Night On Set ❁ COLIFER

Chapter 18 ❁ Wednesday night, date night

            

Jen's POV

"COLIN O'DONOGHUE!" I propel myself out of my chair when he slams the door shut behind him, knowing damn well he's in trouble. I wrench the door open again, leap off the stairs and sprint after him. "COLIN! GET BACK HERE, RIGHT NOW!"

For a guy with the walking ability of a five-year-old he's a fast runner; he's already reached stage 24 before I'm able to catch up with him. But I keep running anyway, my heart thumping in my chest, because what the hell was he thinking??

I watch his coat disappear as he slips inside the building. I reach the door three seconds later; I run through the hallway, jumping out of the way when someone comes from the other direction, until I reach the set where he has a scene this morning. My breathing is still steady when I finally grab his arm.

"Colin! Hey!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he says immediately, slapping his script in front of his face so he doesn't have to look me in the eye.

"You have every reason to be!" I pull the script down. "You said you would take her on a double date? What, with Sebastian and I?"

"Eh— I might have."

"UHHH!" I turn around on my heels. "Colin, you have to stop doing this. I get you come to me for advice, but I'm not some third person in your relationship with Amy! You can't just use me whenever you feel like it!"

"I know! And I'm sorry." He throws the script aside and grabs my hands. "Jen, I should've asked you first. I know. But it happened so fast, and you know I always start rambling when I'm nervous. And I didn't want to seem desperate, you know."

"What, asking her on a single date seemed too desperate to you?"

"Yes."

"Okay, have you completely forgotten about the part where she spent the night with you?"

He snaps his mouth shut, and for a moment it's like he's only remembering that just now. "Of course I haven't!" he says quickly, "But I asked her out before... well, before any of that happened."

"So why don't you just tell her it's not a double date?" I lower my voice, because I'm very aware of the crewmembers who are openly gaping at us from the other side of the set.

"I can't, she's counting on this! Look, I will do whatever you want. Tell me and I'll do it. But please go on this date with me."

There's a thug in my stomach, but I'm not sure what it is, and I stare into his eyes. He's begging me, I can see it. And it doesn't make sense.

Why does he want me to go on this double date so badly? Just so he doesn't have to tell Amy his plans changed? Or is there another reason he doesn't want me to know about?

My mind is racing now. On the other hand, it would be the perfect excuse for me to ask Sebastian out. I mean, it doesn't compare to him asking me out, but this might be my only shot.

I sigh when I've made my decision and throw my head back. "Okay. Okay, I will go on this stupid date with you."

"Really?" Colin spreads his arms, a wicked smile on his face, and hugs me tightly. "Thank you, Jen!"

"Okay, no need to crush me," I say, laughing, because he's literally knocking the wind out of me. I pull myself loose. "I will ask Seb. But just promise me one thing."

"Of course, of course. Anything."

"If you take her home afterwards, please remember we share a wall."

* * *

"So... Seb is driving to the airport right after you guys get back from the restaurant?" Ginny asks on Wednesday night, when I'm getting ready in the bathroom.

"Yeah," I call back. "Colin's changing on set, he's driving to the restaurant with Amy."

Ginny offered to stay home and watch over both of the dogs while we're gone, which I am immensely grateful for. After watching a video a few days ago of a dog who didn't stop crying for the two hours his owner was gone, I can't bear to leave Ava alone for an entire night.

"There are drinks in the fridge and money for pizza on the counter," I say when I hurry through the living room to open the door of my apartment. I use the house key I borrowed from Colin to let Buckley out and lead him into my apartment.

"Are you all set?" I ask Ginny, who's stretched out on the couch with the TV remote in her hand.

"I'm good, you go and have fun," she says, waving without even looking up.

"Okay. See you later." I wave at Ava, who is far too busy sniffing Buckley's behind, and shut the door behind me. For a second I linger in the hallway, still facing the number 52 on my door.

I'm not good with dates. And here's the thing: I don't like going on them. Don't get me wrong, I like it when a guy asks me out, but I prefer avoiding public places for such occasions. For one, because I hate it when the world thinks I'm already dating a guy when, in reality, we're on our very first date.

And two, I like the idea of actually being alone with a guy. (Not for dirty reasons.)

I turn to the staircase and trot down two steps at a time. On the fourth floor landing I almost bump into my upstairs neighbor, a bushy-haired guy with a funny smell who —don't let appearances fool you— vacuums his entire place on a daily basis. The first few months I lived in Vancouver it annoyed me to the point where I put silent curses on him from my couch, but I guess I just got used to the continues scraping sounds on my ceiling.

"Hey, Frank," I say to greet him.

He gives me one of his best dirty grins. "Jennifer."

I shoot past him, shivering from his presence. I don't like passing him, but it's even worse bumping into him when I'm dressed up for a date. And I know he knows exactly who I am, but we just don't talk about it.

There's a jolt of nerves in my stomach when I get in my car. The thought that it's going to be the four of us at the restaurant makes it a little better. I asked Seb via a text, quick and easy, and his answer was just as quick and just as easy: Great. Sounds fun.

I haven't heard from him since Sunday, but he's waiting for me in the alley behind his hotel when I park the car across the street. He kisses both of my cheeks —no air kisses! Check that box— and we head off to the restaurant.