Night On Set ❁ COLIFER

Chapter 14 ❁ What friends are for

Jen's POV

Thirty minutes later, Colin has brought all the food that's supposed to be warmed up over to my apartment and we're in his kitchen preparing cold appetizers. I've put him in charge of the bowls of chips and salsa, because he doesn't seem to be capable of much more at the moment.

I think it's endearing that he's nervous to see Amy tonight. I know he doesn't want to screw things up, but I also know he's not going to. I just wish he'd see that.

"Okay, so in a few minutes the first guests will be arriving," Colin says when we've been working in silence for a few minutes. "Would you want to put the oven snacks in the oven? They have to stay in there for about twenty minutes."

"Of course," I say. I put the last bowls on the table and look around me; there are little wraps filled with chicken, cream cheese, dried tomatoes and lettuce on the coffee table, sates with chicken and a dipping sauce, snacks with salmon, a bucket with cool drinks and beers, fresh orange juice in the fridge and more bowls of chips than we will ever be able to eat. Colin decorated the place before I even came over to help him, and now candles are burning and the entire apartment smells amazing. He even put on some music for a relaxed mood— plus he turned the lights to ambient light.

I take off my apron when I get back to my own kitchen. It's so much cooler and quieter in here, which is kind of nice. I open the boxes of oven snacks, put the first load in the oven and head to the bathroom to change.

I'm wearing a fairly simple black dress, some accessories I got from my mom's jewelry box last Christmas and a pair of high heels. I braid my hair and put on some basic makeup, nothing too fancy. Then, to top it off, I spray some body mist in the air and quickly walk through it.

When I'm ready, fifteen minutes later, I can hear voices in the hallway.

Josh and Ginny. And, if I'm not mistaken, Emilie and Bobby.

I peer through the peep hole for a second, watching them go inside next door, and just as I realize it's stupid to watch them arrive through a peep hole, my whole sight gets blocked and I spring backwards.

"You scared the bejesus out of me," I say when I open the door.

Sebastian is on the other side, grinning like he knows exactly what he's doing. "Sorry. How are you?"

"Good," I say, and we both go in for a kiss on the cheek, which ends up in two air kisses. Oh, how I hate it when that happens. But only with hot guys in a very hot white shirt and blazer.

"You know the party is across the hall, right?" I ask as I check on the oven.

"I do."

Okay, weird, I'm thinking, still facing the oven, but my eyebrows shoot halfway up my forehead when I hear him closing the door.

And then I'm suddenly very aware of the fact that I shouldn't be bending down like this in front of him. I swivel around instantly.

"What is it, then?" I ask.

"Well... okay, I wanted to ask you something."

"Go ahead." I flatten my dress, even though there's nothing to flatten, because there's something weird about the way he's looking at me. I have enough experience with guys to have a pretty solid idea of what is going to happen next, but my mind is still in denial.

"Well, I'm only spending this weekend here in Vancouver, and then I'm gone." He walks around the kitchen table, taking slow steps to make the air thick with tension, and one corner of his mouth goes up. "So, I was thinking maybe I could take you on a da—"

"JEN!"

Colin's voice comes through the door before it even bursts open, and the magic between us is gone immediately. Colin opens his mouth when he sees Sebastian, but closes and opens it a few more times before he's able to speak again.

"I have a feeling I'm interrupting something," he finally says.

"Yeah, you are," Sebastian mutters, but not loud enough for Colin to hear.

"What's up?" I ask, trying not to sound breathless.

"Well..." He casts Sebastian a pained look and shuffles closer until he's right next to me. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

He says it quietly, but Sebastian gets the memo and drops his shoulders. "Sure, man. Jen, I'll be right next door."

"See you in a bit," is the only thing I can come up with. He leaves the room, and when we're alone, I cross my arms in front of my chest. "Okay, what's up?"

"Opening lines."

"Come again?"

"You heard me." He's leaning even closer now, and I can tell he's already forgotten Sebastian was in the room a second ago. "She isn't here yet, but I don't have a clue what to say to her when she arrives."

I look at him; his eyes are big, his cheeks are pink and his whole body is leaning toward me, almost like he wants me to take his place and do it for him.

"Wow."

"What?" he asks.

"Nothing." I turn back to the oven so he can't see my face as I reply, "You're serious about this, aren't you? I mean, you seriously have a crush on her."

"Well, it's just..." He trots around the kitchen for a bit, scratching the back of his head before he jumps onto the counter next to the stove. "I haven't gone on that many dates recently. None, actually. And the switching continents thing isn't really helping either."

"Been there, done that." I make sure his feet aren't in the way as I open the oven and pull out the first load of snacks. "Okay, so about opening lines. Don't try anything cheesy; it's too obvious, and you're charming enough without it. Just talk to her like you talk to her on set. "

"That's the problem. I haven't talked to her when it was just the two of us. Usually one of you guys is in the room with me, or Carol or one of the other hairdressers."

I look up at him, surprised. "Seriously?"

He swallows and nods.

"Okay, well... hey, just relax." I grab his hand, squeezing it lightly. "Go over there, I'll bring the snacks in a minute. You don't want to be standing here when she arrives."

"Okay. Okay." He hops off the counter. "Thank you."

"No problem," I say, grinning. "That's what friends are for." 

❁ I feel like I'm elaborating a little more on everything with this book and I kinda like the rhythm... Do you like it? Or do you not notice a difference whatsoever and is this just a weird question? 😂

(P.S. I feel like this is going to be a pretty long fic, so I hope you're along for the ride 😏)

THANK YOU FOR READING BTW, I USED TO SAY THAT AT THE END OF EVERY CHAPTER IN THE FIFTH FLOOR AND I'M STILL JUST AS GRATEFUL FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU ❁