Page 32 of Hello Darling

“You’re welcome.” I watch his Adam’s apple bob up and down, stare at my frosting on his lips, his long strong manicured fingers as they hold my muffin in front of his mouth.

I shake my head and clear my throat. “So…what were you reading over there on the treadmill earlier? A script? You looked miserable.”

He wipes a bit of frosting from the corner of his mouth with a finger then licks his fingertip. “For someone who’s so uninterested in me you’re asking an awful lot of questions.”

“I’m just making friendly conversation, but if you’d like to just stand there eating your muffin go right ahead.”

He swallows a laugh. “It was a script, yes. One that I hated and will most likely agree to commit to.”

I wrinkle my brow. “Wait—youwillagree to commit to? Even though you hated it? Why?”

“Because I have the same agent as the writer and director, and my involvement, believe it or not, means a lot of money for everyone else involved.”

“But you don’t want to get involved with it?”

“Not really, no. Especially after seeing the movie last night. I’d much rather hold out for a project I’m really excited about.”

I shrug. “So don’t do it.”

He sighs. “It’s not that simple.”

“Why not? Because you don’t want them to be mad at you? My dad always says ‘if you aren’t pissing a few people off, you aren’t doing it right.’”

His eyes suddenly get just a little bit shinier than usual and he smiles like I’ve just said the most brilliant thing anyone’s ever said to him. “Well, you must be doing it right, then.”

I smirk. “I like to think so.”

“I have no doubt that you do.”

He has demolished the muffin and looks around for a trash bin for the napkin and paper liner.

“I mean. Seriously, though. I know your decision affects a lot of other people and their careers and finances…”

“Exactly.”

“But it’s your career. It’s your life. Why should you do something you don’t want to do? Especially if you know you don’t want to do it. The world doesn’t need another crappy movie or another person who feels stuck doing things for other people.”

At first, he seems stunned and speechless.

“Sorry. It’s not my place. You’re a big movie star and I don’t know what I’m talking about.”

“No, it’s not that at all. It’s just that I usually get this sort of advice from people who are at least sixty, and when they give it, it doesn’t usually make me want to…”

He blinks, shakes his head.

“Punch me in the face?”

“Again, quite the opposite. Point taken, Stella Starkey. You give me much to consider.”

The gym phone rings and I reach over the desk to grab the receiver. “Starkey Fitness.” Somebody wants to know about my brother’s core-strengthening class.

He’s still standing behind me. It feels like Mr. Hunter might be eye shagging me doggy style. I quickly look over my shoulder and what do you know. He is. Only he doesn’t blush when I catch him having his way with me with his eyes. Instead, he meets my gaze and confirms, wordlessly and unapologetically that he was indeed having dirty thoughts about me.

I finish up the call and hang up the phone.

I really shouldn’t look back at him again, because that would be some kind of continuation of a silent conversation that I have no intention of responding to.

He must be on the rebound.