Page 56 of Total Creative Control

“Grace is very good,” she said simply.

He folded the paper back up and slid it into his pocket. “Thanks.”

For a moment, they stood in silence. Then Hippolyta said, “Aaron was very protective of you today. You’re lucky to have a friend like that.”

“I know.”

She eyed him as though she wasn’t sure he really did know. But at last she nodded and stepped back. “Stay safe, Lewis. It was interesting to meet you.”

“You too,” he said.

As he watched her go, he wondered what she’d tell Skye Jäger abouthisissues and knew she’d be cropping up in one of his scripts soon enough.

* * *

As soon as he got back to his room, he fell on the bed, exhausted, and before he knew it, he was sleeping. When he woke, it was half-past two, and he was ravenous.

He decided to go and beg Toni for some snacks. On the way past Aaron’s room, he knocked, figuring Aaron might be peckish too. As he waited for an answer, his stomach knotted up with nerves, and he realised he was worried about what he’d see on Aaron’s face after all the drama of the morning.

But there was no answer, even when he knocked a second time. Aaron must have gone somewhere.

Feeling oddly flat, he traipsed along to Toni’s room and rapped at her door.

“Oh, it’s you,” she said when she opened it. “Let me guess. You’re after one of my Curly Wurlys.”

“If you gave me a Curly Wurly, I’d love you forever. Even longer for a Pot Noodle.”

She rolled her eyes but opened the door wide to let him in while she rummaged through her case. She emerged with not only a Pot Noodle—sweet & sour flavour; his favourite—but a grab bag of beef Hula-hoops.

He salivated.

“Don’t say I’m not good to you,” she said as she handed them over.

“You’ve made an old man very happy.”

“Old?” she said, raising her brows. “I’ve got ten years on you, you young whippersnapper. Now, make sure you give me a knock before you go down for drinks. I don’t want to face that lot alone.”

“Ugh, me either,” Lewis said, making a face. “Hey, do you know where Aaron went?”

“He said something about going for a walk, but that was ages ago. Is he not in his room?”

Lewis shook his head.

“Hmm.” Toni looked thoughtful. After a moment, she said, “What about you? What have you been doing all afternoon?”

“Sleeping. I was done in. You?”

“I spent a good hour trying to shake off poor Geoff—he was bending my ear about that bloody awful wife of his. She and Charlie deserve one another. Then I escaped up here and caught up on my emails.”

“At least you’ve been productive,” Lewis said, as he headed for the door. “Once I’ve scoffed this lot, I might do the same for a bit before we have to go down. Fucking drinks atfive?”

Toni sighed. “Yeah, it’s going to be a long night.”

“I might have to get smashed to get through it,” Lewis warned her.

She sighed. “I’d be grateful if you’d refrain. You’re even more impossible to rein in when you’re drunk.”

“There’s only one thing for it, then.”