Page 7 of Camera Stays On

“Chicago? Never pegged you for a city girl. How’s that treating you?” Ash asked. I darted my eyes to Sawyer. If it were just Ash, I wouldn’t have any issue telling him about my new life. But...

I shook my head and scrunched my nose. “I’m bored. Tell me about you two. Did you guys finish college?”

Sawyer perked up, taking a swig of his beer. “I did, got my BFA in cinema. Asher got a BS in production.”

For the first time since seeing Sawyer, my mood lifted. Both brothers had been so passionate about film growing up, it warmed my heart to know they’d been able to finish and get their degrees. “That’s great! Double trouble over here.”

“Thanks, how about you? Did you transfer to a school near Chicago?” Sawyer asked.

I looked away. A small pit formed in my stomach as I thought about my academic career. I never made it to the finish line.

“Nah, life got a little busy, you know?” I distracted myself with my drink, still not bringing it to my lips. I didn’t trust that Carly hadn’t tampered with it. She brought mozzarella sticks and the men dug in, seeming to forget the question.

“Have you done anything with your degrees yet?” I asked, trying to keep things light.

Ash shrugged and tilted his head side to side. “Not really, just some stuff to keep the lights on and the mortgage paid. I’m hoping to open a haunt next year.”

I leaned into that, asking him questions about it. This was safe. The more we talked about them, the less they asked about me. I was grateful for Ash. Every time Sawyer tried to ask about me, Ash helped redirect. It was kind of easy. All you had to do was ask Sawyer about himself.

“I recently applied for some grants,” he bragged. “I’ve been itching to do something other than edit movies for other people. I’m thinking someone’s gonna bite this time. Asher helped me with my proposals.”

Asher nodded. “Your last pitch has legs.”

Sawyer suddenly reached out and grabbed my hand. I flinched, but he squeezed, holding my hand in place. His grip forced me to look directly into his eyes. Briefly, I was taken back in time. I shook the dark thoughts from my mind and stared at him, my mouth half open. My breathing hitched, and I swallowed deeply.

“If this movie gets green-lit, I want you to be the lead.”

He let me go, and slowly I withdrew my hand. I stared blankly across the table, taking in all of today. My estranged mother’s funeral, the sudden appearance of my ex-fiancé, now an invitation to be in his movie? This trip was supposed to be a get-in-get-out situation. With the way Sawyer was looking at me, I felt…trapped.

Just like before.

“This is a lot.” The room grew warm, and I slid out of the booth. “I c-can’t.” I grabbed my purse. Looking out the window, I realized the sun had gone down. “Thank you for the afternoon. I need to get to my hotel. I’m leaving tomorrow.”

Ash slid out, pulling his keys from his pocket. “I’ll drive you.”

Sawyer followed, already apologizing. “Purdy, don’t be like this. You know I didn’t mean anything by it. Just read the script. You’ll see why you’re perfect for it.”

“Goodbye, Sawyer.” I ignored his request as Ash assisted me into his truck. He climbed in on the other side, leaving his brother scowling in the parking lot.

We drove in silence for a bit. I closed my eyes and rested my head against the seat. Sawyer hadn’t changed a bit. He was exhausting. After we’d been driving for a while, I opened my eyes.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“It feels a little early to head to bed. What do you say we get a drink, just the two of us?”

“Out of town?” I asked as we passed the Now Leaving Collingwood sign. I perked up. A drink with Asher Delambre didn’t sound too bad.

“Only if you want to, purdy Andi.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to correct my name to just Andi, but I kind of liked it when Ash called me purdy.

I nodded. “Let’s motor.”

Chapter 3

Andi

“YOU SURE WE’RE far enough outside of Collingwood?” I asked as Asher opened the door to Tilly’s, a small hole-in-the-wall bar.