The Director's Cut by Js Taylor (if you give a mouse a cookie read aloud txt) 📕

shouldn’t drink beer. Water then?”

“Water.” I agree. I order for both of us, and within moments, we’re served two glasses of ice cold water with lemon slices.

We chink glasses.

“This is amazing,” says Lorna, looking round. “Tapas. I love it.” She takes a forkful of the cured ham and pairs it with Manchego cheese. “Can’t beat Spanish cheese and ham,” she adds.

I take a drink of water and a few bites of food.

“I’ve missed you,” I say. “What’s been going on?”

Lorna chews thoughtfully.

“Oh, nothing much,” she says carefully. “Just working. You know.”

“You weren’t answering your phone for three days,” I remind her.

She looks down at her plate. I fill in the blanks.

“Were you hanging out with Ben Gracey?” I ask. I try not to sound disapproving.

Lorna sighs, swallows, and picks at the plate in front of her with a fork.

“I don’t know, Issy,” she says. Her violet eyes land on mine. She sighs. “I just don’t know what to make of him,” she shrugs. “It’s so hot and cold with him. One minute he’s interested. The next he seems distant…”

She trails off.

“That doesn’t sound like you,” I observe, taking another bite of food. “Getting involved with someone like that. Usually, you’re the one messing the boys around.”

She lets her elbows sink deeper on the table.

“I know,” she says. “I feel like I can’t help myself when I’m around him. And he always has an excuse for when he’s been out of touch.”

I ponder this.

Ben Gracey. There’s no doubt in my mind he’s bad news. Not to mention, I now know he’s been involved with Camilla. Likely when she was much too young.

You don’t know that for sure, I remind myself.

“I think you should find someone else, Lorna,” I say gently.

“I know, I know. But you know how it is, Issy. The heart wants what it wants,” she protests.

I feel my lips pursing. I’m not sure how I feel about that. Then again, who am I to judge? I’m hardly pursuing the most normal of relationships.

“How are things with you?” asks Lorna. She’s changing the subject, but I let her because I’m honestly not sure what else I can add.

“Good,” I admit. “Really good.”

“Really,” she’s breaking into a grin. “With you and James?”

There’s a momentary pause as two steaming dishes of fresh squid and sausage arrive.

“Mmmm!” announces Lorna, smiling at the handsome waiter. “These look good!”

The waiter gives her a meaningful smile in return before exiting.

Lorna leans close to me and mouths ‘hot!’ after the disappearing waiter.

I laugh, feeling some of my anxiety dissolve. Lorna can’t be too hung up on Ben Gracey. She seems like her old self.

“So, you and the movie mogul,” she presses. “Things developing?”

“Yeah,” I say shyly. “He told me he loved me.”

Lorna gives a comedy choke on a mouthful of squid.

“Seriously? So soon?” She has a huge smile. “Did you tell him back?”

I drop my gaze. “Yeah.”

“Did you mean it?”

“Lorna! Of course I meant it!”

Lorna grabs my hands.

“Oh honey! That is amazing! I am soooo happy for you. He’s nuts about you. You can tell,” she adds with a decided nod.

“Things have been pretty dramatic,” I add, remembering the Lipstick Stalker.

“Why’s that?” asks Lorna, sipping her water with her violet eyes sparkling.

I fill her in quickly on the events of the last week. And Lorna obligingly goes through every emotion with me, leaning forward in fascination for the most part, and grabbing my arm in horror as I get to the part of my temporary capture.

“Oh my God!” she shouts as I finish the tale. “That is like a movie! Serious! I can’t believe that actually happened!”

I smile weakly. It’s nice to talk about it all with someone who wasn’t there. I’ve really missed having Lorna to share drama with.

I feel a little pulse of love for James. He must have known that. He arranged to have Lorna here for me.

“Did you find out anything more?” Lorna adds. “About the stalker?”

“What do you mean?” The question puts an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.

“I don’t know,” Lorna shrugs. “You were such a target. Like he knew so much about you. It just feels like there’s more to the story.”

More to the story? Is there?

I shudder at the thought, and Lorna gives me a reassuring pat.

“I’m sorry, honey,” she says. “Ignore me. I’ve gone all Hollywood on you. This is real life. He’s been caught. That’s the end of it.”

But some little thrill of fear spikes inside me. Like intuition. Telling me there’s more to know about the Lipstick Stalker.

“I don’t know,” I admit. “I’ve been trying not to think about it.”

“Good,” says Lorna. “Don’t. It’s all in the past.”

She wipes her mouth with a napkin.

“Soooo. What are the rest of the cast like? Any known actors?”

I nod. “Natalie Ennis. And Callum Reed.”

“So spill the goss. What are they like? Wasn’t Callum a drug addict?”

“Recovered,” I say quickly. “And he’s really nice. He has a sort of bodyguard, Will. They’re like a double act. Really funny. They’re both great company.”

“And Natalie Ennis?”

My face twists.

“She’s a bit of a diva.”

Lorna nods. “Spoiled brat,” she opines. “You get the same thing in modelling.”

My fingers twist a napkin on the table.

“What else?” says Lorna, noticing the gesture.

“And.” I pause, and sigh. “I saw a bunch of prescription meds in Natalie’s bag. I’m worried,” I admit.

“Why?”

“James is very strict about drugs on set,” I say.

Lorna’s eyes widen. I haven’t told her about James’s past. But something tells me Ben has dished the dirt.

“I’m worried about telling him,” I conclude. “In case it has an impact on the movie. Callum really deserves this break. And Camilla – I haven’t told you about her – but she’s a young actress. She’s lovely. And she’s worked super hard to get a role.”

“Do you have to tell James about what you saw?”

“Well. Yeah. It’s for Natalie as well,” I say. “If she has a drug problem, she needs help.”

Lorna considers this.

“But they were prescription meds,” she says. “And Natalie is in and out