Page 61 of Forced Proximity

I grab a towel and wipe my face. ‘Fine.’

‘Confirming you still want me to schedule your physical for next month.’

‘Yep, fine.’

Zane takes another breath. ‘And the script supervisor emailed you yesterday. You got those, right?’

‘You saw my reply,’ I say, dragging my towel across my neck. ‘You even responded.’

Zane is uncharacteristically quiet. Nothing makes me more nervous than a quiet Zane. ‘Oh yeah,’ they say after a few pauses. ‘I forgot to mention that I ran into Rebecca Safranski last week – the costume designer who did your wardrobe for Body Beats. She said to say hi.’

I wrap my arm around my other arm to stretch. ‘Did you seriously call to tell me this stuff? Aren’t you coming over here in a few hours?’ God love Zane, but now is not the time for small talk. Now is the time for me to be pissed and broody and sweat out my frustrations.

‘Yeah …’ Zane’s voice drops.

‘Why are you calling me?’ Ugh, I sound like a dick. But can’t I just wallow in my misery alone until I have to put on a fake face for my job?

Zane pulls in a sharp breath. ‘Fine. I’m worried about you, okay? But you hate it when I say that. So, I’m asking you stupid questions to see when you’ll crack so I can gauge your irritation level against your usual baseline.’

‘I do not have a baseline,’ I snap.

‘Sounds like you’re at about a nine, then, huh?’ Zane says with a chuckle.

I stay silent.

‘Whoa. Okay, a ten. Good to know.’

I dig a water bottle from the fridge and flick the top into the garbage. What am I supposed to say? That I can’t stop thinking about Doc and want her to come back? That I thought there was something between us, but clearly there isn’t? I’m not talking about this with Zane. Not today. The rejection from Doc quitting stings enough. I don’t need another slap from my friend confirming I was completely delusional these past few months.

‘Have you heard from Doc?’

‘Nope, except to confirm she quit, and wish me luck in my future.’ I still can’t get over those words.

‘Oh, that hurts,’ Zane says quietly. ‘I’m really sorry.’

After I tell Zane I need to get back to the workout, I hang up and finish my run. I need to figure something out and fast. The bodyguard business is a foreign world to me, but with Doc’s skills someone’s going to snap her up in a second and then the chance of getting her back is gone.

After a full day of studio meetings and a pre-promo photoshoot with a few of my upcoming co-stars, I barricade myself in my room. Maybe it’s a jerk move, but I have less than zero interest in engaging the temp bodyguard. I clasp my fingers behind my head and pace. Should I … How many texts am I allowed to send before Doc’s agency considers me a stalker? My thumbs hover over the screen.

Justin: Hey. Will you consider coming back? I really appreciated our working relationship and am way more comfortable with you than any of these other guys.

There. Good message. Kind, not over the top. And definitely hiding this gut-wrenching need for her to return. But sending a message saying I can’t stop thinking about her is not going to fly. Three bubbles pop up and I stop breathing.

Doc: I appreciate you reaching out, but my decision is final. Hope all is well with you.

Christ. She’s so damn impersonal. These texts don’t even sound like her. Sure, she’s been a little stiff in the past, but over these past few months she’s opened up. I’ve seen who she is as a person, and this isn’t it. I go to toss my phone when three more bubbles appear.

Doc: I watched Sixteen Candles last night. Good stuff.

My heart flickers in my chest. Is this the Doc that I know and like so much? Is she back? Yes, it’s only been forty-eight hours since I last saw her, no more than her typical two days off, but it feels like a month. She just threw me a lifeline, and I’m grabbing on for dear life.

Justin: Sixteen Candles vs Pretty in Pink. Go.

Doc: You’re not trying to make me pick between two Molly Ringwald movies. That’s like me asking you to choose between your two favorite quarterbacks. Not gonna happen.

Justin: Pretty in Pink had the best cast ever.

Doc: Loved the whole scrappy, independent girl thing catching the eye of the popular kid.