On the last day of filming, everyone was sentimental for their last time together. She hoped to see some of the crew on the next Fierce movie, but it always depended on the volatile schedules associated with filming.
After cake and a round of champagne toasts, Claire made her way back to her trailer, her silent shadow trailing close by.
“You bitch!” Blake hollered behind her.
She turned. “I’m sorry?”
His face was red. “You put in an offer to buy out my contract? The fans are going to see me as Damon. They won’t accept a substitute.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Who did you get to replace me?”
“I didn’t offer to buy out your contract.”
“The hell you didn’t. My agent just told me your boyfriend made an offer. Campbell.”
She blinked. “Campbell.” He didn’t. Why would he do that? They weren’t even speaking to each other.
“Don’t expect me to do any press for this movie. I’m going to say it’s a piece of shit.”
“No one will want to work with you if you do that.”
He rushed at her, but Frank blocked him. “Move along, Blake,” Frank said, his tone low and ominous. “Claire, go to your trailer.”
On shaky legs, she returned to her trailer. She sank onto a chair, in shock for a full minute. Then she called Jake. “Did you offer to buy out Blake’s contract?”
“Nope, not me.”
She could hear the smile in his voice. “Yes, you. Don’t do that. We need him. And it’s a terrible investment anyway.”
“How about I chip in for that marketing campaign you’re so worried about that you won’t even pick up the phone for the best lover you ever had?”
Tears stung her eyes. “You didn’t call me either.”
“We’re a couple of hardheaded tenderhearted souls. A matching pair. And I miss the hell out of you.”
Her throat was tight. “I miss you too.” She swallowed hard. “But you don’t have to invest in my movie to be with me. It’s my worry, not yours.”
“My investment is in you.”
She broke down in tears. She couldn’t help it. She’d missed him so much and she never thought he’d make that kind of sacrifice on her behalf. She thought he meant it when he said she wasn’t worth it. That the cost to be with her was too high.
“Claire? Are those happy tears?”
She sniffled and grabbed a tissue, wiping her runny nose. Nothing glamorous about Claire Jordan today. “You said the cost to be with me was too high.”
“Yeah, well, the cost is much higher not being with you. This month has been hell. I couldn’t stop thinking about you because…I love you.”
“I love you too!”
“When do you get back to California?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Do the neighborly thing and drop by.”
She cried a happy sob. “Jake.” She swiped at her tears. “I still can’t believe you would do all this.”
“I told you I wanted to be with you. What, you didn’t believe me?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“I’ll sell my company and travel wherever you’re filming. We’ll make a home together. Two hardheaded, big ego, perfectly matched people.”
“Do not sell your company because of me.”
“What about for our kids?”
She started crying again. “You’re just too good to be true.”
“You are so right. See you soon.”
She hung up, shaking. Then she called Hailey to tell her the good news. Her book club friends would be stopping by the hotel tonight for dinner and to help her pack up her home away from home.
She had her assistant switch the early morning flight the next day from LA to San Francisco. She’d been planning on staying at a hotel in LA for postproduction, but she deserved a small break, and she was desperate to see Jake again.
Claire went a little overboard for her last book club get-together with three kinds of margaritas and sidecar cocktails (in honor of Fierce Longing) from the hotel bar, catered food from the best Mexican restaurant in the city, and two flavors of dark chocolate glazed mousse from the best French patisserie. On top of all that, like a total overexcited nerd, Claire arrived in the private lounge early.
She paced the empty lounge. She’d kinda miss the bland gray space. So many happy memories here. The food and drink sat waiting on the bar top, with the dessert chilling in the refrigerator behind the bar. She remembered their first book club meeting. She’d thought they’d sit at the long table on one side of the space, but Hailey had directed them all to grab a chair and sit in a circle instead. Said it was more intimate that way. She was right.