There was a thoughtful pause before River broke the silence.
"How's it over there?" he asked, changing the subject to safer waters.
"It's actually really nice. I met Juan Torres. He seems like a decent guy. I was expecting a diva-like attitude, but I got the opposite." Which was a nice surprise. All the insecurities I had prior to coming here were now vanquished. Now I could focus on my work and how I could make my character better.
"I'm glad things are working great on your end. I actually called to say that I won't be doing a world tour. However, I'll do less than a dozen shows in Europe, and then another similar set here in the US. Ari and the team aren't too pleased about that, but I just can't commit to anything that might really push me over the edge."
Why the sudden change?
Last time I had seen him, he was so hyped for the tour. Had travelling got to him? If his label had demanded that of him just for promotion, I could only imagine what was expected of him had he intended to go through with the tour.
My brows furrowed as I began to worry about his state of mind. If he was breaking at the seams while I was here in a different continent, it made me feel guilty somehow. Maybe this was another case of taking on too much.
"Is everything okay, babe?"
There was a ruffled sound before he made a strangled groan. "Yeah, just everything, you know. It's catching up to me. It doesn't help you're not around to cheer me up."
That and maybe too much partying perhaps? The man couldn't expect to function properly in the morning after a night bingeing on alcohol.
There was something in his voice that foretold how much he was missing me, too, and that was something I couldn't fix, either.
We were poles apart when it came to emotions. While I liked to hide my feelings unless it was necessary for me to say so, River's emotions ran deeper. He wouldn't hold anything back once he let that person in his life, in his heart. He once confessed that he had a hard time living without me. And now that he had me back in his life, getting back to that old lifestyle sure did screw with his mind.
"Aw, babe, I'll be home before you know it."
"I hate missing you like this, Cara. I wish I could hop on a jet and see you right now … " He would, too, if he wasn't committed to his label at the moment. River and his spontaneity were legendary.
"I was just thinking about that earlier, actually." I reflected on that moment when I had heard a loud rap at the door.
"It's getting late for you, and you have a big day tomorrow. Work hard, but don't forget to have fun, too, petal."
"I won't, babe." I sighed, wishing he wasn't so far away. However, as much I would want to dwell on my feelings, my body was ready to doze off. My eyes began to droop as I slowly lifted my sleepy form out of the chair and gathered the essentials needed for a quick shower.
"I love you."
My heart lurched for a second as I treasured his words of affection. We will survive the distance. We yearned each other too much for the raging fire to dissipate and disappear.
"Love you, too, River Ellis. Always."
Chapter Twelve
Cora was a tall, buoyant woman with a booming voice that silenced the entire breakfast room. It was how I was first introduced to her. The crew, Juan and I, and the few minor casts that arrived early in the morning were all enjoying our meal when she entered the room and greeted everyone.
It took her several rounds on other tables until she reached ours. Since I was signed too late in the process, I hadn't had the opportunity to meet the key persons who were responsible behind the scenes.
Most of the main cast were said to be scheduled to arrive all throughout the next couple of days, but since Juan and I would have most of the screen time, our schedules differed a day or two from the rest. It was a good call to come here early, and for Juan to have already arrived a week prior since he was staying in his summer house in Mallorca. All he had to do was hop on a plane for a short flight to the other sister island of Minorca. He stated during the meal that he liked to get to know the area so he could easily get into his character before the shooting even began.
Each actor had their own way of "getting in the zone." It was interesting to learn these eccentric behaviors from the people I worked with.
Martin Lombardo, who was the executive producer and director, wouldn't be arriving until tomorrow, but I heard that the other director, Joshua Peaks, would be coming in sometime this afternoon. The other two producers would be joining him, as well.