❤️Mac❤️
I can't do anything but stare at the man in front of me. Danny can't be serious, can he? He's been hung up on Angel for the past three weeks, and even though he's mentioned her less lately, I'm finding it hard to believe his change of heart could be this swift. Our on-set kiss yesterday was okay, but there were no sparks flying, at least not from where I stood. It wasn't like the kisses I've shared with Ryan.
"Mac, hear me out," Danny urges. "I know I messed things up between us before, but I swear things will be different now. I'll treat you the right way, the way you deserve."
"I'm sorry," I reply. "I'm just a little lost here. You've been talking about how much you want to rekindle things with Angel all this time. This is quite unexpected..."
"I thought I still had feelings for Angel, but when I talked to her, I realized all I felt was anger. I didn't even want to see her. It's like I can't feel the same way about her anymore."
This is the first time I've heard Danny express anger over how Angel treated him. Maybe he's starting to move on from his ex, but he isn't entirely over her. It seems like our kiss yesterday triggered a sense of nostalgia, and he's trying to rebound.
"And when I found out about your kiss with Ryan yesterday, I felt... jealous," Danny confesses.
"Wait. You're here because you're jealous?"
I'm not sure if his explanation makes things clearer or more confusing. Nostalgia is one thing, but aiming to rekindle a romance is quite another.
"Throughout these weeks, you've been an amazing friend," he continues. "I realized a bit ago that I've really missed you. You're incredible. Always have been. I want a second chance."
"Dan," I say gently. "What we had ended a while back. I think you might be mixing friendship and nostalgia with something else."
"I'm not confusing anything."
"I'm sorry. I can't go back. I don't want to restart things."
"Is that because of our history and the way I hurt you, or is it about Ryan Moore?"
"My choice isn't influenced by Ryan."
I'm deeply in love with Ryan, but even without that, I would have reached the same conclusion.
"Then it's not true what I heard about your R-rated kiss with Ryan on set yesterday?" Danny asks. "I heard you two were practically going at it in front of everyone."
I choose my words cautiously. Everyone will know Ryan and I are together soon enough, but no need to shove it in Danny's face.
"Things did get a bit heated," I admit. "Yes."
"Are you really going to repeat history, Mac?"
"Repeat what?"
"Fall for the guy you're smooching on stage?" he asks me, his tone tinged with sadness. "Isn't that what happened between us? You fell for me after our on-screen fling."
"It's different with Ryan," I clarify. "I was already falling for him long before our kiss."
Danny sighs heavily, sinking into the sofa in the room. "Are we friends, Mac?"
I nibble my lip, contemplating the different paths this conversation might take. "We were starting to be," I respond.
"As your friend, I need to tell you something about Ryan Moore."
I try to interject, but he plows on.
"Moore's a player. He's got a rep. He hooks up, then moves on."
It's a bit funny that Danny thinks I'm oblivious to Ryan's reputation.
"I don't know if 'player' is quite the right word."
"Fine, how about this? He's got the attention span of a gnat."
"I know what I'm getting into."
"I'm concerned you'll end up hurt, Mac. I regret hurting you, and that's something you'll probably never grasp, but if-"
"Dan, I appreciate the worry, but I can handle myself. I know things might go south. I'm not the same naïve actress from when I dated you."
"You do know he's got a history with Lyndel Craig, right?"
How does Danny know about Ryan and Lyndel? Whatever. I don't want to know. I've heard enough directly from the source.
"I need to prep for a scene," I cut in, wanting this conversation to end.
"Think it's a fluke Mick hired Lyndel right after the headline about you and Ryan?"
I tense. "What are you talking about?"
I'm kicking myself for letting curiosity win. I'd prefer to pretend I don't care about whatever he's about to say, but that's not me.
"Lyndel. She's worked with Ryan. She's worked with Brad. Jazz and Vanessa too."
I didn't know Lyndel had worked with Jazz and Vanessa before.
"So?"
"So, she could be your replacement here, Mackenzie," he rushes out. "In a close-knit cast like Hart's Valley, parachuting a newbie in to replace you would go down horribly. But drafting someone who knows the gang – who already has a thing with the leading man – that's a savvy move for the producer, right?"
Blainesworth had been gunning for a new cast member since last season's wrap. I'm really hoping Lyndel isn't here due to that headline. I've been keeping my head down, barely chatting with Ryan until yesterday. But if Blainesworth went ahead and got my backup, it only suggests my boss thinks I'm going to mess up.
"I can't believe he'd do that," I say, feigning more confidence than I actually feel.
"This is television, Mackenzie-"
"Don't school me. I'm not naive."
"Absolutely not."
His hand reaches out, but I brush it aside.
"He brought Lyndel on board before my scene with Ryan. She can't be here because of me. I haven't done anything wrong."
At least, not that he knows of yet.
Ryan is about to wrap his scene any moment now, and then we're heading to see Blainesworth to spill about us, just like we planned.
"Look, if things stay smooth between you and Moore, I doubt there's an issue. But if not, there's a chance you could be written off the show. I just thought you should know."
Is this caution connected to the jealousy he admitted earlier? Is he trying to steer me away from Ryan? Could Danny be desperate enough to invent something like this to scare me off?
I don't want to accept that my ex-boyfriend might be a bigger jerk than I'd pegged him for. But the alternative is that he's correct – Blainesworth might boot me at the first sign of trouble.
"I meant it when I said I don't want to see you hurt again," Danny asserts. "And if being friends is all you want, Mac, I'm good with that. I want you around."
A soft knock on the door cuts us off, and Ryan strides into the dressing room. His expression darkens when he spots Danny.
"Westlaker," he utters flatly.
"Moore," Danny responds with equal chill.
I clear my throat. "Thanks for the insight, Dan."
Danny leans in, planting a kiss on my cheek that lingers a bit too long. I glance up to catch a shade of green in Ryan's eyes that's unfamiliar.
"Stay safe. And watch out," Danny whispers before he exits.
"Why was Westlaker here?" Ryan demands at once.
"He..." I let the sentence drift, uncertain of how much I should spill to Ryan.
"Mac," Ryan's voice sharpens as he advances. "He's not in a scene today. Why did he drop by?"
"He... suggested he wanted us to give it another shot."
"I knew it," Ryan grits his teeth, his gaze piercing. "I saw the way he looked at you yesterday."
"I was clueless. I thought he was still hung up on Angel."
"And what wisdom did he grace you with?" Ryan questions.
I take a steadying breath. "He claimed Blainesworth snagged my replacement when he brought in Lyndel. If I'm with you, I might be shown the exit, and she'll step right into my shoes. She's worked with everyone except Matt and me, and she'll fit right in. Heck, she's probably your new love interest."
I'm rambling, and I'm fully aware of it, but the words won't stop tumbling out of my mouth.
"Breathe," Ryan instructs, his hands resting on my shoulders.
"I am."
"The guy's a jerk," he reassures, taking my hand in his. "Lyndel won't replace you. There's no need to worry about her, either as a threat to your job or to us. Got it?"
"But what if Danny's onto something?" I voice my concerns. "What if she was hired as a backup plan after the news about us?"
"Mac, cast changes happen all the time. Nobody's immune to it. Even if they did write you out, it'd be foolish to let go of a character as popular as yours. And remember, if he loses you, he loses me as well."
"But—" I try to protest.
"Mac, you pointed it out yourself," Ryan says softly. "Blainesworth will find out eventually. It's better to come clean now. You know we have to do this. Deep down, you know."
"You're right."
His finger lifts my chin, angling my face to meet his gaze.
"Trust me. Can you do that? Trust me?"
I nod, then lean into his embrace, finding solace in his arms. What does it say about me that I'm willing to stake my career on a man, on love? Does that align me with the weak, pitiable, and silly image the tabloids painted? Well, at least this man and the emotions he ignites are worth every bit of it.
"You realize what this means once we're out in the open, right?" he whispers near my ear. "I finally get to take you out on a real date."
A smile tickles my lips against his chest.
"Now," he says with determination. "Let's go talk to Blainesworth."
***
"I thought I'd made my stance pretty clear already."
I draw a deep breath. Our producer regards us with a mix of anger and frustration etched across his face. Suppressing the urge to declare this a prank and bolt for the door, I muster the courage to stay put. My heart feels like a race car. I can't remember the last time I was this unnerved.
I part my lips to speak, but words elude me.
"You've indeed made yourself clear," Ryan interjects, clasping my hand in his and offering a reassuring squeeze. "That's why Mac and I have been battling against whatever this is between us."
"So, what, you're going to claim you can't fight it anymore?" Blainesworth remarks with a hint of sarcasm.
"Over the past months, we've tried avoiding each other outside our scenes," Ryan explains. "We thought that might be the only way to quell it. But whatever I feel hasn't diminished. I've been miserable, and if Mac hadn't agreed to speak with you about us, I don't know what I would've done."
Blainesworth's expression softens slightly as his gaze shifts to me. Ryan is crediting me for taking the step to talk to Blainesworth? I don't deserve it. It was my co-star who convinced me that we needed to come clean.
"It was actually Ryan's idea," I admit.
"Which Mac wholeheartedly agreed with," Ryan adds, chiming in. "We're not interested in hiding anything from you. We're both serious about being together, and we're seeking your approval to date."
It feels like I'm seeking my dad's blessing for marriage. Yet, oddly, Ryan's approach appears to be working, as Blainesworth seems a bit less furious and slightly more open to discussion.
"Do you understand why I have this policy against actors dating?" Blainesworth queries.
"Obviously, if things end-"
"Not 'if,' Ryan. 'When.' These relationships inevitably conclude, and they rarely end amicably. And when the inevitable fallout occurs, it's the show that bears the brunt."
"What if we signed an agreement ensuring the show won't be affected?" Ryan proposes.
Leaning forward, Blainesworth raises an eyebrow. "You're suggesting signing a contract that guarantees my show won't be impacted by your breakup?"
"We could draft a contract assuring that Hart's Valley won't suffer any negative consequences due to our romantic involvement."
"While I admire your creativity, Ryan, what exactly am I supposed to do when my show does, in fact, suffer from your romantic relationship – or more accurately, its demise? Sue you?"
"But what about all the potential gains for the show if we're together?" I inquire.
"Yes, I concede there might be a spike in viewership and a contented audience... for a while, Mackenzie. Yet, I find it hard to believe it will be a lasting state of affairs. Not a word from you, not a contract signed in blood, not even a vow on your firstborn's life could guarantee that."
"Okay, but what about the losses for the show if we walk away from it?" Ryan counters.
Blainesworth's eyes narrow. "Is this a threat?"
"I assure you, Sir, I'm not aiming or inclined to threaten," Ryan responds. "But I love her. I can't fathom... dealing with it, if we're forced to part ways."
"Moore, you're a seasoned professional in this industry. You don't need me to tell you that such comments are entirely unprofessional. But, frankly, you're pursuing the wrong avenue here. Should both of you decide this is the route you wish to take, I can't hinder you. I don't have that power. Legally, that is. Oddly enough, the ultimate decision maker in this impending calamity is you, Mackenzie."
"Me?"
"Indeed. And if you don't mind, I'd like a moment alone with you. Ryan, on your way out, could you kindly close the door?"
Ryan squeezes my hand once more before he reluctantly stands up. I want to pull him back down, to resist being left alone with our boss. Ryan's expression mirrors my reluctance, but we're left with no choice. As Blainesworth's heavy office door thuds shut, he starts to speak.
✯Ryan✯
“Dude, you’re killing me.”
I look up as Brad walks into our shared dressing room. Desperate for a distraction from the anxiety I feel over leaving Mac with Blainesworth, I have been fumbling with Brad’s guitar. The last time I attempted to play it, I sucked. Badly. From the expression on Brad’s face, it seems like I haven’t improved much.
“How was dinner last night?” Brad asks.
“It went well.”
“Then you and Mac are…?”
“Together. I think.”
“You think?”
Our producer is more than likely trying to talk Mac out of pursuing a romantic relationship with me right this second. Chances are good that Blainesworth will play on her fear of the tabloids. If that isn’t enough to drive me around the bend with worry, Westlaker deliberately set out to scare her into thinking Lyndel might be her replacement!
“She’s still thinking about running?” Brad asks.
“I don’t know. She only agreed to talk to Blainesworth. She never actually said, ‘Let’s do this.’”
“You’re kidding me, right? You guys actually went to Blainesworth?”
“He was going to find out eventually.”
“You know Mac’s biggest fear is losing her job.”
“Yeah, well, Blainesworth can’t fire us.”
“Romeo, you might have waited till you guys had been dating for a little while before you did that.”
“Someone was going to see us soon enough. Mac was freaking out about it. It would have been the only thing on her mind unless we came clean with the boss.”
“Yeah, but…” Brad stops and shakes his head. “How did she take the news of your history with Lyndel?”
“I don’t think it’s going to be the anything that stops us from being together at the moment.”
What I worry more about right now is Blainesworth’s and Westlaker’s fear-mongering.
“You did tell her everything, didn’t you?” Brad asks.
“Of course I told her.”
“And she isn’t worried? I mean, after Westlaker…”
“I love her. She knows that. I don’t love Lyndel. I never did. And I have no interest in rekindling anything there. Besides, my brief tryst with her was really only one night, and I don’t even remember it. She doesn’t need to be worried.”
Knock, knock.
I barely manage to reign in my irritation as Jazz opens the door and steps into the room without waiting to be invited in. Yesterday, she’d been in Brad’s ear, asking him to talk me out of going after Mac. If she is here to repeat that suggestion, I’m going to tell her to go to hell.
“Relax,” Brad says, interpreting my glare correctly. “I told Jazz you love Mac and you’re not going to hurt our friend.”
“I have to admit I was a little sceptical at first,” Jazz says.
“But with a little help from yours truly, she’s coming around,” Brad says, an ear-to-ear grin splitting his face.
“Especially since Brad promised to let me at you if you hurt Mac,” Jazz shrugs.
“I have no intention of hurting Mac,” I say in exasperation.
“It’s not your intentions that have me worried. It’s your love 'em and leave 'em attitude-”
“So, what are you going to do about the Lyndel situation?” Brad asks, cutting Jazz off. “Jazz thinks she’s going to be trouble.”
I shoot a look between the two of them. How much time had Jazz and Brad been spending together talking about this?
“She’s a jealous cow,” Jazz says.
“Jazz worked with her on Beach Blues,” Brad informs me.
“Yes, and I can’t say I’m looking forward to working with her again. She was a complete and utter bitch to all the girls. I’m worried she’s going to get stuck into Mac the moment she finds out about the two of you.”
“And she’ll find out soon enough,” Brad says. “Since you’ve gone to Blainesworth.”
“You went to Blainesworth?” Jazz asks incredulously, looking at me.
“Yep,” Brad answers for me. “Mac’s still in a meeting with him.”
“You left her alone in there?” Jazz’s glare is accusing.
“Trust me, I didn’t want to,” I say through gritted teeth. “I wasn’t given much choice about it. And Blainesworth already knows that he can’t afford to lose Mac and me.”
Jazz’s eyes widen. “You told him that?”
“We’re a package deal.”
“If you guys left the show, I don’t think I’d be far behind you,” Brad says.
“Neither would I,” Jazz says. “Hart’s Valley would be over.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You guys aren’t going anywhere.”
“Solidarity,” Brad says.
“He can’t afford to lose four of us,” Jazz says.
I shake my head, but I’m smiling. As ridiculous as my friends are being, their show of support is touching.
“It’s not going to come to that,” I say. “Mac would be more likely to give up on the idea of us than give up her job.”
“I told her not to break your heart too bad,” Brad advises me.
“Thanks so much,” I throw back at him.
“Let’s focus on Lyndel for a minute,” Jazz says. “You should tell Lyndel you’re with Mac. It’s probably best she doesn’t find out from someone else. I mean, if the two of you used to date and she’s looking to-”
“We never dated.”
“Whatever it was, she needs to hear you’re with someone now, and it should come from you. That’s the fairest thing to do. Of course, she’s still going to come after Mac with both guns blazing, but at least then I’ll feel justified slapping her face if she does.”
“Mac can take care of herself,” Brad says.
“I’m not going to let Lyndel pull any of her proprietary crap this time around,” I say. “It used to drive me up the wall when we worked on Wild Horses.”
“You have to let Mac stand up for herself, though,” Brad says. “She won’t want to hide behind you. I know everyone feels protective, and I do too, but Mac’s stronger than she gives herself credit for.”
“So,” Jazz starts. “We let Mac deal with her, but if she crosses the line, I’m jumping in. The staff party is on Friday night, right? Ryan, can you talk to Lyndel before then?”
“I suppose,” I agree resignedly. “Why before Friday?”
“Lyndel needs to see how close we all are. She needs to see we support you and Mac being together. Friday night is a good opportunity to do that,” Jazz says.
“Providing Mac still actually wants to be with me when she leaves Blainesworth’s office.”
❤️Mac❤️
“Mackenzie, I’m sure you’re already aware of the fact that the tabloids will have plenty to say about this recent development with Ryan.”
Blainesworth’s stare is hard, but I don’t look away. “Yes.”
“How do you feel about that?”
“No one likes to be talked about.”
“Some people don’t mind, and others just don’t care.”
“I wish I knew how to be one of them.”
“Do you know the key to being comfortable with being the subject of criticism, Mackenzie?”
“I guess I don’t.”
“It’s confidence - confidence in who you are and what you’re doing.”
“I’m an actor. I should be confident.”
“I’ve seen many actors in my time who were extraordinarily talented, but also extremely insecure. They rely on the limelight to show their best possible side, but the moment anyone says a bad word about them, they fall to pieces.”
“And you think I fall into that category?”
“I think you’re frequently unsure of your own step. It comes from making bad judgments in the past and not having any faith in your ability to avoid repeating them in the future. What I’m trying to say is, I think if you had any faith in your relationship with Ryan, you wouldn’t give a damn what I, or anyone else, thought about it. But that’s not the case here, is it, Mackenzie?
“Of course, it’s in your hands if you proceed with this relationship or not, but I would think your hesitations are the best guide to whether this is really a good idea. As I mentioned, I can’t fire you.”
“But you can write me out of the script.”
He gives me a small smile. “I can. But I’d rather not. So far, you’ve been a credit to our production, and it doesn’t make sense to let you go until I’ve at least reaped the benefits that you being with Ryan will bring us.”
I want to ask him whether he hired Lyndel as my replacement but can’t bring myself to. He might be an opportunistic bastard, but as of right now, I still have my job.
“I know you said you wanted me to make Hart’s Valley my number one priority, and I know it appears as if I haven’t,” I say. “I just wanted to say, I do love this show. So much.”
“Just not as much as you love Ryan Moore?”
“I wish I knew how to make a different decision, but I don’t. And even if I did...I don’t know how Ryan and I would work together anymore.”
“Ah, young love,” he sighs. “Always so dramatic. Let me say this, Mackenzie. If you haven’t learned anything else from your experience with Danny Westlaker, then learn this now, and learn this quickly: keep your expectations realistic. Don’t expect the impossible. Know that your relationship with Ryan will end one day, and be prepared for it when it happens. And even if your heart is breaking, remember what I pay you for: to act your arse off.”
“Thank you, I will.”
“Oh, and Mackenzie,” he says, when I stand up. “If your decision is to follow through with this relationship with Ryan, then own it, have faith in it. Don’t make excuses for your actions and wear the consequences proudly.”
I swallow. “Consequences?”
“Whatever happens going forward. Shut the door behind you, please, Mackenzie.”