Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 116999 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 585(@200wpm)___ 468(@250wpm)___ 390(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116999 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 585(@200wpm)___ 468(@250wpm)___ 390(@300wpm)
And afraid.
That’s the feeling that won’t leave me.
I most certainly drank too much.
Lucy’s phone rings in her hand, interrupting us before I can reply. “It’s Zoe,” she says. “She’s just watched the video.” She jumps off the couch and starts heading out of the room. “Zoe! I know, right…”
“You’ve made her day,” Becca says, lifting her legs onto the couch and snuggling into my chest. “And mine. It’s good to have you home.”
I kiss the top of her head. “Good to be home. Good to sit down and know I’ve not got to stand up for two whole days if I don’t want to.” I don’t really know why I say that. I’m already a little bored. I don’t want to sit down for two days. My legs feel twitchy, like they have somewhere to be. I’m not technically needed on set over the next forty-eight hours, but there’re always things for me to do. I can’t stop thinking of jobs that I could be doing…or of the people I’ve left behind.
“I can’t tell you how glad I am that it’s going well,” Becca says. “You sound really happy whenever you call.”
“I am. It’s a good bunch of people down there.”
“You’re making friends, then?”
“Sure. I’m slowly but surely getting to know the other electrics. I cross paths with a lot of the set dressers and camera crew, too. I’ve been hanging out with Laurence a fair bit as well because of his connection to Andrew Cobbe.”
“You mean Laurence Cole?”
“Yeah.”
She cranes her neck, looks up at me. “You didn’t mention that. Well, other than the disastrous dinner you had on the first night.”
“Didn’t I?”
She looks shocked. “He’s a movie star, Will. I wouldn’t have thought that’d have slipped your mind. We really are losing you to the rich and famous, aren’t we?” She finishes with a chuckle, but I can’t help thinking I’ve genuinely offended her somehow.
“Don’t be daft. I only know him because Andrew’s his manager, and Andrew got me the job. Once the movie’s finished I’ll probably never see him again. Or any of these people for that matter.”
Huh. I haven’t thought of this before. What happens once this is all over? Have I stumbled into a new career? Do I go onto another movie or TV production, or back to the jobsites? I blink the thought away, deciding I’ll worry about that when the time comes.
I know what will appease her. “But hey, while I do know him, he said we can stay in one of his father’s holiday cottages whenever we want. Apparently, he owns a farm with some really nice homes on the land. We should take him up on that. Get away with the kids.”
“Sounds nice. If he really means it.”
“Why wouldn’t he?”
“He could’ve been being polite.”
I only question it for a second. Thinking over my interactions with Laurence, every one has seemed nothing but sincere. “Nah. He’s a good guy. We’ve chatted quite a bit. I think we’re past the polite stage.”
“Wow. Almost sounds like you’re friends.” She sounds amused, which confuses me.
“Yeah. I suppose we are. Sort of. Is that funny?”
“William Walker. My husband. Friends with a movie star. Yeah, Will. That is kinda funny. Wait till I tell Gill.”
I don’t know why, but the thought of her announcing my friendship with Laurence to her office friends makes me feel uneasy. “I don’t think it’s really newsworthy, Becs.”
“What? Of course it is! Surely you’re not asking me to keep it to myself. You’re hanging out with Hollywood stars, and you expect me not to say anything?”
“I dunno, it just feels…weird. Distasteful. I don’t think Laurence deserves his business spreading over your office like table scraps.”
“Don’t be silly. It’s not like he’s a real…”
“Person?”
“Well, no. I mean, of course he’s a person. I just mean… Well, it’s not like he’s got any idea who Gill from mortgages is, is it? You’re overreacting.”
I’m not sure the frustration bubbling just above my stomach is justified. A few weeks ago, I would’ve thought just like her. Someone like Laurence Cole seemed so far detached from being a real person that talking or reading stories about them, true or not, didn’t seem like a big deal. But in reality, he’s just like us. A living, breathing human with flaws on his skin, vulnerability in his voice, an urge to sing when alcohol hits his veins… The only difference is his face gets shown on the screen in our living room sometimes.
“Think I’m gonna head upstairs,” I say, peeling myself out from under my wife. “The week’s catching up with me.” To back up the lie, I force a yawn.
“Okay, babe. I’m just going to wait for Ben to get home then I’ll join you.” She leans across and kisses my cheek. It feels familiar but not very comforting, which is new. I think commuting so far might be taking more of a toll on me than I expected.