Never Standing Still (The Never Duet #1)(2)
“Hey, Kals,” he said.
“Hi. I’ve brought your shirt,” I said, raising the white shirt, motioning toward him.
“Oh, so you want me to take this one off?” He looked down at his chest and the white shirt, which had a dark brown coffee stain all down the front of it.
“You could go to your trailer,” I suggested.
“Well, where’s the fun in that?” he asked as he started undoing the buttons at the top of his soiled shirt, giving me a wink as if I should have been excited to watch him undress.
Again, I found myself rolling my eyes. Adam was my least favorite type of actor to work with. He thought every woman wanted to sleep with him. He wasn’t exactly wrong, just overly aware of the fact. He was built like a god, with blond hair that just barely fell to his ears and piercing blue eyes. He’d been in a few movies, mainly movies for young adults, but he’d gotten his big break when he’d been cast for a new TV show that had hit it big and garnered a huge fan base.
I’d known Adam for a few years. We’d met when he was still an unknown during a movie shoot, back before he was on the cover of magazines. Before he’d been to award ceremonies. Hell, back before he’d been nominated for any of those awards. He had just been a newbie actor trying to break into the business. He’d been sweet, kind, and even a little shy. Which were all the reasons I’d slept with him once.
Now, I wouldn’t touch him with a ten foot pole covered in antibacterial hand sanitizer. He’d found success and turned into a complete douchebag. I could tolerate him though, only because every time he flashed his smarmy smile in my direction, I only had to picture him naked and stifle the laughter. He wasn’t as blessed as he’d like everyone to think.
“Adam, just put this shirt on. No one wants to watch you stumble through a striptease.”
“Oh, really?” His smile grew wider. “I remember a time when you were begging me to take my shirt off.” He slowly slid the dirty shirt off his shoulders, holding it out to me.
“Your memory is getting bad in your old age. I distinctly remember begging, but it wasn’t for you to take your shirt off,” I said as I handed him the clean shirt. “I begged you to put it in, and all you could say was, ‘It already is!’” I smiled back at him and tilted my head, trying to goad him on.
I heard a few people around us snickering, but no one looked in our direction or commented.
“Jesus, Kalli,” he said as he shoved his arms through the shirt sleeves and started buttoning it up. “When did you become such a bitch?” His angry words stung because I didn’t think I was being a bitch. I was just throwing the same shit back at him that he threw at me and every other woman on set.
“Adam,” I said, all humor gone from my voice. I hadn’t meant to hurt his feelings. “Listen, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
“Don’t worry about it,” he said, throwing a hand up at me, signaling me to stop speaking. “Ron, I’m ready when you are.” He walked away from me, tucking in his shirt, heading toward the director.
Well, shit.
I stood by, watching Adam and his fellow cast members film a pivotal scene in the episode that included some pretty cool stunts. It took a few hours and after every take I ran to Adam and adjusted his clothes, making sure everything was where it was supposed to be and looked the same as the take before, all for continuity’s sake. Adam never said a word to me, wouldn’t even look at me. I could feel the irritation wafting off him and I did my best to work around it. I was nothing if not professional; well, except when I told the entire crew that Adam Front had a small penis.
When filming was over, I walked back to the trailer and let out a loud sigh, trying to release some of the tension from the last few hours. I moved to the rack, making sure I had everything prepared for the next shoot, and I heard the door open. When I turned I saw Adam standing in the doorframe.
“Can I come in?” he asked cautiously.
“Uh, sure.” I was caught off guard by him. I moved toward him and he held his hand up again, gesturing for me to stay put and not come any closer.
“You know, Kalli, when I met you all those years ago, I really liked you. You were funny and sweet, but you always seemed so unobtainable. Untouchable. Then, one night you started responding to me, laughing at my jokes, flirting with me. I thought I’d finally gotten through to you.”
“Adam, I’m sorry, I don’t really know what you’re trying to say.”
“I’m trying to point out that even though you think I’m a jerk, that I’m just some guy who slept with you, you’re wrong. You slept with me and then an ice cold brick wall went up around you. I couldn’t get through to you even though I tried, multiple times. Hell, I’m still trying. Or, I was, until you pulled that shit this morning.”
“I’m sorry about that. You know I was kidding.”
“I know. It’s not important. I’m just trying to tell you that I see you and feel badly for you. You always put up this front, like you’re impenetrable. But I know you’re not because you let me in once. One night, so long ago, you put down your shield and let me in. I’ve been trying to get back to that place for so long because I can’t stand to see you alone all the time, and I really like you. But you shut me out quicker than I could get my clothes back on.” He paused and shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “I guess I’m just trying to say that, perhaps, if you’d stop trying to push everyone away all the time, you’d actually enjoy getting close to someone.”