Page 7 of Reckless Storm (San Francisco End Game #3)

Hayley

I ’m bouncing Juliet on my lap as Amelia regales me with stories of the things I’ve missed over the past few weeks, mostly about Juliet, telling me about the first time she crawled and how she’s trying to say her first word—Mama, much to Luke’s annoyance.

“Oh, and there’s a Storm charity event coming up in a few weeks,” she adds when she’s done. “Or maybe it’s a month away. Either way, you have to come. It’s being organized by Storm’s new owner and his daughter.”

“Paige D’Angelo?” I ask, shocked. “She’s here? In San Francisco?”

“Yes.” Amelia’s lips twist in confusion. “Do you know her?”

“I thought everyone knew Paige. She’s a model and a New York socialite. And she’s gorgeous . I want to be her when I grow up.”

“Isn’t she younger than we are? I thought Luke said that her dad wasn’t that old.”

“That’s beside the point.” I wave her off. “Plus, I’m younger than you.”

“But oh so wise.”

“Beyond my years.” We both laugh since I am definitely not wise, and the conversation moves on to the many unwise things I’ve done.

“Remember that guy you thought was a cowboy but later found out couldn’t ride a horse?”

“Oh my God. Yes! And to think I actually considered dating him.”

“Lucky you didn’t. Could you imagine going on a date in the country and finding out he’s terrified of horses when you’re already on horseback?”

“How he thought he was going to star as a cowboy in that TV series is beyond me.”

Amelia bites back a grin and I wait for what’s coming. “Like you saying you could ice skate?”

Dammit . She got me. “I didn’t think it would be that hard. I can surf and rollerblade. I have great balance.”

“And a great ass for landing on.”

“Oh, she copped a bruising, that’s for sure. Just the sight of an ice rink gives me the shivers now. I love water…but frozen water repels me.”

“Speaking of…should we take Juliet for a swim?”

My eyes light up as I tickle Juliet, loving the way she giggles. “Can we?”

“Of course. She loves the water.”

“That’s because she was born in the summer.”

“Nope. It was definitely winter.”

“Not in Australia.” I bounce her again before standing up, watching Amelia’s happy expression morph into a fake frown.

“I’m not sure that counts.”

“Sure it does, doesn’t it, Jules?”

“Jules. I like that.”

Now it’s my turn to frown. “You haven’t called her that?”

“No. Luke calls her Angel. But otherwise, she’s Juliet.”

“Well, she’s Jules to me. Like you’re Ames and Luke is Lukey Boy.”

“Which he loves.”

She thinks she’s joking, but deep down I know he really does love it because… “He’s the king of nicknames.”

“He sure is.”

“Jackmeister, you’re famous,” Luke calls out from the back door, giving me a nickname right on cue, making us both burst out laughing.

“Babe, please tell me you aren’t just realising that?” Amelia scoffs and my obnoxious laughter increases.

“ No . But I just saw the trailer and I have to admit. You don’t suck, Hayls.”

The trailer? Already? No, he must mean the teaser. My nerves kick in as my heart clenches. This is it. The moment the world starts judging me. Case in point, Luke just did it himself.

“Gee, thanks.” I pause, pushing my freakout from my mind. “That means so much coming from the star of the Storm TV show.”

“You're welcome.” Luke winks and Amelia rolls her eyes before she reaches for my hand.

“Did you know it was going live today?” she asks, her eyes alight with intrigue.

“I knew it was soon, but I didn’t think they’d do it a day after we wrapped.”

“It was short,” Luke cuts in. “About thirty seconds. It didn’t give much away.”

“It doesn’t need to.” I internally cringe just thinking about it. “All the die-hard fans know the story. They’re just waiting to see if I do Riley justice.”

“Did you?” Luke quirks his brow and Amelia gasps.

“Luke!” she responds before I can. “Don’t ask her that. Of course she did.”

“Hayley?” he questions me again, tilting his head as he waits for an answer.

Amelia groans but it’s all good because “I nailed it,” I say confidently. I did all I can do.

“Then you have nothing to worry about.”

Easier said than done.

“Can we watch it?” Amelia asks with pride. “I’ve been dying to see how it all turned out.”

She came to a few of my shoot days to watch, but seeing us run through a scene over and over versus seeing the finished product is completely different. And I’m just as excited as she is.

“Let’s do it. After our swim.”

Luke brings his tablet out when we’ve finished in the pool, and I wrap the towel around myself as he finds the clip, my emotions a mix of excitement and intrigue.

“Are you ready?” he asks when Amelia’s finished changing Juliet, and they both sit down beside me.

“So ready,” Amelia says, but when Luke laughs, we realize he was talking to me.

“I was born for this.”

I hold my breath as the clip begins, starting with a close-up of me and Evan—Riley and Patrick—our eyes locked as the camera pans out to reveal his hand clenched around my neck, a knife by his side.

A stick snaps from behind him and he spins around, giving me the chance to disappear.

The second clip opens with an angel on top of a mountain, wings flapping in the wind. It’s hard to tell if it’s male or female until the camera zooms in and around to reveal Evan—Patrick—with his hands clenched in his hair, his expression pained.

A montage of ten or so moments comes next, all various stages of Riley and Patrick’s relationship before it cuts back to me, racing through the streets as night falls.

Turning the corner, I’m met with a flash of something evil before the screen goes blank and the words “coming soon” take over the darkness.

The clip ends and I finally breathe.

“Wow.” Amelia’s eyes flash to mine, but for the first time, I have nothing to say.

All I can do is repeat her word back to her. “Wow.”

“That’s some chemistry.”

“Maybe on the screen, but in real life…not so much.”

“Oh. You went there?”

“Of course she did,” Luke cuts in. “It’s Evan Rider. Even I’d go there.”

“Actually, I didn’t go there. And you’re in luck; I think he’d prefer you.

” Luke’s right though. If the opportunity had presented itself, I definitely would have slept with him.

That man is fine with a capital F. But it wasn’t meant to be and that’s probably for the best. We would have had a few awkward scenes to film after the fact.

“I should probably avoid actors I’m working with. The last thing I want is to find myself in a situation where the producers overhear we’ve hooked up and decide it would be good publicity if we faked a relationship. I’ve heard of that happening before.”

“A fake relationship? Surely that’s a myth?” Luke scrunches his nose as though the idea disgusts him.

“Didn’t you fake a marriage?” I bite my tongue in amusement.

“It was never fake, thank you. Despite what Amelia wanted to believe.”

“And it may surprise you,” Amelia adds, ignoring his comment, “but fake dating happens all the time.”

“Where?”

“I don’t know. But it does.”

“Okay. Sure.” Luke jumps up and grabs Juliet from Amelia’s arms, giving her a kiss. “I think my daughter has heard enough about dating. Since she won’t be doing it until she’s thirty, I’m taking her inside.”

He walks away and I laugh after him. “Good luck with that, Lukey Boy. I can’t wait to see that not happen.”

Amelia insists on watching the Jaded Beginnings teaser three more times before I call it a day.

“I can’t get over how amazing this is, Hayley,” she says, pulling me into a hug. “The lighting, the cinematography, the sets. It’s perfect.”

“What about the acting?” Trust Amelia to look at all the behind-the-scenes work. She’s going to be an amazing director when she finally gets her time to shine.

“You know you’re incredible, Hayley. But if you need me to say it… You’re incredible.”

“Why, thank you. Let’s hope the critics feel the same.”

“They will. I have no doubt.”

Luke offers to drive me home, and it’s not until I get inside that I remember Reed’s message, and I scrounge around in my bag to find my phone, locating the fan mail Bill gave me instead.

My lips pull into a smile as I slip my nail beneath the seal, ripping it open to find neat, non-childlike handwriting.

Hayley, Congratulations on what I know is about to become a life-changing part for you. I can’t wait for the movie to finally be released. You were born to play Riley and you're going to be a star. Not long now until we all get to see your beautiful face on the big screen. Your biggest supporter X

As sweet as that is, it wasn’t written by a child. And if it was, and a parent helped, I’d have to question what kind of person is letting them watch my movie? It’s not PG13. Or even close to that.

Either way, I can’t deny it’s a nice positive note, so I fold it back up and slip it into my top drawer. With the negativity that’s bound to come my way now that the teaser’s been released, I might need it one day.

With a smile on my face, I perch on the edge of my bed and grab my phone, ready to check Reed’s message.

But before I can, it buzzes in my hand, with my agent asking if I’ve seen the teaser. We rapidly message back and forth, and it’s only after we’re done that I finally get to Reed’s text.

REED: Tell Amelia I said hi. But not Luke. I see that guy enough

I giggle to myself and instantly regret not reading this while I was there. I would have taken great joy in passing that message along. Turns out Reed wasn’t lying about being nice all the time. There’s more to Mr. Coombs than meets the eye.

HAYLEY: Oh we are definitely meant to be friends

I click send and throw my phone on my bed, not expecting him to reply right away considering it’s been hours since we last texted. But I’m wrong. My phone buzzes before I’ve had a chance to step away.

REED: Lucky for you, I’m holding auditions on Friday. I’ll book you in for ten

A laugh bursts out of me and I fall back onto the mattress, a giddy smile on my lips. So much more to him than meets the eye. And I can’t wait to discover it.