A few seconds later, Hadley nudged him. “I should go in. Time to work.”
“Just a little longer,” he murmured, unwilling to let her go.
Well… alright.
Hadley hesitated, then smiled. “Just a little longer then.”
“Okay,” Eric answered softly, arms still wrapped around her, rocking her gently in place.
After a pause, he asked, “Did you say yes because of what happened with Ernest? Do you feel like you owe me?”
Hadley paused, slightly caught off guard. A flicker of guilt passed through her.
How was she supposed to answer that? She couldn’t pretend it hadn’t crossed her mind.
She did make up her mind partly because he got hurt. It wasn’t just that, though. But still, he might not want to hear that.
“Don’t worry,” Eric said, catching her hesitation. “Even if that is the reason, it’s okay. If it means I get to be with you, I don’t mind anything else.”
Hadley did not answer and instead thought to herself, Silly man.
Strangely, even though they stood near a bustling film set, everything else seemed to fall away. It was just the two of them, wrapped in a moment in their own world.
Hadley stood so close she could hear the steady thump of his heartbeat.
Eric’s arm slipped around her waist. He leaned in and spoke, his breath warm against her ear. “Hadley… I have a feeling I’ll make it. I can face anything, even death. But losing you, or Joy… that’s something I can’t handle. So for you two, I will survive.”
Hadley looked up at him. Her heart ached, but she kept her face composed. She didn’t know if this was the right decision. She didn’t know if, this time, they’d make it to the end.
But if things fell apart again… if fate chose another path…
C?ck ?uthor’s ?o? hr: g?ν?
When the moment came, at least they could say they tried.
“Well,” she said, her voice rough around the edges but her smile warm. “You said it. Now you have to keep your word.”
Eric nodded, his eyes bright with determination. “I will. I promise.”
Later, as he left the set, Eric received a call from Quentin. He picked up with a swipe. “Quentin… Okay. I’ll send you the address. It’s over on the island. I’ll let them know you’re coming. Alright.”
In the dressing room, Hadley lay back in the chair while the makeup artist worked around her face with practiced strokes.
Suddenly, a knock came at the door.
“Come in.”
Chelsey entered the room, a delivery box in her arms.
The makeup artist glanced up with a grin. “What did you buy this time?”
“Coffee beans.” Chelsey set the box down on the table. Then she grabbed a knife, sliced the tape open, and began pulling out several neatly packed bags.
She turned to Hadley and said, “Hadley, they’re the beans you mentioned you liked last time. I ordered some, and they’ve finally arrived. I’ll grind and brew them now.”
.
.
.