I took a deep breath through my nose and squeezed my eyes shut. This girl was now stalking my boyfriend.
I stepped into the bedroom area of Ryan’s trailer. “Has she ever done physical harm?” I whispered.
“There’s nothing in the report other than her making threats, but she’s definitely a stalker. I wouldn’t take my chances.”
“Thanks, Tammy. I owe you one.”
“What’s going on?” Ryan asked inquisitively.
“Nothing.” I half-heartily smiled. “I’ll tell you later.” I ran my finger down my nose so he would know I was lying.
After lunch we drove to another location offsite. Ryan had his face touched up; more purple pigment was added under his eye. He told me that the entire movie was shot out of sequence. He explained to me why they did that. I never knew that movies were filmed that way. I always thought that they were filmed as the movie progressed, just like a stage play.
We drove to an ordinary house by the beach, which would be his next location for filming. As we drove down the street, we were inundated with scores of female fans of all ages, shapes, and sizes, all screaming for their favorite actor.
We were ushered inside quickly. Ryan waited behind. The minute he stepped out of the car, the fans screamed. I watched him from the doorway; his bodyguards shielded him as they moved him from the car to the house. Ryan barely acknowledged the crowd. Somehow the paparazzi knew where to find him and we were all photographed exiting the limo, but the cameras clicked double-time when he was in view. My love was constantly under the microscope.
Ryan had some pretty intense lines that he had to say in the scenes that were filmed in the house. Each of his lines was expertly delivered. For the first time since I met him, he was different. He wasn’t Ryan - he was Charles. He truly amazed me. I could see why his fans adored him. But despite his professional demeanor and his superb acting skills, I adored him for different reasons.
I was actually tired from spending an entire day in his world. I think it was all the standing around and doing nothing but watching that tired me out. I was used to running around and keeping active to do my job; his work was more mentally tiring than anything. I grinned at him as he joked with the crew. Even though it was serious business to film, everyone was having fun and being very supportive.
On our way home down Mulberry Street I spotted her, Angelica, sitting in her blue Plymouth across the street from the parking lot where I park my car.
I unconsciously gripped Ryan’s arm and gasped.
“What?” He looked to see my expression of terror. “Tar, Honey?”
“Nothing. I’ll tell you later.” Instinctively I slumped down in the seat to get my head below window level.
Pete was still inside the pub kitchen, hammering away. The old counter was gone and he had the new wall partially built already. I was shocked to see how far he had gotten.
Ryan and his parents started talking with Pete about construction stuff; I was a little distraught so I headed upstairs. It didn’t take me long to crawl onto the bed.
“Tar, are you tired?” Ryan asked, finding me in the bedroom. He shoved his pillow under his arm. “So what was that all about in the car earlier?
Why did you grab my arm like that?”
She was sitting in her freaking car again,” I muttered into my pillow.
“Who? What are you talking about?”
“Angel. Or Angelica Staunton as she’s really known.” I looked at him with fear in my eyes. “Curly-haired, gap-toothed girl? I think she’s been following you… and me. She followed me to CostMart the other day. She was in the bar that day you signed autographs, and now once again she’s just sitting in her car on Mulberry Street. Honey, she scares the hell out of me.”
Two seconds later he pulled his phone out and made a call. “My manager says we should go to the police and file a complaint.”
Ryan sat back down on the bed. “Taryn, I’m not mad, but you have to promise me that you’ll tell me immediately if anyone is following you or scaring you. You know that these girls are… well - you know. Just promise you’ll tell me right away,” he insisted.
I nodded. “I promise.”
Ryan looked handsome in his black pants and white button down shirt. I put on my new black cocktail dress and adjusted the empire waist satin sash.
He took the little black box off of my dresser and held it open, reminding me of the diamond earrings I’d been avoiding.
“Please. Humor me,” he insisted.
I hesitated and took a deep breath. I was holding the twined hearts pendant in my fingers as it rested on my neck.