Page 96 of Yours To Take
“That was my producer.”
I hold out my hand for her to take. She comes willingly.
“What’d he want?” Gemma steps between my legs. It’s how we were standing earlier. Except this time, her fingers are playing with the buttons on my shirt. Her eyes aren’t focused on me.
“The studio loved my script.”
“Yeah?” That perks her head up. “I knew they would.”
I cup her cheek, brushing my thumb along the apple of her cheek. “How could they not when I had Dixon to inspire me?”
“I mean, we are a pretty great place.”
“The best,” I correct.
“So they loved it. What happens next?”
I blow out a breath. I’m not ready to leave. I figured I had a few more weeks here at least.
I rip the Band-Aid off. “I leave tomorrow.”
“You what?” Gemma’s eyes meet mine. Tears gather there.
“Casting, rewrites…it all starts Monday.”
“Wow.” Gemma pulls back, hugging her arms over her chest. “So that’s it?”
I don’t expect the finality in her words. What I expect even less is how it feels like a punch to the gut.
I grab her, pulling her into me. “It doesn’t have to be.”
“How, Blake?” There’s a waver in her voice. I can’t stand it. “I live here. You live in LA.”
“Come with me.” I don’t think, I just blurt it out.
“What?”
“There are plenty of places you could work in California.”
“Blake, I—”
“I’m serious, Gemma. You could do so much more than you’re doing here. People would be lucky to have you.”
It was the wrong thing to say, because Gemma’s eyes harden. “Just because I’m not doing what I want here doesn’t mean I’m not happy.”
“But are you?” I fire back.
“What kind of question is that? Of course I am. I’m working at my family’s ranch. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”
“What happened to the girl wanting more?”
“I can still be happy.”
“So that’s it?”
“Why don’t you move here?”
“What?”
