“Sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking. My bad.”

“But it does mean that I know what this industry is like and I know that I’ve found myself in rooms where this bullshit world and this bullshit industry made me feel ashamed for just being myself. I get it.”

An uncomfortable heat spread through Amanda’s chest as the mere thought of Dru and the rest of her reality outside of this ranch with its amazing spa and delicious desserts suddenly spiked her anxiety. She swallowed and actually struggled against a sudden sting of tears.

“I need this job. I—you know how things are. I have savings, but I do not have financial support from my parents and I’m not in a good enough place to just quit. Plus, there’s other stuff at play. Stuff again I’d rather not explain for her privacy.” Sam didn’t need to know what Dru’s mom was like or how Dru basically had no one to be there for her. She could be the biggest of assholes, but she was a person too. Kaidence had hired Amanda and kept her on for so long because she could handle her daughter and treat her with the kindness everyone else in their circles seemed to lack. She wouldn’t feel right just leaving her to the wolves.

“Is there any way I can help?” Sam asked.

“I’m sure there is, but no. It wouldn’t feel right calling in favors from you. It’s more than just a pride thing. I—I need to keep things separate. I don’t trust people enough to get me a gig as a solid to you and then not fire me if we split it. I know how jaded that sounds.”

“No, it sounds realistic ’cause that’s the kind of bullshit industry people do.”

“I can smell a real existential crisis coming for my ass any day now, but all of it, it’s just really complicated. But I promise from here on out: no more secrets.”

“Was this actress the reason why you were crying outside of Delightly that day?”

Amanda hesitated for a moment before she nodded.

“Be real. Is she fucking with you?”

“No. No. She’s just a lot and the job is really demanding. You have an assistant.”

“Yeah, but I don’t think I’ve made Walls cry in the middle of the street.”

“You probably haven’t. I really don’t want to talk about her.”

“Okay. Okay. Come here.” Sam stood and pulled her into a proper hug.

She let out a strained breath and squeezed him tighter, burying her face against his shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I’m glad you told me. I don’t want you to be embarrassed.”

Amanda stepped back, and another stuttered breath managed to escape. “So you want to keep seeing me?”