Free Here All Along by Crista McHugh

“Cut.” The second he heard that blessed word, he pushed Mackinzie away and wiped his mouth.
    His co-star flopped back on the bed with a satisfied grin. “Mmm…I just love kissing you, Gideon.”
    He wished he could say likewise, but he feared the repercussions if he told her the truth. Instead, he looked to Karl. “Was that good enough?”
    Karl rubbed his chin and stared at the computer screen before shaking his head. “Nope. Give me some chemistry, guys.”
    “I’m doing my best,” Mackinzie said with a pout. “It’s not my fault Gideon’s not playing along.”
    He dug his fingers into his palms and tried sending a silent SOS to Karl. When he couldn’t get the director’s attention, he turned to the man standing next to him.
    Gabe Harrison.
    His fellow actor winked and nudged the director. “Why don’t we call it a day? I have a feeling the Kid will be fresh and ready to go in the morning.”
    Gideon’s skin burned. How does Gabe get off calling me “Kid”? Only Red calls me that .
    “You may have a point, Gabe. These two have run this scene to death.” Karl lifted his baseball cap and ran his fingers through his thinning hair. “Okay, we wrap this scene first thing in the morning, and then move forward. Got it?”
    “Absolutely.” Gideon grabbed his robe and threw it on over the underwear he’d been wearing all afternoon. Right now, all he wanted was to get away from Mackinzie before she suggested they have more “rehearsal time.” And have a nice, hot shower to scrub off all traces of her.
    He had just pulled on his jeans when a knock sounded at his dressing room door. He held his breath and offered a silent prayer it wasn’t Mackinzie. “Who is it?”
    “Gabe.”
    He released his breath with a whoosh and finished buttoning his jeans. “Come in.”
    “Tough day out there, Kid.” Gabe leaned against the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest.
    “Don’t call me that.” He punched his arms into the sleeves of his shirt.
    “Why not? Sarah does.”
    “Red’s the only one who can get away with it.” He made quick work of the buttons on his shirt. “What do you want?”
    “To offer my condolences for what appeared to be an arduous experience and perhaps offer some consolation with a drink up at my place.”
    A shiver of warning coursed down his spine. Gabe was up to something. “You wouldn’t be trying to set me up for one of your practical jokes, would you?”
    “Please. It’s no fun when you’re prepared for it. But I promise that tonight, there’s no trickery involved. I was even able to score some Belching Beaver Peanut Butter Milk Stout.”
    Now his skin was practically crawling. How would Gabe know his favorite beer? Something felt very wrong about this.
    “Don’t look at me that way,” Gabe said with a crooked smile. “Sarah mentioned she was going out to get some for you this morning—”
    “You talked with her this morning?”
    “Yeah. She dropped by the set, but you were too busy getting hot and heavy with Mackinzie to notice.”
    He cursed under his breath and gathered his things into his backpack. The last thing he wanted was Red watching him in bed with another woman, even if it was just acting.
    “So I asked her to grab me a few bottles so I could give it a try,” Gabe continued as though nothing were amiss. “I hope you don’t mind that I asked your assistant to do that for me.”
    Gideon slung the pack over his shoulder and got within punching range of his co-star. “What the fuck are you getting at?”
    “Just that I wanted to have a little chat with you.” Gabe stood his ground, his bemused smile grating on Gideon’s nerves. “After all, we’re going to be working together on this film for the next few weeks, and I’m sensing some hostility from you that I’d like to clear up before it affects the shoot.”
    Gideon uncurled his fingers one by one. This was his chance to tell Gabe to stay the hell away from Red. “Fine.”
    “Excellent.”