Reed looked up at the ceiling, the anguish clear on his face. “She never said a word.”

“Now you know.”

“I convinced myself she was better off without me.”

“She might be.” Anna shook her head. “Jenny can make her own decisions, but...”

“I made a bloody mess of things, didn’t I?” Reed ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t deserve another chance. But please believe me when I say I thank you wholeheartedly for being such a good friend to her. I’m sorry I’m the reason she was hurt.”

Reed turned and walked away. Anna watched him enter the hair-and-makeup trailer. She hoped that Reed had changed for her friend’s sake.

#

JOHN HAD TAKEN HIS call and walked over to the commissary for some food. He was looking forward to a quiet break. He sat at the long table, ignoring the extras in costumes and the crew milling about the large open space. It felt like a college dorm cafeteria. His thoughts were disrupted when someone sat down across from him.

“How well do you know Anna Kovács?” Reed asked, looking at John with a serious expression.

“We work together, which I’m pretty sure you know.” What is this guy after?

Reed narrowed his eyes. “Are you sure there’s nothing else?”

“Uh, we’re friends?” John was tired of these questions. He didn’t owe Reed an explanation of what had happened with Anna in the past, and there was nothing happening now, no matter how much he liked getting to know her as they worked together. The conversation this morning had been a revelation. He couldn’t believe she’d thought he wasn’t really interested, not that she had decided he might not be up to her standards.

“Most people don’t have friends in this business.”

“I get it. All right.” Why does everyone want to give me a lecture on the industry? He was exhausted by their low opinion of his ability to navigate these waters.

“I am not quite sure you do—get it, that is.” Reed pursed his lips. “Anna is one of the few good people.”

“Can you just say whatever you need to say? I have work to do.”

Reed sighed, relaxing his shoulders. His aggrieved-older-brother demeanor changed. “I’ve been acting since I was in short pants.”

“Do people really say ‘short pants’ anymore?”

“They do in my family, but that’s not really the point.”

“Is there a point?”

“I’ve learned the hard way not to trust anyone,” Reed said. “You’ve heard of Tom Melton?”

John looked up sharply. Did Reed know about his deal with the agent? What would happen if someone else told Anna first? He hadn’t considered the idea that he wouldn’t be the one to tell her—and that had been naïve. He gave Reed a wary look.

“So the answer is yes,” Reed said.

“Anna can take care of herself.”