Forever to Go

“Why did I let you talk me into this?” I ask my best friend, who is a guy. Not just any guy, but the lead in the new movie I let him talk me into working on. I’m a fashion designer for Hollywood blockbusters, and Matthew James—the aforementioned best friend—is an actor.
Both Matty—it’s a nickname he doesn’t allow many to use, but I am amongst those few lucky enough—and I have connections to the small harbor town the movie is based upon. Matty grew up in Falls Village, and my family is the disaster that sparked the film.
Matty pulls me into his side and chuckles. “Because you wouldn’t have lasted a day in The Hills without me.”
He couldn’t have spoken truer words.
That I’d ever gone to Hollywood, let alone remained there, is still shocking, even to me. But when I showed up on Rodeo Drive, my only goal had been to get as far away from the place I stand right now.
Irony at its best.
I dig my hand into Matty’s side and feel the grooves of each muscle. Matthew James is a specimen to behold. And yes, we thought about hooking up for a hot minute when we first met, then thought better of it. And thank God.
Matthew James is like a brother to me. Years younger, we never would have lasted. We would have done to the other what we both do to everyone we sleep with. It would have been great while it lasted, then fizzled out only to have us never speak again.
We knew that our friendship is worth more than a few months of wet, passionate sex.
“I would have found a replacement best friend by the end of the first week. Who are you kidding?” I ask, then jump at the sound of the door opening.
“Jesus!” Matty exclaims, holding his heart. “You’re so fucking jumpy, you scared the shit out of me.”
I brush off his comment and wait for Nix Doyle to approach. Nix is the producer of the film, The Feud of Falls Village.
“Matthew, Claire,” Nix greets in his British accent. “It appears that you’ve settled into town and are ready to go. Have everything you need?”
I nod at the beautiful man married to the woman who penned the book version of the film, then smirk in Matty’s direction. Matty hates having competition in the best-looking male department.
“Good, man. Thanks for checking in. Only a few scenes to start us off today. I already spoke with Colleen; she’s the owner of Spill the Tea and she’s cool with me hanging in the place to get the feel.”
Nix nods, then groans as his hand runs over the box of cigarettes in his pocket. “Bailey will have my balls if she sees me smoking so I’m going to pop out the back quick and hide in the bushes.”
Matty laughs. “Don’t set the property on fire. Black will freak the fuck out. That guy is no fucking joke.”
We’re filming on the property of Callan Black because my family won’t allow anyone, let alone the people creating renewed drama over the historic speculations of wrongdoings and murder, a mile near the Ingram castle. No matter that an Ingram hasn’t stepped foot on that property since the summer I was here over thirty years ago.
Or so they thought.
Callan’s castle was erected by the Charleston family to look identical to that of my ancestors. They’re also the family in a feud with mine because their only daughter had gone missing after going to a party on the grounds.