She high-fived Ben, the sound guy she’d nicknamed Benjamin Button because he was forty-four but looked thirty. Once she was clear of the set, she located her phone and anxiously checked her messages, looking for one name in particular. She’d texted Carly the night before to see how she was doing. It had taken everything in her not to text earlier, but she wanted the ball to be in Carly’s court. Unfortunately, the ball remained there, as she’d heard nothing from her in the three days since she’d checked into the hotel, which left her surprised and hurt. Lauren wasn’t sleeping or eating very much, and the film shoot had been a lot of tedious waiting around, which was hard on someone who thrived on action.

“You okay?” Cal Parks, who played the prosecutor, asked as he passed. “You look like someone just stole your puppy.”

She forced herself to brighten. “Nothing that awful. Just hanging on to my character a bit too tightly.” He laughed and headed out. Alone, her spirits plummeted. She missed her dog. She missed Trip. Above all, she missed Carly more than words could ever do justice. None of this Hollywood stuff mattered under the personal circumstances of her life. How dissatisfying it was to be given so much, only to realize that the one thing you wanted was the one thing you couldn’t have. Life didn’t mess around in its masterful delivery of mixed messages, elevating her professional life while trashing her personal one.

Her time on the film had originally been scheduled for five days, which had turned into seven, scattered over a two-week period due to the schedules of other actors. When the job ended, she’d planned to stick around, pick up Rocky IV, and see where the Los Angeles journey took her. The events of the last week weighed heavy on her plans.

She fired off another text to Carly. Hey, you. If you’re dodging my messages, just say so. I’m a big girl, Carly. Just talk to me one way or another.

That night as she sat cross-legged in her hotel room watching The Subdivision for a bit of research on the part she’d committed to, she kept one eye on her phone. She knew Carly was in a rough spot, so she cut her a certain amount of slack. It had been too long, though. Deciding to be the bigger person, she placed a call, waiting patiently as it rang and rang. When Carly’s recorded voice came on the line, Lauren closed her eyes, absorbing the familiar sound. “Okay, so I guess you’re too busy to pick up. Or if I’m being realistic, you’re choosing not to, which speaks volumes. Have a nice night.” A pause. “I miss you.”

* * *

Carly could barely hear the message above the loud music. “I miss you.” She lowered the phone, her heart tugging. She missed Lauren, too.