Page 142 of Let’s Make a Scene

“I’m a very impressive man.”

“I’m serious,” I insist. “You’ve grown and changed so much over the last thirteen years.”

“So why do you sound sad about it?”

“I’m not sad about it. I’m happy for you. I’m actually weirdly proud of you.”

“But…” He watches me steadily.

I sigh. “I suppose I can’t help comparing the two of us. You’re happier, steadier. You found something, but I feel like… I don’t know, like maybe I lost something along the way.”

He’s quiet. “You know, that year I also let Nico drag me along to get my tattoo,” he says after a moment, and the turn in the conversation throws me.

“Oh, yes.” My eyes flick to his beautiful torso, currently hidden by his T-shirt. Unfortunately. “I meant to ask you about that.”

“It’s a bonfire,” he says, mischief in his face now.

“A bonfire?”

“Mmm.” He rubs his fingers against his chest, over the spot where I know the tattoo is. The one I traced with my tongue only days ago. I blink. Focus, Cynthie.

“It’s a reminder of that decision, to find the fun in my work, to do what makes me happy. Just like you told me that night by the bonfire.”

“Like I—” I give an incredulous laugh, but his expression is serene. “You’re serious? Wow. You weren’t kidding about that conversation being important to you.”

“Everything about you is important to me,” Jack says simply.

“That’s…” I trail off, my heart too full to find words.

“I don’t think you lost anything, Cynthie,” he says quietly. “I think you’re full of joy and light and you always have been.”

“Oh,” I manage, eloquently. Fuck, he’s so good at this. All this emotional intelligence, it’s driving me crazy. “You’re just going to make me feel safe and cared for and heard until I start believing in true love and fairy tales and happy endings, aren’t you?” I grumble.

“That’s pretty much my evil plan, yeah.” He grins. “Thirty-three, Cyn. The year of transformation. Let’s make a romantic of you.”

“A romantic of me and a producer of Hannah.” I sigh, steering the subject back to safer ground. “Not sure who’s going to be a bigger challenge.”

“You’ll both find your way,” Jack says with an awful lot of certainty. I wish this self-assured, confident thing of his wasn’t doing it for me, but it really is.

“I just need to convince her, I guess.”

“You will,” he says cheerfully. “No one can resist Cynthie Taylor for long.”

“You put up a pretty good fight.”

“Nah, I was a goner on day one; I’m just an excellent actor.” He gets to his feet. “Speaking of which, I need to go and get into costume. I’ll see you later. The car will pick you up at eight.”

“Okay,” I say. “I’ll see you wherever we’re going in my cowboy hat and daisy dukes.”

“Can’t wait,” he replies, leaving on a laugh.

I HANG AROUND SET FOR a bit longer, though I don’t have any further scenes scheduled for the day, and I don’t think it’s my imagination that everyone is behaving strangely toward me. Barry, the key grip on set and one of my favorite gossip buddies, turns around and walks off in the opposite direction when he sees me coming, even though I’ve been waiting all day to catch up about the latest episode of our favorite reality TV show.

“Hope you’re looking forward to tonight,” Hilary from the costume department calls as I’m leaving, and then Greg, the driver, digs her in the ribs and says “Shhhhh!” Even Logan goes out of his way to avoid me, muttering something about a health and safety meeting that definitely isn’t happening. Brooke treats me to a cheery thumbs-up for no apparent reason and looks startled by her own hands. I don’t think she’s ever given anyone a thumbs-up in her life.

It’s deeply weird.

Still, I have other things to think about, and my nerves pick up again as I get ready for my date.