When Stars Fall [EBOOK and PAPERBACK PUBLISHED]

47. Wyatt - Present Day

James, the director, is a task master. Normally, a day on set is an exercise in hurry up and wait. Today, he's more organized and efficient than any other day. He's annoying the shit out of me. I need mental space to decide what I'm going to say to Anna later tonight about Jamal.

"Cut, cut. Jesus, Wyatt. Get your fucking head in the game," James yells from his seat.

He'd better not get down off his chair. The takes when he ambles over, he gives an up-close lecture. His cocky attitude always leads us to the cusp of a full-on brawl. Patience will not hold me back from hitting him today. I direct my glare at him. "There something you want to say to me?" I ball my hands up. Hitting him would help with all these shitty feelings. Release them through my fists. James ignores me. I check my watch and remember it's a prop. I curse under my breath. "Time?" I call out to anyone around me close enough to hear.

A crew member eating a bagel off to the side pulls out his phone. "Eight thirty."

Camila is here. Ellie is in hair and makeup. How do I split myself in three so I can check on them and still be in this scene? Anna's unpredictability makes me nervous. She shouldn't be near Haven today. Ellie's concerns echo through my brain. Of course, the situation isn't safe. I should have asked Kyle to fly with Camila. Then I'd feel like I was capable of being in two places at once, and he's good with my sisters mood swings. "When are we moving on?" I call over to James since he's ignoring me to talk to other people.

"Whenever you get your head out of your ass and nail the scene," James yells back before settling into his chair again. "Do you need me to give you a note or can you do your job today?"

Rage boils in me. I turn my back on him and suck in deep breaths. Today is not the day I blow it. Calm.       I picture Ellie looking up at me, her face alight with a smile. Her dark eyes full of love for me. All of the anger leaves in a rush. She loves me. The rest of the world doesn't matter. "Let's get it done." I make a circling motion with my hand for everyone to reset.

I nail the next take so hard I consider pinning the cut to the director's forehead in triumph. He's smirking at me after he calls, "cut." I give him the finger, and James screws up his face in annoyance. He's such an asshole. Instead of escalating our feud, he eases out of his chair to start getting things together for Ellie's arrival on set.

My lady love emerges out of the hair and makeup trailer. When she catches a glimpse of me, a smile breaks out on her face, lighting up my world. My heart double times. The tightness in my chest evaporates, and I can breathe again. Leaving the trailer this morning, I feared Ellie would talk herself out of us while I was gone. For ten years she's been doing it, and I know better than anyone how hard old habits die. Today I've been so on edge I could easily embrace those habits like an old friend. A drink. One pill. A fingertip of coke. Nothing drastic. Just enough. The gum in my pocket knocks against my leg like the pill bottle used to. That has to be my enough. Taking out the packet, I pop one into my mouth.

When Ellie reaches me, she wraps her arms around my middle and squeezes me tight. Her cheek presses against the down of my coat. Leaning down, I nuzzle her neck. Her familiar scent is masked by all kinds of foreign products but just below her ear, vanilla and flowers come alive. All I want to do is scoop her up, carry her back to the trailer and pretend the rest of the world isn't here.

"Don't talk to Anna today, okay?" Ellie murmurs.

"What?" I draw back. "Did you just say what I think you said?"

She gazes up at me. I'm tempted to sweep her hair out of her face, but she just spent an hour with the stylist. They'll murder me if I mess her up.