Kane was pulled away the second his call with Mia ended. He looked at me with an apology clear in his expression before following one of the lighting techs toward the next filming location. They had been busy breaking down the equipment around me in order to move to another area within the school.
“How are you doing? Pretty exciting, huh?” Kirby asks, reaching down to fiddle with some of my hair. Her smile is cautious but animated enough that I know she’s having the time of her life.
“Insane is more like it. God, Kirb, the makeup job you did on Alessandra really made it look like she had been in a fight.”
I smile when Kirby actually blushes. “That was so much fun. It’s been a while since I was able to really get creative with makeup. It’s been the same stagnant palate for so long, I forgot how much I loved this.” She points and waves her finger around. “I know it sounds corny as hell, but I know I wouldn’t be here if it weren't for fate. How stupid does that sound?”
I nod, reaching over to wrap my arm around her shoulders. “Yeah, I think I know what you mean, Kirb.”
“I hate everything you went through in order for this opportunity to literally fall into my lap, but I can’t thank you enough, Willow.”
Letting my arm drop, I turn to Kirby. “What do you mean? I didn’t do anything.” I laugh.
Kirby smiles, this one much different from the one she had before. This one is more sly … as if she holds a secret I will never know. “Oh, Willow. You did it all, honey.”
“You’re being weird,” I jest.
“Do you really think Kane would have offered me a job had he not wanted to ensure a certain someone who captured his attention was able to come along? As I said—fate. He just happened to be in the right place during a crappy situation, but everything that followed opened it up so that … well, here we are.”
I laugh, finding her theory hilarious. “Be serious, Kirb. He probably knew exactly who you were before he went to Logan last week. Getting me here was nothing more than him making sure you weren’t overwhelmed.”
Her brow raises, “Yeah? If that’s the case, then why aren’t you in there,” she points in the direction of the trailers, “with me doing just that?”
My silence is enough for her. She knows I can’t answer that. Sure, that was the reason I was told I was needed, but we both know—especially after everything that’s happened since I got on set—she’s most likely right.
“Okay. I’ll admit, I think you’re right about the motivation.”
“Yeah, I know I am. The question is, what are you going to do about it?” Her voice is soft, questioning without being overbearing about it. She wants to know because she’s worried about me, not because she wants to gossip.
“Honestly, I have no idea what I’m doing here, Kirb. I just know it’s time to let go of my fears and take a chance. Kane’s been very … blunt with his feelings so far.” Ha, blunt. That’s one way of putting it.
We both stop talking when the intern—Zander—from earlier comes over to collect the chairs Kane and I had been sitting in. He mentions that everyone is still finishing lunch, but filming will be starting at the end of the hour.
“Willow?” Kirby asks when Zander walks away.
“Yeah?”
“Promise me something, okay?”
I nod.
“Be honest with him. Open up to him and let him know what’s going on in your head. Don’t close yourself off. I know you have your reasons for that, but you’ve come so far that I want you to know you’re not alone. I’m here. Eddie is just a call away. And Kane, well, you won’t know if you don’t try, but he could be one of those people too.”
My throat feels thick with emotion. I squeeze my hands together, balling both hands into a fist for a few moments before taking a cleansing breath. Kirby knows me better than most, so it shouldn’t surprise me that she has just the right words when I need them the most.
“It scares the ever-loving crap out of me, Kirb, but I promise I’m not going to close myself off to this. It might not happen right away, but I can do baby steps.”
She smiles, nodding her head in agreement. “Baby steps are good, but if what I witnessed yesterday is any indication, Kane might be ready to sprint and skip those little baby steps altogether. Damn, Willow, but those were some intense vibes you two had sparked all over the place. Just make sure, when you talk to him, that you let him know you need to learn to walk before you can run. You know what I mean?”