Protection

Riley

I drove to the studio with the window's down and my hair flying around like crazy. It felt good. Freeing.

After parking near the front lot, I got out and tugged my bag over my shoulder. Most of the actors took three-day weekends, so there wasn't too much going on for anyone on Mondays. It was a nice change from the busyness that usually left me insecure. Maybe after years of being on set, I would feel like I belonged there.

Maybe.

I made my way through the main studio and down the hall to the conference room Clayton and I usually met in. We'd shifted our sessions to Mondays until the traveling back and forth to San Diego was over.

"Hey." I pushed the door open as he glanced up from his clipboard.

"My favorite pupil." He winked at me. "How are you, Riley?"

"I'm good." I let my bag drop to the floor and tried to still my racing heart. He was gorgeous and a master of the art. I'd studied him as much as I'd geeked out over Ethan on TV. I wanted to be a combination of both of them. E