Page 48 of The Summer of Christmas

Chapter 16

A sumptuous breakfast buffet was laid out for the cast and crew. The homemade blueberry muffins were calling to Ivy. So were the chocolate chip scones. She included oatmeal and fruit to add fiber. Ivy took her breakfast plate and looked over at the tables that were set up for the first meal. She always felt uncomfortable eating with the crew, as if she was a poser and didn’t belong there. But Griffin beckoned her over. He was sipping black coffee.

“Come sit with me. Let me just look at those luscious baked goods. That’s as close as I’m going to get to them. At least until we’re done with the love scene,” he said as he pinched the nonexistent fat on his stomach.

“J. B. is really outdoing himself with craft services. How are you?”

“Exhausted.”

Ivy looked at Griffin. He did look tired. Dark circles were under his eyes. “Well, we’re halfway through the shoot as of today,” she said for no real reason. She still felt awkward around Griffin. He was a big movie star, and she was, well, just a first-time screenwriter. “So the movie is halfway over.”

“Yeah. I don’t know if I’m going to make it through. Last night, some Griffineers climbed into my bedroom.”

“Again?” Ivy wondered. It seemed like this kept happening to Griffin.

“I had to call the manager to get them out. I can’t even find peace in my own hotel room.”

Ivy looked around. She couldn’t believe that Griffin was confiding in her. “Maybe you should talk to Drew about it.”

“He did,” Drew said as he approached their table. If Ivy was expecting a morning kiss from him, she didn’t show it. “And before they climbed into your room, they climbed into another room. You were in 424. They climbed into 242.”

“No one said they were smart,” Griffin cracked.

“An innocent guest’s room,” Drew said as he joined them at the table. He had just finished talking with the manager at the Belhurst. The guests were all complaining.

Things were getting more difficult for Griffin. And Ivy knew it. “I have an idea.” Drew and Griffin turned to her. She suddenly felt very nervous. What if they thought her idea was ridiculous?

“Yeah?” Griffin said.

“Well, it sounds crazy, but why don’t you move over to my mom and dad’s house? No one would ever dream that you’d be staying there.”

“That’s true,” Griffin said as he pondered the idea.

“I’m sure my parents would love it. You’d sleep in my bedroom, and I’ll double up with my sister for the remainder of the shoot.”

“Or you could move over to the Belhurst and stay with me.” Drew winked.

Ivy shook her head. “We already discussed that. I don’t want to give the wrong idea to the crew.”

“Like the crew doesn’t already know,” Drew said, shaking his head.

“I know they know, but I don’t want them toknowknow,” Ivy insisted.

“Oh, honey, weknowknow,” Griffin said, smiling at her.

“Or maybe you just don’t want your ex-boyfriend toknowknow,” Drew said.

“That’s taboo for a public conversation,” Griffin said, causing them to stop their bickering. He turned to Ivy. “You sure you want to move out of your bedroom?”

“It’s fine. It’s more important that you get a good night’s sleep. Nick shouldn’t look sleepy during the love scenes.”

“You mean Rick.”

“That’s what I said,” Ivy stated, thinking out loud. Drew got up and went over to sit with Vera who was going over the shot list.

“You said Nick,” Griffin insisted.

“Oh, fuck.”