The Sackler Trap

Chemistry

"So how was coffee?" Agnes asked ironically the next day as she powdered my nose.

"It was great!" I answered honestly. "Mr. Blunt is such a sweetheart and Eve is amazing."

Agnes cocked  an eyebrow. "Wasn't there a fourth person in your party?"

"Oh, yeah, Adam."

Agnes snickered. "Oh, yeah, Adam," she mimicked. "Don't tell me he didn't try to walk you home."

"No," I answered, grinning. "He didn't." I paused for dramatic effect.

Agnes pursed her lips in disappointment.

"I'm staying with Eve for the time being."

Agnes's mouth dropped open. 

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What I didn't tell Agnes, because I was a little tired of her insinuations, was that Adam had in fact asked me out for the proverbial drinks. When Eve excused herself to go to the ladies room, Adam had taken the opportunity to scoot his chair a little closer to me and start talking to me about what to expect in the upcoming weeks of rehearsals and filming.

"Depending on what kind of day Sharon's having, and how the rest of the cast and crew are, rehearsals can take all day, sometimes late into the night. Gets pretty stressful if you're not used to it so how about you and me getting a drink tomorrow night after rehearsals?" His hand was resting on the back of my chair now.

I cleared my throat. "Oh, um just me and you?"

"Sure," he murmured, his eyes drifted down a fraction of second to my chest then back up to my eyes. 

"Why?" I asked.

A tiny confused frown creased his brow. "'Why'?" he repeated. Then he gave a small laugh and touched my hand. "Because I think you're pretty, Julie."

I was taken aback. My face flushed. "Oh." I leaned away from him a little and cleared my throat. Even without the cryptic words from Agnes and loaded glances from Eve all night, getting involved with my co-star, especially this one, was not a smart idea. "Well," I began swallowing hard. "I've only known you a day but you seem nice enough." I lifted a shoulder in a small shrug. "You're even attractive. In a rough, beat-up sort of way."

His lips twitched in amusement. "Thanks. A lot."

I had to look down at the dregs of my coffee to keep from laughing. "But, I can't get distracted from work by going out with every nice attractive man I meet. It's not part of my plan."

I saw the confusion written briefly across his face, then it was quickly replaced with an intrigued look. His eyes narrowed. "What plan is that, Julie?" he asked, a little amused smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

I turned to him and sighed. With his dark hair flopping in his face, those plush, pouty lips, and those dark, intense eyes that could be a little scary at times with their intensity, I was quickly learning that Adam Sackler was like a huge mountain of obstinance. 

I sighed. "Well, I saw a few guys back in Utica just for fun, but I promised myself when I came to New York I was going to concentrate on my acting and not date anyone. Unless..."

He dipped his head trying to look into my eyes. "Unless?"

I laughed softly, going in for the kill. "Well, unless I felt a special...you know, immediate connection with him. If there's no chemistry, then it's a deal breaker."