Hollywood Lights: A Bright Lights Novel by Jennifer Ortiz

Author:Jennifer Ortiz [Ortiz, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-08-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Stella

Working with Seth was awful. Completely and totally awful.

Or it would have been, had he not been so charming and attentive and looked at me with such apologetic longing between takes. I could tell he was genuinely sorry and that he cared for me. I just couldn't get past him hiding a kid and a baby mama.

I sat in my trailer, makeup off and in my street clothes, studying last-minute script changes for tomorrow. I'd finally kicked out the remaining assistants and found some peace and quiet. The girls were sweet, mostly, but I just couldn't deal with their exuberant and obvious fan-girling over Seth.

A knock at my trailer made me look up, and for some reason, I hesitated a moment before calling out, "Come in." He poked his head in first and I froze.

His cautious expression smoothed into a easy grin. "Well, you haven't thrown anything yet. So . . . am I safe?"

Somehow I remembered how to breathe again just as I felt the corners of her mouth begin to quirk up into an almost involuntary smile. I smothered that response and lazily waved him in, trying to look as if I didn't care if he was there or not.

"I'm going to wait and strike when you least expect it."

"Oh. Well, that's exciting. And terrifying." He gingerly sat across from me and gestured to the pages in my lap. "Changes, huh? I don't have too many."

I shrugged. "Lucky you. I have pages' worth."

"Wow."

"Yeah."

The obviously awkward silence wrapped itself around us. He appeared as though he wanted to break it, but there he sat: silent and desperate. I studied his face and wondered how long I could keep him in suspense. I'd thought of nothing but him today. I'd weighed the pros and cons. I'd wondered what I would have done in his situation. I would like to think that I'd have handled everything with grace and maturity. I would like to think that I'd have been honest from the start.

But who could say, really? I'd never been in that situation. I'd almost certainly never be in that situation. Margot had rallied for him and implored to me that Seth was a decent guy and had handled the situation the best he could, and she thought he deserved another chance.

Finally, his pathetic expression broke me. "Oh, stop. You look like I just ran over your dog. I'm not going to throw anything or pitch a fit or whatever."

He sighed, relaxing slightly. "I mean this sincerely, that is a relief."

I couldn't help myself. "You got baby mama drama, huh?"

He laughed a little, cheeks turning red, and shook his head. "You could say that."

I was unable to maintain eye contact with the next question. "So . . . you planning on proposing to her? Because Talia said on her show that you are, and you know—"

He cut me off. "No. I'm not proposing. We broke up almost two years ago. It's done, I promise."

"I don't think she thinks it's done."

"I talked with her today.

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