by “You know why”? he wondered. Was it because they had gone stale? Or was there someone else? The past few years she had gotten increasingly flirtatious with some of her co-stars. He'd brushed it off. Katie had always been a bit more outgoing than he was. Friendly, yes, but he never felt comfortable flirting with a stranger. Then again, he also respected Katie, as well as his relationship with her.
The past few months, however, he'd noticed her being extra close with the male lead from her latest movie project. Constant whispers and giggles happened whenever he visited the set, and they texted each other — a lot. He'd never done that with another girl besides her, not even Arial.
Bryce sighed when he thought about her. Arial was an amazing young woman who deserved nothing but the best. He'd been truly blessed when she had come into his life. Her proportioned curves would make any man crazy. Not only was she gorgeous, but her beauty went further than skin deep. Never before had he met someone so free spirited, down to earth, and loyal. If anyone was going to come between him and Katie, Arial would have been it. The thing he loved most about Arial, though, was that she didn't ever try to do something so catty and treacherous. While his other female co-stars tried to flirt with him mercilessly, she treated him like person instead of a piece of meat. In a lot of ways, that made him even more attracted to her than he probably should have been. When someone treated him well, it didn't go unnoticed.
“Maybe now we could try to be something,” he wondered aloud, then shook his head. “She's not interested in me like that. I'd be able to tell.”
And he'd just ended a relationship. Rebounding would be a bad idea. He wanted to be different and not like all the other Hollywood starlets who bounced from relationship to relationship, claiming to be in love multiple times in a week with a new partner. Still, there was something about Arial that lingered at the back of his mind. She was his best friend in the entire world. He could tell her anything, and she'd already helped him through so much. Plus she was funny and had an adventurous streak to her. Arial didn't worry too much about embracing her dorky side, so there was always something interesting for them to do together. Most importantly, she didn't get worked up over the small things. They just clicked.
Once more he shook his head, trying to get his mind to focus on what needed to be done. There were still things he had to pack inside his trailer. Actually, a lot of things. He knew he should have started on it earlier than the last day, but they were all mementos of his past with Katie. Not normally one to dwell, he hadn't the heart to put them away just yet. While he didn't necessarily feel heartbroken over the loss, he also couldn't let go of the past.
But he had to bite the bullet. Crossing the trailer, he went back to his couch and picked up a picture of him with his now ex-girlfriend. Instead of tossing it into a box or a garbage can, he gazed down at it and couldn't help but notice how hollow both of their expressions were. In fact, it was in all of the pictures they shared together. When had he become so lifeless?
A knock on the door pulled him out of his thoughts. He hurried across the trailer and answered it, seeing Arial standing at the doorstep holding a box. A small smile played on his lips as he opened the door. He was happy to see she'd changed out of her costume and into something more natural. While she rocked the risqué clothing her character was known for, he much preferred her in her natural element. Simple jeans and a long, navy blue button-down that actually covered her skin. The only thing remaining of Veronica was her hair, still pulled back into a bun.
“What a pleasant surprise, and what can I help you with?” he asked.
Arial adjusted the box so she was now holding it on one of her curvy hips and moved closer to him. “I didn't feel right leaving you that way. In pain and so sad. This is our last day of working together. We might not see much of each other anymore. I needed proper