Page 57 of Shine For Me

June

I’m just starting to doze off when a commotion in the hallway jerks me back to consciousness. Someone is shouting.

“I want to see her, Cassie. Now.”

My eyes widen in horror. That was Fox’s voice. Why is Fox here? I’m sure news of my embarrassing injury spread like wildfire through the crew, but Fox is supposed to be off today.

I can’t hear my PA’s much softer response, but whatever she says must not have satisfied him because he’s shouting again.

“Go and ask her then, but I swear to God I’m getting in that room,” he barks. Then there are more voices—nurses, I think, everyone seemingly trying to calm him down.

“Cass,” I call out, fresh mortification rushing through me. I’m going to have to talk to him, which is basically the last thing in the world I want to do right now.

A second later, her head pops into my room. She looks the same way she has all day—worried. Only now there’s some annoyance mixed in, too. “You’re supposed to be resting.”

“Well I’m not going to get much rest with him acting like an idiot out there.” I wave a hand toward the door. “Just let him in.” May as well get it over with.

He appears a moment later and the sight of him has my breath catching. His eyes are wild, his cheeks red. He’s breathing heavily, like maybe he ran up here from the parking lot.

He’s scared,I realize. He’s really, really scared.

Some of the ice I’ve been building around my heart since our night together melts. “I’m fine,” I say quickly. “No permanent damage.”

“Jesus, June,” he mutters, covering his face. I watch as he takes two deep, shuddering breaths, his shoulders rising up and down. “You scared the hell out of me.”

“It’s not a big deal,” I say. “Truly, Fox. I’m fine.”

He moves his hands away, glaring at me with those wild, fearful eyes. Now I can see another emotion swimming in them—anger. “Why didn’t you call me when this happened?” he demands. “And why the hell were you dehydrated? Are you not taking care of yourself?”

So much for that ice melting. I scowl at him. “I wasn’t aware I was required to call you about anything.”

He crosses the room to my bed in a second, towering over me, anger radiating from him. “I’m making a new friendship rule—you end up in the hospital, you call me.”

“Are we friends?” I snap before I can think better. His eyes go wide and he takes a step back. Then his wounded expression shifts back to anger and he leans over me, bringing his face close.

“Yes, we’re friends, damn it. One shitty week doesn’t change that.”

All of a sudden, I feel like crying. Ithasbeen a shitty week, a really awful, horrible week. And this day is just the perfect cherry on top. I’m embarrassed that I did something so stupid and caused so much fuss. I’m embarrassed for Fox to see me in the hospital like this. And I feel like crap for what I just said.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

“Hey.” He softens as my eyes fill with tears. “Don’t cry, sweetheart. Please?” Suddenly his arms are around me, one hand cradling the side of my face against his chest. “I’m sorry I yelled. Everything is going to be okay.”

“I’m not crying because you yelled,” I manage to croak out into his shirt. “I’m crying because everything sucks.”

I feel the vibration of his soft laugh through his chest more than I hear it. God, he smells good up close like this. “Then we’ll figure out how to make it all less sucky.”

I take a deep breath, trying to get myself together, then pull away from him. “I’m so embarrassed. I can’t believe I fell down the stairs in front of the entire crew.”

“No one is going to think less of you, June. I’m sure they’re all just worried.”

The idea that a bunch of people are worried about me doesn’t actually help me feel better, but I don’t tell him that.

“It was so hot today,” I explain, looking down at my hands. “I haven’t been sleeping well and I had the worst headache. So I was hurrying to get through the scene so I could just be done and go to the hotel. It was so stupid—I should have known I wasn’t taking enough breaks or drinking enough water.”

“Gabe should have known,” Fox growls. “The AD should have known. Or Cassie. They shouldn’t have let you push like that.”

“Don’t blame Cass,” I say firmly. “She feels bad enough already.”