I Have Lived and I Have Loved - Willow Winters Page 0,136

comic book so I know what they look like?”

I burst into laughter. “Sure thing.”

Stephanie looks away as her exhilaration fades. “I don’t want to get attached.”

“Babe, he’s a nurse, he knows what he’s getting into.”

Of all the possible people she could have met, I’m happy it’s him. He probably understands better than anyone what her future looks like.

“May—” she starts to say and begins to cough, which is deep and wet and sends me straight into panic mode.

I rub her back as she gets control. “I’ll get the doctor,” I say, but she grips my arm.

“No, it’s fine. It’s just from the air conditioner. I had them fix it.”

“Are you sure?” I ask.

“Yes, it’s fine. See? I’m fine.”

She crosses her arms across her chest and waits for me to relax. I hate that I fuss over her so much, but I can’t help it. I feel like my vigilance is the only thing keeping her alive. I’m not going to quit now.

“Fine, but if you cough like that again . . .” She doesn’t need to hear the rest to know what I mean.

“You’re so not normal.” She rolls her eyes while shaking her head. “So, you went to the cemetery?”

“I did.” I pause, thinking about what led me there. “I had an interesting night and needed Mom.”

“Interesting how?” The curiosity seeps through her words.

I sigh, lie back on the bed with her, and tell my sister about my night with Eli Walsh.

Chapter 10

Eli

“There’s no need to fight us on this, Eli. We feel this is a generous offer,” Paula says.

If it were so generous, I wouldn’t have had to fly here to make sure my agent wasn’t letting the studio try to give it to me up the ass. I could be in Tampa, working on getting Heather to stop fighting me.

I don’t know what the hell it is about her. She’s frustrating as all hell, but I like the challenge.

I’m not some young musician anymore. I’m older, wiser, and I know there’s something with Heather that I shouldn’t walk away from. I want to know her. I need to see her and touch her, which has to mean something.

“I’m not signing that, and you know why.”

It isn’t an ego thing. It’s a value thing. If they don’t pay me what I’m worth, then there’s no reason they’ll fight for the show. I’m not stupid. If they get this new contract to pay me less, there’s no incentive for them to keep pushing it.

I don’t work on dead ends. That’s my only motto in this industry. Since landing the job on A Thin Blue Line, I’ve done a few movies. They were small parts, but I felt passionate about them. While I love my character and the storyline, I’m not working for less than what they’ve paid me the last five years.

“The show is lucrative, but they want to bring on some new blood,” Paula tries to explain. I can see how frustrated she is, but that isn’t my damn problem. “They need to free up money somewhere, and you’re by far the highest paid actor on the show.”

“Don’t care.” I lean back in the chair and scratch the back of my head. “It’s not my problem.”

Paula crosses her arms and goes silent. This is the thing about my agent I love. She’s a shark. She smells blood in the water and circles until it’s the right time to make her move. I see her predatory gaze as she studies me. She’s on my team, but I’m also the only way she makes money.

Agents are awesome when you’re making them money. When you’re not . . . you’re chum. I’m not about to be her afternoon snack.

“You know I heard they want a new love interest for your character. I heard that Penelope Ashcroft is back in town and looking for work. Isn’t she a friend of yours?”

There’s nothing friendly between us. Paula is definitely throwing out the bait.

I don’t take it, though. The last fucking person I want to think about is her. I go years without a mention of her name and now twice in a week? “Another thing I don’t care about.” Which is total bullshit, but if I let Paula think this is a scab to pick at, she won’t hesitate.

“She’s auditioning for a few shows.” Paula picks at her nails, letting the silence stretch. I know this game, so I stay quiet right along with her. “I didn’t think much of it until Michael