So is Ronni. “You said we needed several good takes of each scene.”
“I had four cameras rolling on that one. I’m confident we got what we need.”
“But—”
“Ronni, you hired me because I’m one of the best. Trust me. It’s going to be great.”
She stalks off, getting on her phone like she always does, and we film the scene where Crew leaves me. It’s short and we get through it quickly.
“Are we good?” Ronni says.
David makes some notes on a pad. “Just about. I want to get a few more shots of them on the bed.”
Ronni smiles, thinking that will piss me off. “Take all the time you need. I’m going to step outside and make a few calls.”
David winks at me.
Garrett and Liam come over. “We’ll make sure she doesn’t come back in for a while.”
“What will you say?” I ask.
Liam shrugs. “I’ll tell her some bullshit about needing more money or something. She’ll go off on me for an hour if I let her.”
I laugh. “I don’t doubt it.”
“Are we doing this or what?” David says. “We don’t have all day.”
“What’s going on?” Crew asks.
“Bria and I have decided to film an additional scene. Your girlfriend is going to kick some ass, and you’re going to carry her to the car and drive off into the sunset.”
His smile is the highlight of my day. “Ronni’s going to flip out.”
I snicker. “I know.”
A half-hour later, we’re finished. Garrett and Liam managed to keep Ronni busy the entire time.
Crew is delighted. “She’ll never know what hit her.”
“I’m not sure any of this matters,” I say. “David said the screening will be the deciding factor, and I’m sure they’ll want the other ending.”
“Are you kidding? Everyone wants the nice girl to win over the ‘hoes’. We’ll get the ending we want.” He leans down and whispers, “And now we’re going back to your place, so I can get the ending I want.”
“Crew, can I speak with you?” Ronni says from across the room.
I thumb to the door. “I’ll wait for you outside.”
I go through the large steel door onto the production lot. There are a few stragglers still hanging around. Extras, I think, though their part was over hours ago. One of them approaches me.
“Brianna, hi, I’m Xavier. I was one of the extras. They wouldn’t let us mingle with you earlier, but I’m a big fan of your music. I was wondering if I could get a picture with you.”
“Sure.”
He takes some selfies with me. “Thanks.” He hesitates. “I was wondering if you would like to go for a cup of coffee or something.”
“It’s nice of you to ask, but I have a boyfriend.”
“Okay, well, nice meeting you, and thanks again for the pictures.”
He pulls me into a hug. I try to push him away, but he’s strong. I get ready to kick him in the nuts. “Xavier, you need to let me go.”
“Oh yeah, sorry.”
Before I know what’s happening, Xavier is on the ground, and Crew is punching him.
“Crew! Get off him!” I shout.
Garrett and Liam run over and yank Crew off Xavier.
“What the hell is going on?” Liam asks.
“He was groping her.” Crew lunges, but they stop him.
“I was hugging her,” Xavier says defensively.
“It didn’t look like she was very goddamn happy about it,” Crew complains.
“I was handling it,” I say.
“Go on,” Garrett tells Xavier. “Get out of here.”
“And stay the fuck away from her,” Crew calls after him.
I look at Crew, aghast.
“What? Did you want him touching you?”
“Of course not, but you can’t punch everyone who does. I can handle myself.”
“It didn’t look like you were handling anything.”
“You have got to stop doing this!” I shout.
“Doing what? Being your boyfriend? Because clearly that’s what I was doing.”
“You fighting every man who talks to me is not being my boyfriend. You promised to do better. You said that less than ten hours ago, yet here you are, doing it again. I’ve had enough.” I turn to Liam. “Take him home.”
“But we’re going out,” Crew says.
“No, we’re not. I don’t want to be around you right now. I’m not sure I can be around you at all if you don’t stop treating me like a goddamn possession.”
“I’m not doing that.”
“You are! Go home. We have a few days off. Take some time and decide if this is really what you want.”
“It is what I want,” he says. “You’re what I want.”