Something Like Hope

Chapter 2-2

It was a coincidence that I was on set when the last scene for the episode went into the can. I’d been called back to shoot some additional footage with the second unit, while Connie, Dan, Mary Alice, Court, and Logan were shooting on the other soundstage. We’d finished up only moments before and were standing around chatting when the announcement went out and a cheer rose up.

I grinned, the infectious feeling of the cast and crew seeping into me. I’d never been on the set when they finished shooting an episode, and I liked that there was a feeling of accomplishment shared with everyone.

Pleased that the episode was done, I was still smiling as I headed toward my dressing room. I needed to wash off the makeup and get changed.

“Aaron! Hey, wait up!”

I turned to find Dan jogging down the hall toward me, his big smile a welcome sight. I stopped and waited for him to catch up. He slung an arm around my shoulders, and gave me a little squeeze.

“Cast and crew are meeting at DeLorio’s at ten.”

“Okay?” I had no idea what he was talking about. Was that an invite?

He shot me a sidelong glance. “Tradition, man. When we finish an entire episode, everyone heads to DeLorio’s to celebrate.” He spoke slowly, like it should have been obvious. But up until last week, I’d only been a guest star on the show. I had no idea it was a thing.

“Oh,” I said. Then winced internally. “Good. Great. Sounds like fun.”

Dan gave a chuckle. “I thought maybe you didn’t know. I don’t remember seeing you there before. Okay, so show up. We always get one of the private rooms in the back. Tell them you’re there for the Rosenberg party. It’s kind of the code word.” He waggled his eyebrows.

I laughed. “Really?”

“Yeah, man.” He was still smiling, but he blew out a breath. “Some of the more…exuberant fans sometimes try to get in. The staff knows us pretty well, but you might be a new face.” He clapped a hand on my shoulder and then started to veer off toward his own dressing room. “See you later!”

A happy feeling warmed the pit of my stomach. Being a part of this cast was awesome, and I loved how friendly everyone was. Even Lucas had warmed a little. Or at least, we’d had no more problems like the one from earlier in the week. I still didn’t know what his issue was, but though he’d been quiet, he’d done his job. That was all I could ask for.

A thought struck me, and I stopped dead in my tracks. What if it wasn’t the gay storyline that Lucas had a problem with? What if it was me? I’d gotten a cold sort of indifference from him from the moment I started on the show, and that hadn’t changed in all the scenes we shot together. He’d never really even spoken to me other than on set. Perhaps his problem was solely with me.

It was a hard pill to swallow. I was genuinely liked by just about everyone I knew. I tried to be a kind person. I worked hard. I was nice. I didn’t know what I could have done to piss off Lucas.

Whatever. It wasn’t something I could change, and I probably shouldn’t worry about it. Some people just didn’t get along, and for all that it was an unconventional work place, it was still a job. There was always a coworker who didn’t like you or whom you didn’t like. This was no different. At least, that’s what I told myself.

Of course, Lucas would be at the restaurant tonight and that might make things awkward. Even though Daniel said cast and crew—which meant there’d be a pretty large crowd—it still might put a damper on things. Maybe I shouldn’t go. I was still the new kid, despite the fact that I’d guest starred on the last two seasons, and I didn’t want to cause waves.

“Aaron!”

I turned toward the voice to see Mary Alice hanging out of her dressing room door wearing nothing but a bra, pants, and a scarf. I didn’t want to know.

“What’s up, MA?” I asked. She was put together perfectly, and even though I didn’t want to touch, that didn’t mean I couldn’t appreciate her beauty. I gave her a grin and a pointed once-over. She just rolled her eyes. She was a friend, though maybe not a particularly close one, and I enjoyed her.

“You’re coming to the shindig tonight, right? Danny said he’d make sure you knew when and where.”

There was something hopeful in her pretty blue eyes. Dammit. There went my hope of bowing out. I didn’t want to disappoint her. Maybe I could leave early though, before things got weird.

“Yeah, I’ll be there,” I answered and was rewarded with a huge grin.

“Good,” she said decisively. “You should be there. You’re one of us now, and we’re happy to have you.”

With that proclamation, she ducked back inside. I shook my head.

“Not all of you,” I mumbled, continuing my trek.

Mary Alice’s brown bob reappeared. “What was that?”

“Nothing.” I waved her off. She squinted at me, assessing, then shrugged her delicate shoulders and disappeared again.

This was stupid. I was all worked up and worried about one man and trying to avoid something I’d enjoy because he would be there. I needed to let it go and just do what I wanted. So what if Lucas Logan didn’t like me? He might be the star of the show, but he was just a person. And there were a lot of people who did like me and wanted me to be there.

Mind made up and feeling better about it, I went to get changed and figure out how I was going to kill the next three hours before I showed up for the party.