Page 74 of Hard Count
Noah had to think about the pay check to get past the bullshit he was being forced to spew out of his mouth.
“I may not be Italian, but I do love pizza, and Mamma’s is what I will be serving at my big game party.”
“Okay take a big bite,” the director called out.
Noah put the slice of pizza that had been torched five times to his mouth.
Between takes, the director took the chair across from him. She had a headset, a clipboard, and a face that gave nothing away. It felt like Tiffany was the actual director.
“Next line please.”
Noah looked down at the script, which was different from the pages they had sent last week.
Mamma’s is the pizza I will be eating after I beat Piper Ashton in Seattle.
Noah looked up as he read it, and then looked over at Carmen. “I am not fucking saying this shit. We haven’t even had our divisional finale with L.A. and I am not claiming defeat because this cunt, Tiffany, is telling me to.”
The director’s face shifted as she heard Noah’s whisper to his agent.
The room got quieter than it had been before. The PA near the wall stopped moving. The food stylist looked up from her slice, blow torch in hand.
“Tif, what are these fucking changes?!” Carmen said as she grabbed a maple bar from the craft service table.
“Carmen, girl, we need this cut for our social media before the big L.A. vs. Seattle game. We know it will go viral,” Tiffany said, looking visibly annoyed.
“Okay, first off don’t call me ‘girl.’ I spend more on handbags than you’ll make before you turn forty,” Carmen said as she looked through Tiffany.
“Carmen, I am so sorry,” Tiffany replied, visibly terrified for her life. “Let’s wrap on the championship cut. I think we have all we need, the social cut went too far.”
Carmen glanced over at Noah and winked. They knew this game and had no time for bullshit.
***
In the car back to The Beverly Hills Hotel, Noah’s phone buzzed on the seat beside him. It was Darius.How much pizza did they make your ass eat? Hit me when you land tomorrow.
He typed, pizza was fucking nasty, I will call you in morning…remind me to tell you about the piñata.
***
Back at the hotel, the room was quieter than Noah liked as he dropped onto the couch without turning on the television or touching the minibar.
He picked up his phone. Piper had texted.Noah.
The text made him smile.You around Piper, and sent it.
Three dots. I sure am, where are you staying?
Beverly Hills Hotel. Use back entrance. Noah hit send.
He started to pace. Noah still could not quite figure out why Piper was so off and on with communications, but he was going to find out.
***
Across the city, Piper saw the message standing in his kitchen with an Uncrustable he hadn’t touched.Beverly Hills Hotel. He read it and stood still.
On the counter sat several cards and flowers that had been delivered for his birthday.
A giant Venus et Fleur box of eternity roses from Jayson sat on the counter, signed by one of his assistants.
