Page 40 of Stolen Hearts
Connie places her hand on my back as I stand up.
“We need to start shooting,” she says.
“We better get you home,” I say, rubbing the girl’s head. “We don’t want me to keep you up too late and be the reason Santa puts you on his naughty list.”
“No.” She shakes her head rapidly. Her beaming smile warms my heart.
“How about a picture before you go?”
With her enthusiastic nod, I pick her up, swinging her onto my right hip as her father whips out his phone. The bright lights from the set mess with my retinas and I slide my sunglasses back on. The exhaustion in my body makes the weight of the little girl heavier in my arms than expected. The weakness is offset by the cocaine running through my veins, which keeps the adrenaline pumping.
I put her down, wave goodbye and thank the Brewed CEO for having me, then take another quick picture with the store manager and his kids before I make my way back through the store. I almost bump into the signage, and stop momentarily to read it.
Keep the Christmas Cheer, I’ll take the caffeine.
Underneath the slogan are pictures of their three signature drinks:
Frostbite Mocha
Grinch Fuel
Coal Brew
One of Brewed’s taglines sprawls across the bottom:
We can’t fix your family, but we can get you through them.
I let out a laugh.
White tinsel lines the counter. A Christmas tree made out of alternating levels of black and gold Brewed takeaway cups is perfectly positioned in the corner next to the third till. Smalllumps of coal are set around the bottom, and a grinch sits at the top in place of a fairy.
The windows are covered in snowflake stencils, and multicolored twinkle lights are interwoven between the green garlands around the frames. Red-and-white candy canes are tucked into the loops and a big red bow finishes off the look.
I get to the back of the store and turn. Christopher is coming up behind me, with who I assume is the director. His hazel eyes twinkle as he approaches.
“You ready to get going?” His voice is softer and gentler than earlier. His hand on my arm sends a surge of electricity around my body.
“Sure, where do you want me?” I wink at him.
His mouth offers a quick half smile before it falls, but I’ll take that for now.
“This is Tanu, the director for the shoot.”
The woman beside him, dressed in a black leather trench coat, looks like Trinity, the badass sidekick to Keanu Reeves’s character Neo in theMatrix.
“Hi Tanu, Christopher’s told me so many wonderful things about you.” I lean in to hug her.
My stomach drops when Christopher’s expression dulls.
Shit. Fuck.
“He said you’ve been amazing to work with. I love theMonterovideo you did for Lil Nas X, and the Gaga video too.”
“Thanks.” Tanu smiles briefly and a lightness returns to Christopher’s face. “Can we take those off?” She points at my glasses.
Before I can even answer, Tanu removes them.
“On second thought, maybe we should keep them on.” She screws up her face and hands them back.
