The Life of Lisa
“Uhhh, yeah Greg, of course. I felt very comfortable with you,” she said before firing another flirt in his direction. “I mean, show me a woman who's going to say no to a handsome man running kisses down her front.”
He laughed, that safe, enveloping sound projected by that wholesome smile and muscular neck. “Well, I’m glad you enjoyed it. I saw on the schedule we have a script read-through tomorrow for the scene up on Lion’s Head. See you then?”
He hugged her goodbye, an aloof, stiff embrace. But even that last touch was enough to momentarily blow air on the fire still smoldering inside her. What is there to lose? she asked herself and took a deep breath to try to quell the rising heat for a moment.
“Umm, Greg. How would you like to go for dinner tonight? Perhaps we could even run through the lines then?”
His smile dropped, and his face was overcome by that serious but gentle look that all men get when they are about to say something they know will hurt.
“Lisa, that would be lovely. But I am seeing someone at the moment; in fact, today is actually our anniversary.”
She steeled herself, sucking up a brave smile from somewhere deep inside her. “Oh, of course, I just thought – well, you know. I have a good time with you. But congratulations, of course. She must be lovely.”
“Thanks, Lisa. I’m sorry." Anyway, see you tomorrow,” he finished with a jovial wave and picked his way out of the set between the menagerie of gaffers, sound engineers, and make-up artists.
The outside world was silent to her, kept out by that brave smile that stayed resolutely glued to her. She knew the procedure; she would have to keep it on until she got to the safe haven of her car, where she would be able to let out some tears and maybe bash the steering wheel for a while. Somewhere along the M3, probably as she rounded the mountain on De Waal drive, she would find acceptance and the sadly resigned look that came with it.
Just before pulling into her driveway, she would stop to wipe her tears away and take a few deep breaths. Then she would stoically put the fake smile on again, walk into the house and pretend to be happy to see him.