For Her (The Girl I Loved Duet 1)

“When have I ever been late? Michael, that’s not Clay Markham.”

“No, it’s not.” He’s still staring at his phone, and he shrugs. “Different project came his way, something he wanted more. So he brought in a replacement. Apparently he’s worked with her before, thinks she’s great. Name is Amber Dwyer.”

“Yeah, I know,” I mumble under my breath, but he doesn’t hear me, charging on.

“What’s the deal with this coffee shop girl? The last thing we need is bad press right now.”

“It shouldn’t be a big deal,” I tell him, briefly recounting the incident. “I didn’t make a move to touch her, and the management of the coffee shop intervened before I felt like I needed to. She’s been banned from the premises.”

He nods. “Perfect. I’ll tell Wendy, I’m sure she can put a decent spin on it.”

“I didn’t see any photographers.”

Michael sighs, ever disappointed with my lack of Hollywood knowledge. I’ll get there, but I honestly haven’t been doing this that long. “There don’t need to be photographers anymore. I’m sure her friends took plenty of pictures. But Wendy will get out in front of it. Now, let’s introduce you to the new director so we can get you to wardrobe.”

I can’t remember the last time I was nervous, but there are butterflies in my stomach as Michael brings me over to Amber’s chair. “Amber Dwyer,” Michael says. “This is Peter Holleman.”

She reaches out a hand to shake mine, and I take it firmly. I think she’s about to say something, but I beat her to it. “I’ve heard of you,” I say with a smile. “I’m a huge fan of your work.”

I can feel Michael look at me out of the corner of my eye. He’s surprised and confused by my comment, but I’m watching Amber. I watch her eyes flicker over my features, and I see the exact second that it clicks. “Oh my god, Peter,” she says.

“Hi.”

She stands and we both go for a hug at the same time. It’s a little awkward, we bump arms, and the embrace is way too short, but it’s there. It seems like a miracle. I was just thinking about her, and here she is, like I conjured her out of my memory and into being.

Michael clears his throat. “It seems like I’m missing something.”

Amber laughs, stepping away and keeping a more than professional distance between us. “Peter and I went to high school together,” she says, looking at me “It’s been…”

“Ten years,” I say out loud. Adding in my head, six months, and thirteen days. I know the moment I last saw her. I memorized it, because until now, I thought it was the last moment that I’d ever have.

“That’s a long time,” she says, with a smile that doesn’t seem to hate me. There’s a chance that she’s not still mad about everything that happened. That would be good, because we’re stuck together now whether we want to be or not. And I want to be. Though I wouldn’t blame her if she were still angry.

“It is,” Michael interjects. “But—”

“But,” Amber says, “unfortunately, the schedule we’re on doesn’t have time for catching up built in. But I would love to at some point.”

I’ve seen the way she’s holding herself before. It’s been ten years, but I feel like I still know her. I memorized all her tells. She’s holding back right now. “Absolutely,” I say. “And if you have any thoughts on my character, I’d love to hear them.”

“When you get back from wardrobe, we’ll talk about it.”

“Sounds good.” I know I’m probably reading into the fact that she wants to talk to me, that I’m imagining the way she’s looking at me like she wants to discuss the past without somebody like Michael overhearing. “Nice to see you again.”

“You too.”

Michael puts his hand on my shoulder and guides me away. “You know the new director and you didn’t tell me?”

“You seemed more interested in the groupie who was trying to fuck me.”

“Next time you have information like that, maybe interrupt me to tell me? I looked like an idiot.”

I roll my eyes. “You looked fine. It took her a minute to even recognize me, you’re fine.”

Michael stops me in the hallway, and what seems like a rare moment of clarity he’s looking straight at me. “You two have history?”

There’s no way I’m going to delve into the details of my past with Amber with Michael of all people, so I just nod and say, “Enough.”

“Peter,” he says. “This is huge. This show could make or break you. Swear to me. Swear to me that this isn’t going to make you mess it up.”

Everything in my body tenses, and I shove down the sudden, fierce anger that springs up into my chest. “I know how big it is. I’m not an idiot, Michael. Having Amber direct me is pretty far down the list of things that would mess this up.”