Noah

Lucia came over to the monitor again. "His name is Nicky?"

I grunted, irritated. "Tell him to go fuck himself."

Of course, it was the jealousy speaking. Mostly. And god-fucking-shit-dammit, I didn't have the time. My personal life had no business at work.

We'd wrapped everything with April's brother, her ex slash father of her son, and two parents. All we had left before Paris was Sophie's post-meltdown scene, and it had to be perfect.

"Someone's mad today. Again." Sophie came up behind me with Brooklyn in tow. "I'm actually glad we're doing this retake." She closed her eyes while Brooklyn did the final touches. "I don't think I nailed it last time."

"You can't say that in front of the director." One of the operators seemed genuinely appalled, but he didn't know our dynamic very well.

Sophie scoffed. "I can say whatever I damn well like."

"Diva," I coughed.

I was full of shit, but I didn't care. I didn't need her to point out that I'd been pissy these past two weeks.

"I'll wrap this up," Shawn said. "Shouldn’t take more than ten."

I checked my watch, bugged about whatever the fuck Nicky was doing here. But if he had info on Julian, I had to know. "You have until I get back," I told him, and then I made my way to the elevator.

My PA was just exiting with a to-go cup from Starbucks. "Oh. For you, man."

"Thanks, kid." I accepted it and stepped in, at which he walked over to the panel and pushed the bottom button. "I kinda hate to lose you, you know."

Nothing bad about Julian, obviously, but Michael was like a twenty-five-year-old version of me. He worked hard, spoke my language, and didn't panic or run in circles to get shit done.

"I appreciate that." He nodded. It looked like he was gonna leave it there, but he smirked slyly. "You have my number if you ever need a PA on another set. Or anything else."

I chuckled and inclined my head. "Noted." A local set, though. His being a single dad made it impossible for him to travel, but I'd definitely remember it for local gigs. "Before I forget." I patted my pockets and took a sip from my coffee, handing him a piece of paper. "You said you're going back to school, so recommendations won't get you anywhere right now, but this can come in handy. You wanted to be a sound mixer, right?"

"Yeah." He took the paper eagerly and scanned the list of independent studios I'd worked with. Email addresses that went further than some receptionist's desk. "Wow, this is… Thanks, Noah."

"Any time. If you have a spare minute, stop by at the party tonight." The elevator door was pushed open, so I clapped him on the shoulder and got out, aiming straight for security.

"I'll try," Michael called.

Tennyson was over by the trailers, but he looked busy signing documents all while having the monkey that was Ivy clinging to him.

I was about to break his budget, so I left him alone for now, and I doubted he'd be at the bar tonight. Hell, I didn't wanna go. We had a flight tomorrow, but it'd be rude not to show up. The LA crew was done, so they wouldn’t be around for the wrap party in August.

As I got to the exit, I nodded at one of the security guys to let Nicky through.

"Make it fast. What's up?" I took a sip of my coffee, eyeing him.

"Is Julian here?" he asked impatiently. He adjusted his tie and glanced around the set. "He's not returning my calls."

"I thought he was staying with you." That one stung to bite out.

I hadn't seen Julian in a fucking week. He sent me texts to say he was all right and needed some downtime, but he wouldn’t pick up the phone when I called. Which hurt.

I'd been…a bit different the day after Julian's birthday. Maybe to test the waters, both his and mine.

I'd developed goddamn feelings that ran deep, so I'd been sweeter. I'd pulled him close and kissed him, and it had evidently not been welcome. In the days that followed, he'd grown distant—until he left a note one day saying he needed some space to think.

"No." Nicky scowled. "Last time I spoke to him was the day before his birthday."

Well, hell. Now I was worried.

Julian’s last text came this morning, though, so knowing he was okay enough to keep in touch prevented me from panicking. But I made a mental note to call Dr. Kendall. The anniversary of the plane crash was the day after tomorrow; who knew where his head was at?

"I don't have time for his drama," Nicky said, "but this is on the way to my new job, so I thought I'd find him here. He needs to make up his damn mind—"

"You need to fucking watch it," I told him. That wiped off the arrogance from his face. "I heard you guys arguing before his birthday, and if you for one goddamn second think you can use him to get ahead in the industry, you've got another thing comin'."