There was a lot of mental back and forth going on in my head. Should I take Trev up on his offer and potentially have the best few weeks of my life? Or do I decline and end up regretting it forever? I didn’t like regretting things, and I convinced myself that more good came of saying yes than saying no.
Even with this reasoning, I was still unsure what I was going to do as I took a cab to the address Trev gave me. I stared up at the impressive high-rise and scanned the names by the door, noticing one of them was Fielding Management & PR. That was the same company that managed Trev and his co-stars and explained the location.
My palms grew a little sweaty as I made my way inside. After exchanging a few words with a friendly receptionist, she directed me to a room on the 15th floor. When I arrived, a handful of smartly dressed men and women sat on chairs in the waiting area. I could tell they were vying for the PA job by the résumés they held in their laps; some seemed more nervous than others.
A twist of guilt coiled in my belly to think I’d be taking a job from someone who needed it, but I needed it, too. It wasn’t until Trev presented me with the opportunity that I realised just how much. The idea of playing for new audiences, in cities I’d never get the chance to visit otherwise, made me feel alive again after months of feeling stale. I wanted this so badly it terrified me, because I was still working my head around the whole Trevor part of the deal.
If I said yes to this, he’d be back in my life. There was no going around, under or over it.
I saw James poke his head out of one of the rooms. He was the eldest of the Running on Air cast and had a kind yet handsome face. His coffee complexion was flawless, his brown eyes soulful and deep, and he always held himself with a sort of dignified calm I wished I could emulate. He was also an incredible free runner. He and Callum were the only two members of the cast I’d met before, besides Trev, and I knew he recognised me when our gazes clashed.
“Reya,” he said, coming towards me, his arms open for a hug. “Trev said you might be popping by.”
“Yeah, he invited me over. I hope that’s okay,” I replied as we exchanged a quick but warm embrace.
“Of course it is. Come on in,” he said and ushered me inside the room.
Music was playing when I stepped into the large office space. There was a heavily pregnant woman by the window on a phone call, and a dark-haired man working on a laptop at the desk. Trev and Callum were tossing a basketball back and forth to each other from opposite ends of the room, while Leanne sat on a couch scrolling through a tablet.
Paul came towards us with a smile and my heart skipped a beat. He was even cuter in real life, all red hair and azure blue eyes.
“Who’s this?” he asked, his voice friendly.
“This is Reya,” James said. “She’s an old friend of Trev’s.”
“Oh, the one who might be filling in for Jo?” Paul asked, looking even happier as his attention rested on me. “Please take the job. I’m begging you. I’ll die if I have to sit through another interview.”
“Don’t be so melodramatic,” James chided. That was when Trev noticed I was there. He threw the ball to Callum so hard he winded him and strode across the room.
“Reya, you came,” he said, beaming, and pulled me into a hug. Wasn’t I getting all the hugs today? I pulled back, a little overwhelmed by the attention, as Trev guided me to Leanne.
“Leanne, this is my friend, Reya. The one I was telling you about.”
She put down her tablet and glanced up at me. She was a petite little thing with short black hair, bright blue eyes, and a pretty face that was at odds with the toughness she exuded. She stood and held out her hand, all casual.
“Good to meet you, Reya,” she said as we shook.
“What? Don’t I get an introduction?” Callum interrupted and Leanne rolled her eyes.
I guessed things still weren’t so rosy between those two, not that they ever had been. Like Karla, I was fascinated by their antagonistic, love-hate relationship on TV. I had to admit, it was a little exciting to be witnessing it in real life. Leanne didn’t wear make-up and was usually found in a uniform of black jeans, white T-shirt and leather boots.
Conversely, Callum was a pretty boy heart-throb, with a body of muscle and ink, and a face made to be on billboards. He was the kind of man you saw with a glamour model on his arm, not an androgynous tomboy who didn’t have a glamorous bone in her body. I guessed that was where the antagonism came in. Maybe they both resented the fact they were attracted to one another.
“Hi, Callum,” I said. “I’m Reya. We’ve met a few times before.” He was by far the prettiest member of the cast, and that was saying something because they were all incredibly good looking. Callum had light brown hair, piercing green eyes, and like I said, tattoos covering every inch of his perfectly toned body.
“Right, yeah, I remember,” he said, giving me the once-over. “You’re the piano chick. Haven’t seen you around in a while. How’ve you been keeping?”
“As well as can be expected.”
Next Trev guided me over to introduce me to the pregnant lady, who was Jo, the PA I might be filling in for, and then Neil, the other assistant I’d be working alongside.
“Can I talk to you in private for a minute?” I asked Trev, and he nodded then led me through a door into a smaller, empty office. He closed the door and folded his arms.
“What’s up?”
Being alone with him was unexpectedly heady. His eyes travelled down my outfit and back up to my face. I self-consciously dragged a hand through my curls and took a deep breath. “This is all moving very fast.”
He frowned. “You didn’t come for the job?”
“No, I did. Well, I’m considering it at least. My interviews went horribly, which is mostly the reason why I’m here,” I confessed.
A flicker of amusement claimed his features. “So, it’s a last resort, huh? Colour me flattered.”
I gave him a light slap on the arm. “That’s not it. You know I’d be a fool to turn this down, I’m just a little wary of what it means for us.”
Trev studied me a moment, weighing his response. “I told you I’d like us to be friends again.”
I eyed him warily. “And that’s all?”
He was silent for longer than the question warranted, his throat bobbing as he swallowed. “That’s all.”
Relief flooded me, even if I did feel that familiar tinge of disappointment. There was once a time when he looked at me like I was everything he ever wanted, but that time had passed and I needed to accept it. At least this way I knew he’d keep his distance if I did decide to take the job. The ‘friendship’ label would make things easier for me, like a wall of safety I knew not to pass.
“Okay, well, I still need some time to think about it.”
Trev gave me a tender smile and reached forward to squeeze my upper arm for a second. Worrying butterflies flooded my belly at the momentary contact, but I ignored them. “Let’s go talk to the others then, yeah? Maybe they’ll help you make a decision.”