“Reya, is there anything you’d like to tell me?”
I shook my head and tried to calm my breathing. “I don’t think so.”
The door to the apartment opened and Leanne, Paul and James came barrelling in, returning from their morning of sightseeing. I was glad for the interruption, because if Trev kept staring at me I’d snap and blurt out the truth. I felt awful for my eavesdropping and wished I’d never done it now. His therapy sessions were private. Even if he was discussing me, I still had no right to listen.
Things were weirdly tense between us for the rest of the day. The afternoon shoot took place in a public park next to a residential area just outside the city. The apartment buildings looked like they’d been built in the seventies and the park had lots of benches and high walls, with a long row of steps leading to one of the blocks.
Trev and Callum were talking with Barry, who was making lots of animated hand gestures while he spoke. I spotted Paul reading as he sat on the grass next to a tree. Since things were still weird between Trev and me, I went and sat down beside Paul, figuring he was neutral territory.
“What are you reading?”
He glanced up and smiled, lifting the book for me to read the title. “‘The Art of Happiness’ by the Dalai Lama,” I said with an arched brow. “Not what I expected.”
His lips twitched. “What did you expect?”
I shrugged and looked across the park. Trev was still talking with Callum and Barry, but now his eyes were trained on Paul and me, his expression unreadable. “I don’t know. ‘I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell’ maybe?” I teased.
“I think you’re mistaking me with Cal. I’m Paul, remember? I thought the red hair was a dead giveaway.”
I laughed. “Right. Next time I’ll remember.”
We shared a smile and his attention returned to his book. “Trev actually loaned me this.”
That surprised me. The paperback looked well worn, like whoever owned it had read it several times. “He did?”
“Yep. He’s been reading a lot of philosophy and stuff like that lately. I think it helps him look at things from a new perspective.”
I mulled that one over but didn’t speak, though Paul was more than happy to fill the silence.
“Did you know that when the next Dalai Lama is found, they have to go through all these tests to make sure he’s the real deal? He’s supposed to be a reincarnation of his predecessor, you see, so in one of the tests they present him with a collection of items, but only one of them belonged to the previous Dalai Lama. If he picks the correct item, they know it’s him. Crazy, right?”
“Yep,” I said, amused by his enthusiasm. “Are you thinking of becoming a Tibetan Buddhist or something?”
His smile widened but he shook his head and winked, “Nah, I’m far too wicked for that.”
I chuckled, because he wasn’t wicked at all. In fact, he was one of the nicest people I’d met on this trip.
“Although,” he went on, “the current Dalai Lama said there’s a chance his successor might be found in a country not under Chinese rule. So, ya know, technically I could be him.”
“I’m not sure it works that way. If he’s reincarnated, then wouldn’t he have to be dead before you were born?”
He shook his head, his expression playful. “Not necessarily. His soul could transmigrate.”
“But then you wouldn’t be you anymore,” I countered, smiling because he was being cute and seemed to have an answer for everything. Funnily enough, Paul did have a sort of childlike sense of playfulness reminiscent of the Dalai Lama. It was mischief without malice.
“Reya,” came a voice and I glanced up. Trev stood over us, his expression blank. Was he pissed I was talking to Paul? I realised belatedly how close we were sitting, our heads dipped together as we spoke.
“Hey,” I said. “Is everything okay?”
“I need you to run to the pharmacy and grab some Tiger Balm. We’ve run low and Cal’s shoulder is still bothering him.”
“Oh, the chiropractor didn’t help?” I asked.
“I’m on my way to the shops to pick up a few things,” Neil cut in, having overheard our conversation. “So I can grab the Tiger Balm for Callum.”
Trev’s jaw firmed in irritation, but I didn’t completely get why he was in such a mood. He knew I didn’t fancy Paul, had even said so himself, so it shouldn’t bother him if we were talking. He grunted at Neil and stalked off. I watched as he joined Leanne, who was midway through a backflip while the crew filmed. The cameras immediately followed Trev as he ran up some steps, then climbed the wall to the tallest point. He braced himself on his hands when he reached the top, holding his entire body upside down, his feet in the air.
My pulse sped as I watched him prepare to jump.
Nineteen.
“Trevor! Get down from there. It’s too high,” Barry called out.
It was definitely higher than what he’d typically jump and I shot off the grass, scared that he’d actually do it. What the hell was going on with him today?
My legs moved fast. I was halfway across the park, but I wasn’t quick enough. Trev held his body up for a few seconds more, then did a backflip off the wall just like Leanne, only this drop was about ten feet higher. He landed on the ground roughly, not half as polished as his usual landings. His trainers skidded on the gravel.
“Jesus Christ!” Barry yelled angrily. “Are you off your fucking meds or something?”
Everything inside of me froze at his harshly spoken words. Everyone within a quarter-mile radius must’ve heard him, and what he said was way too personal.
“Don’t you dare talk to him like that,” I blurted, furious. Barry cut me a vicious glare.
“He could’ve severely injured himself just now.”
Trev advanced on him, his expression fierce as he stared the director down. He briefly sliced his gaze to me then back to his boss. “Fuck you, Barry,” he spat. “And you’re welcome for the first decent shot all day.”
With that he stalked off. Barry called for him to come back but he wouldn’t listen.
“Is there something I should know about you and Trev?” Paul asked quietly, having come up behind me.
I glanced at him worriedly. “No, but . . .”
“You should go after him. Have a talk.”
I nodded and looked across the park but he’d already disappeared. I followed in the direction he went, but there was no sign of him anywhere. After about twenty minutes of searching I gave up and sent a text.
Reya: Where’d you go?
Five minutes later there was still no answer, so I ducked inside a café and ordered a cappuccino. When I finished my drink, I headed back to the park, but the crew were already packing up. I sighed and ordered an Uber to take me to the apartment.