Ivy offered a faint smile, understanding the tightness in Maraâs jaw all too well.
The man who had been so close to her just the previous evening now stood before her, lavishing his attention on another woman. If their roles were reversed, she would probably be seething, too.
The car ride was filled with a painfully awkward silence until Nolan decided to break the ice.
âSo, howâs Coltonâs movie coming along? When can we expect to see your masterpiece on screen? Iâm getting pretty antsy over here.â
Nolan had voiced the very thoughts swirling in Ivyâs mind. The shoot had been going well so far, with plenty of praise to be heard from the crew and cast, but the final verdict would come from the audience.
While box office numbers werenât the sole indicator of a filmâs success, they did hint at the publicâs reception.
âWeâre more than halfway through,â Ivy replied. âEver since we cleared up that last bit of drama, everythingâs been smooth sailing. Iâd say we have about two months of shooting left, but thereâs still all the post-production work. It wonât hit theaters immediately.â
The process of getting a film from the final cut to the big screen was indeed a lengthy one, but with Colton overseeing the project, there was a collective sense of confidence among the team.
âAw, I totally forgot you were still filming, Ivy,â Mara piped up with genuine curiosity sparkling in her eyes. âIs it fun on set? Is the life of an actor really that different? Hey, do you think I could come visit the set sometime? Iâve never been to one!â
Ivy chuckled, thinking how to most of them, the set was just another workplace, not a tourist attraction.
Before Ivy could respond, Balfour quickly dismissed Maraâs request. âTheyâre busy shooting every day.
Youâd just be in the way.â
Mara pouted, clearly not satisfied. âBalfour, I just want to see how itâs done! Canât you sneak me in?
Why else would you be at the set today?â
Balfour had no intention of explaining why he had shown up on set. He glanced at Ivy in the rear-view mirror, but she was preoccupied with the passing scenery outside her window, seemingly more interested in it than the conversation at hand.
Nolan was still concerned about Ivyâs ankle with all the filming. He interjected, changing the subject.
âYou winced just touching the ground earlier. Can you really handle it on set?â Ivy turned her attention back to the conversation. âDonât worry about me, Nolan. Most of my scenes right now are seated or lying down. The directorâs been really accommodating.
Besides, itâs just a sprain. A few more days of rest and it should be fine.â
She was more concerned about delaying the shoot if her injury didnât heal quickly. Colton had rearranged the shooting schedule in her favor, but there would come a time when sheâd need to be back on her feet, literally.
Ivyâs casual familiarity with Nolan, calling him by his first name, contrasted starkly with her distant behavior toward Balfour, whose expression soured slightly.
Mara, ever observant, didnât miss the change in Balfourâs demeanor. It was unlike Balfour to show such concern for someone else. The dynamics in the car were shifting, and the journey was about to get even more interesting.