasons she didn’t care for, and that’s not what she wanted.

That’s not who she was.

She was strong. Resilient. And she did what fucking needed to be done, no matter the condition of her heart.

She always had.

She took a sip of water, then kept going and gulped the whole glass down.

“I need to work,” she said once the cup was empty. She stood up, rolled her shoulders back. “Thank you, Noelle. For everything. But right now, I just want to do my job.”

Noelle nodded, a glint of admiration in her eyes. “Fair enough.”She took the glass from Ramona and set it on the dresser, then walked over to her iPad and started tapping. “I’m sending the brief for the scene at Eloise’s house to your phone. Make sure everything’s ready.”

“Of course,” Ramona said as she took her phone from her back pocket. She tapped on Noelle’s AirDrop, ignoring her shaking hands, ignoring the sting in her eyes.

Then she did the only thing she knew to do right now and got to work.

Chapter

Thirty-Six

You’re talented andbeautiful and good.

Ramona’s words looped through Dylan’s head during the day, pulling her shoulders back and filling her lungs with air. It had been a tough shoot so far, long as hell. They were wrapping up every scene that took place in the Bonner house, which included polishing the first kiss scene, as well as the breakup scene that occurred at night, golden twinkle lights glittering through the backyard and along the private pier.

Still, the work had gone smoothly so far, and Dylan felt calm and capable. Confident, even. Shockingly, Gia had given her an approving nod when she’d swiped a thumb over Blair’s cheek during their kissing scene, soft and sweet, Blair’s eyes liquid, love and lust radiating between them. Which was one hundred percent bullshit and was also one hundred percent perfect. Even Gia couldn’t deny it, and Blair laughed and batted Dylan’s hand away after the scene ended, but she too seemed pleased.

So as the sun sank into the lake, spreading pink and lavender and gold across the lawn while Dylan sat at the patio table and reviewed her lines for the breakup scene, she was feeling pretty good. She was feeling like herself, and like she couldn’t wait to seeRamona later. She had barely caught a glimpse of her all day long, the woman was so busy.

She smiled, thinking about Ramona kicking ass. She knew they needed to talk about the job with Noelle, but she also knew Ramona wasn’t Jocelyn. She wasn’t anyone Dylan had ever dated.

And then Jocelyn Gareth herself walked out the back door, Jack Monroe at her side.

“Fuck,” Dylan said under her breath.

“Dylan,” Jocelyn said, all her perfect teeth showing. She was dressed in a terracotta pantsuit à la Julia Roberts inPretty Woman, loose and flowing, perfect for her lithe form. “I was hoping to run into you.”

“Were you?” Dylan asked, standing and pulling her dress to the side so she could walk. At least she was dressed impeccably for the upcoming party scene, wearing a strapless tulle gown embroidered with red, pink, yellow, and blue flowers.

Talented and beautiful and good.

She folded her hands in front of her, determined to stay calm. Professional.

“Of course,” Jocelyn said.

“Dill Pickle here is really killing it on this film,” Jack said.

Dylan gritted her teeth at his use of the nickname in front of her ex.

Jocelyn’s eyes glittered. “I’m sure she is.”

“Dill, I brought Jocelyn by to see this breakup scene,” Jack said. “I think an original song would fit perfectly after the break, in a sort of montage.”