Page 54 of Holly Jolly July

Mariah

The morning after is bittersweet. There are only two days left of filming on this ridiculously tight movie deadline, and it

feels like Ellie and I are just starting to get into our groove. To make matters worse, most of Ellie’s film time is in these

last two days so she’ll be really busy, and when we’re together she’ll probably be tired and want to go to bed early. Which

is fine with me; the idea of snuggling a tired Ellie gives me all sorts of happy tingles. I just wish it wasn’t going to be

over so soon.

As we go through our domestic routine of taking turns in the tiny stall shower, brushing our teeth, me putting on makeup and

doing my hair while Ellie makes us breakfast, eating said breakfast while playing footsies side by side at the kitchen peninsula,

I try to work up the courage to ask her what I really want to ask her: Will we continue our relationship after this movie

is over?

While we both live in the Greater Vancouver Area, we live on opposite ends of it. I’m on the lower west side in Marpole and

she’s up north by Brentwood, more in Burnaby than Vancouver. It’s a good thirty-minute drive through the city, if there’s

no traffic. With traffic it would take upwards of an hour. Personally, I don’t find that to be a long commute, especially

since having to travel to be with someone you’re interested in is typical for queer relationships; the dating pool isn’t as

large. But Ellie’s never experienced this. It might be too much for her.

I’d be up for moving in with her after a few months of dating.

We work so well together in every way, and I’ll miss the simple parts of life with her—especially her happy chit-chat.

But is that too fast? I’d rather wait and have her tell me when she’s ready than act too quickly and make her feel rushed.

But I don’t want her to get burned out on a moderately long-distance relationship before then.

I keep all this to myself and try to enjoy the moment while it lasts as we drive into the city, the sun already risen and

shining bright even though it’s barely past seven o’clock. Ellie’s cheerful voice entertains me with all the interesting thoughts

that pop into her mind. I hang on every word, soaking it in as if it’s the last time I’ll have the opportunity.

After swinging through the Tim Hortons drive-through we park a few blocks away from downtown and walk to the set. I apply

Ellie’s makeup, taking extra time, hovering over every centimetre of her beautiful face, relishing being close to her like

this around other people. I wish I could lean forward and kiss her lips right here in front of everyone.

Ellie’s my only work for this morning, as the filming is supposed to be just the scenes between Ellie, Julia and Oscar in

the café. I clean my station and walk with her out onto the street, the sweltering July heat beating down upon us both. I’m

glad the set Ellie will be working on is air conditioned; I have no idea how the actors were able to walk around on the street

in full winter gear to film the outdoor scenes because I’m immediately sweaty after five seconds with summer-appropriate clothing.

While walking Ellie to the set I pause, noticing a familiar tall frame facing away from us standing outside the café with

Julia and Oscar. “Is that...?”

“Hide!” Ellie all but yells.

I duck behind a parked car and press my back against it, my heart pounding in my ears.

“Oh, hi!” Ellie squeaks as she walks toward them.

I Mission Impossible my way along the parked cars, which is impressive given I’m wearing three-inch wedges. I get close enough to hear, peeking

between the cars to catch a glimpse of Oscar, Julia, Jax, and Ellie standing together in a little group before quickly ducking

back to the safety of my hiding spot, listening as best I can.

“How did you get past the security guard?” Ellie asks, trying to keep her tone chipper.

“Oh, we let him in.” Oscar’s deep baritone is a bit harder to pick up. “—said it was fine... showed him around... never

been on a movie set...”

“Yes, we were happy to show your friend around, Ellie.” Julia is much easier to hear. “I’m shocked he’s never been on a set

before! With a face like that—” I peek out and watch Julia playfully elbow Ellie while whispering something in her ear. Ellie

fakes a laugh, her shoulders stiff and hitched higher up her body than normal.

“Why are you hiding this guy? You should bring him to the wrap party tonight,” Julia encourages.

“I didn’t think to invite him since it’s supposed to be just cast members.”

“Oh, nonsense! And I’m sure Marlene and Yueyi can find a way to make him an extra. He has lumberjack vibes to him. And you

two together? A little surprising but totally cute, and I can see...”

Sick of listening to this, I whip out my phone and dial Jax’s number.

The group is interrupted as his “Barbie Girl” ring tone plays obnoxiously.

Jax pulls his phone out, does a double take at the caller ID, then silences it. “Sorry about that.”

“Interesting ring tone you have there,” Ellie comments, and I can feel the smirk on her face from here.

“I think one of my buddies at work switched it. Joke’s on them, I love ‘Barbie Girl.’”

Damn him and his unflappable nature.

Jax turns his attention to Oscar and Julia. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to have a word with Ellie about something important.”

They say a few pleasant goodbyes, and then leave Matt and Ellie alone.

I do not feel good about them being alone, especially after ev erything that went down in his apartment. I mean, it’s not every day you get chicken eggs on your doorstep. I prepare myself to launch out of hiding to protect Ellie if anything goes sideways.

Unfortunately, Jax lowers his voice and I can barely make out a word he says. Thankfully, Ellie has positioned herself so

that Jax’s back is toward me and I can keep a closer watch on them. I read Ellie’s face and body language as they talk. She

turns on the charm, with that smile of hers and flirtatiously swatting his arm at something he says.

Then he grabs her by the waist and tugs her close. My heart pounds in my ears as my jaw clenches. She grips his arm, though

I’m sure it’s to hold him back rather than pull him close.

The hackles on my neck rise as I watch him lower his filthy mouth toward her ear and say something that makes her eyes go

wide and whole body tense. I’m about two seconds away from launching myself over the Volvo I’m crouched behind and tackling

Jax to the curb when he steps back from Ellie and takes her hands in his. She sways lightly on her feet, dazed, as he caresses

the line of her jaw with his fingers.

“After all,” he says loud enough for me to hear, “it’s not every day you meet someone so special.” Then he grabs Ellie by

the chin and pulls her in for a kiss.

My heart thunders in my ears and a wave of nausea hits me, watching him manhandle her when she’s so obviously not interested.

She manages to bring a hand between them, stopping him from going any further.

“Lipstick,” she says, holding him back. “My makeup artist would kill me if you ruined it.”

Hell yes, I’d kill him if he kissed Ellie without her consent. There’s no way I’d let a playboy lying asshole like him near

her. As it is, his slimy hands on her body is nearly enough to take my stomach from mild nausea to full-blown regurgitation.

“See you tonight, sweetheart,” Jax says, releasing Ellie from his hold. I duck back down as he walks past my hiding spot.

I release a long, slow exhale, my whole body untensing. Once Ellie is in the clear, she looks around, searching for me. I tentatively peer around for Jax to make sure he’s far enough away. Ellie spots me and comes around to where I’m hiding.

“That was close,” Ellie huffs, gripping my forearms.

“Too close,” I agree. “Are you okay?”

Ellie swallows and nods, though I can tell she is a little shaken by the encounter. “I tried to scare him off by seeming overly

interested, you know? Like, give him a taste of his own medicine.”

“Did it work?”

She shakes her head. “No. Backfired completely. He said he wants to come over later to thank me for the eggs by giving me

his great big co—”

My phone rings in my hand, startling us both. I lift it so we can both see the caller ID.

Jax .

No. Way.

We share a frown before I answer. “Hello?”

“Hey, you called?”

Shit. I didn’t consider him calling me back. “Uh. Yeah?” I try to come up with a reason on the fly but I’m a shit liar, letting the silence hang between us instead, getting

thicker and more uncomfortable as the seconds tick by. Ellie starts flapping her hands and mouthing, Say something! But that only makes my mind blank more.

Finally, Jax sighs. “Mariah?

“Yeah?”

“I’m glad you did. Listen. The last time we were together it was... weird. And it turns out that gift basket was for my

neighbour, not me. The girl dropped it off at the wrong door.”

Jax has no trouble lying, but that’s not surprising at all. “Is that so?”

“And my phone got this weird virus that scrambled my contacts. It’s been a bit awkward, to say the least. I wasn’t sure if

your contact was really you until now, or I’d have called earlier.”

I’m not sure how much of that is bullshit, but the fact that our prank caused him at least a bit of distress is rewarding.

“I’d like to make it up to you,” he continues. “I have plans later tonight with my mom but I’m free until then.”

Ellie and I glare at each other, enraged by what we’ve both heard. Does he actually think he can lie to me about plans with

his mom when he’s really with Ellie, then have me over for sloppy seconds? What world is this guy living in?

It takes every ounce of strength I have not to tell him off right then and there. I manage to force my voice into something

resembling neutral when I reply. “I’ll have to get back to you on that. I’m not sure I want to see you again.”

“Then... why did you call?”