Chapter 328

"This is really good," Jessica moaned as she tore into the second half of her sandwich. She hadn't realized how hungry she was, but forgetting to eat wasn't unusual when she got deep into the flow of her story and hated to let it go. Seeing and hearing her characters wasn't always the easiest part for her – she was more of a storyteller – so, when the characters spoke to her, she had to run with it as long as she could.

"I'm glad to see you actually eating something."

Layne's condescending tone caused her to stop chewing and lift her eyes to his. They were shadowed in the muted light of the studio, and she didn't necessarily like what she saw there. Where she normally saw love and understanding, tonight there was barely leashed anger and possibly a little fear and frustration.

"I eat," she defended herself.

"Not when you're holed up in here for days at a time," he raised an eyebrow, daring her to argue with his words.

Confronted with a truth she didn't really want to face, sh