I look back over at him and sigh. It’s time to take that leap and be what he believes is something achievable. Finally shed the weakness old Willow wore as a cloak of protection and allow my determination to be stronger and to be all the armor I need to protect myself.

I’m choosing to take that seed of hope, the promise of something bigger, and grow with the knowledge that the future really is whatever I make of it.

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?”

Just thinking about sprinting with Kane makes my heart pick up speed. Not in fear of him. Well, maybe a little of that. He makes me feel things I’ve never experienced before and only after a few days of really knowing each other. You add in those kisses, and I’m way beyond anything I’ve ever experienced.

The way he makes me feel … I know that when things progress past a few steamy kisses, I might not be able to let him in all the way. Thinking about Kane—every sinfully flawless inch of Kane—seeing me—every flawed inch of me—intimately might be the hardest chip to knock off my shield of self-preservation.

Am I ready to be intimate with someone again? Brad was my first, and last, lover. Being intimate with him was never an enjoyable experience. It was always about him. Instead of giving me heated words meant for pleasure, his always meant to hurt.

Will I be able to be with Kane without letting those memories get the best of me?

“Jeez, Kirby, if I wasn’t a ball of nerves already, you have successfully planted the thought in my mind that makes me turn into a supernova of anxieties.”

She laughs. “Well, I have an easy cure for that.”

Judging by her expression, I’m not sure why I ask, but I do. “That being?”

“Just think about how big his cock is. I mean, really Wills, have you seen his shoes?”

My mouth drops, and I turn to her in shock. She did not just say that. Here. Anyone could have overheard her. Kane could have heard her. Oh crap, here he comes.

“Hey, Kirby. Settling in just fine, I see. Alessandra looked flawless during her last takes. Even I had a hard time remembering she was just staged to look beaten.”

Kirby responds, but me? My eyes are locked on Kane’s leather clad feet.

Good. God.

“WILLOW?” KANE CALLS OUT ACROSS the parking lot that separates the school’s main building from the makeshift camp of trailers set around the front parking area.

I had been making my way to Kirby’s trailer to grab her small kit so she could touch up some of the shine on the actors behind the camera for the final shot of the day. She had run out of powder during the last take, and unfortunately, Grant left their backup kit behind.

“Yeah?” I ask, turning from the door of the makeup trailer. “Aren’t you supposed to be directing, Mr. Masters?” I smart.

He jogs over and smiles down at me. Even standing two steps off the ground, he’s still taller than I am. “That’s the beauty of being in charge. I call the shots.”

Hmm. His tone makes me think we aren’t just talking about things on set. Going for broke, I ask, “Do you have an affliction for being in charge in all aspects?”