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Seeing posts or tabloids about Tom Ryder is run-of-the-mill. Inescapable, really. Equally as common as rumors and gossip. Colt does what he can to filter them out and refuses to pay them much attention when he can’t. He already has to suffer with the guy in his day to day, there's no reason to also do it in his free time.
Colt knows he's being unfair. He doesn't really hate Tom. Just some of the things he does. The way he carries himself. The way Tom gets under his skin. He can still respect him as an actor and be thankful for the opportunities Tom has given him while finding him insufferable. They don't need to be best fucking friends to work together. It helps that Tom has recently backed off on some of his more annoying tendencies.
Regardless, when he refreshes his feed and sees a post with speculation about Tom's newest “romance” (yeah fuckin’ right) Colt scrolls right passed. It's probably just some dumb one-night stand that Tom accidentally let become too public. Who gives a shit?
Everyone on set knows Tom is a shameless flirt with a long series of partners that he strings along. Everyone apparently except that make-up artist, Savannah. Who is still bragging about how she bagged Tom Ryder even though it's been a month. She'll figure it out eventually. No one has the heart to tell her that Tom's not actually interested in her. He might keep her in his back pocket for a bit but he'll get bored and move on to the next guy or gal. To where, with who, who cares? But maybe the post is about her? Maybe it's about the tailor from that last project? Colt's not jumping to find out.
He puts away his phone. He'd rather hang out with Jody than spend his little down time thinking about that douche. Hopefully she's not busy right now.
There's the work in Texas, a brief break during which he and Jody visit San Francisco and some time shooting out in the California desert. He has other days off interspersed, but Colt opts to stay close to production and to Jody. This is a long haul project with some intense and detailed scenes. It's going to be a “smash-hit.” He doesn't get to see Ryland for a while. That'll change soon though as production moves to L.A. for the foreseeable future.
The cast and crew is pretty tight-knit. It's not strange to see them interact both on and off the clock. What Colt does find strange is that Savannah is at wardrobe when hair and makeup are in full swing. The conversation is whispered, but still loud enough to listen in. Not that Colt is trying, but well, no one notices the stunt man.
“You're telling me, I'm the other woman?” She sounds upset.
“No not really, he's not that committed, neither is Iggy for that matter. They both get around. It's more like you're just a detour or a pit stop,” A wardrobe assistant whispers. “He hasn't even flirted with you recently, just move on.”
Colt recognizes the name, Iggy. She's not in this project, but she's been in past ones. He recalls seeing her and Tom together but he hadn't thought that they were in anything long term. Colt's about to interrupt, but the girls keep going before he can get a word out.
“That post wasn't about Iggy. It was about some guy. A nobody,” Savannah says. “So do I just not mean anything to him or what?”
“I don't know what to tell you. I saw him hitting on a PA recently too. Sorry you have to hear it from me, but you're not special,” she doesn't sound that apologetic. Colt gets the feeling that she has run out of sympathy. The reality check might be what Savannah needs. “Either go along with it, ignore it or get out of it. Now come on, go back to make-up already, we've got work to do,” She turns to a rack and notices Colt standing there. “Oh, hey stunt guy. Let me get your stuff.”
She gets him squared away with his costume and accessories. Colt gets the hell out. He hopes he doesn't have to listen to anything more about whatever stupid messy thing Tom's got going. Fucking dipshit. The hope appears to be futile though as rumors and gossip spread and continue to permeate the entire production. Even Dan and Jody are talking about it.
It feels like everyone is trying to figure out just who Tom has gotten involved with. Everyone except Colt.
The grapevine grows tangled. Someone heard from someone that Gail doesn't know who it is. Gail is in everyone's business though, she knows everything that goes on, in and near the production. Tom's assistant, Alma, also has surprisingly few details. Tom's security has been incredibly tight-lipped. All the people who would normally know something are either out of the loop or staying entirely silent. Colt ends up finding that post from a while back. The person saw them at their job. Some garden in San Francisco. They aren't providing many details to the comments, worried they'll get in trouble. They probably did.
The few details Colt does catch from various sources don't really lead him to anything concrete. An overheard phone conversation, “Iggy, we've got to stop this now,” behind the wardrobe trailer. A crew member speculating about Tom traveling more, using their few days off to go meet this guy? He's been flighty, sneaking around but not enough that people aren’t noticing. Someone caught a glimpse of a photo on Tom's phone. It was too quick for much else but the guy is decidedly an attractive, intellectual type. Total teacher vibes they say, whatever that means. Regardless, his face was not visible and without that he's hard to identify. He's not someone recognizable. Not someone they work with.
Colt feels something scratching at the back of his mind. It's gotta be coincidental right? Those details prove nothing. There's thousands of people who could fit. Ryland deleted those messages. Ryland has a crush on someone anyway. Colt would've heard about it if he'd started seeing someone, even if Ryland hasn't been super forward with details. Maybe it didn't work out, maybe he's embarrassed. He always changes the subject when Colt teases him about it. It absolutely can’t be Tom. Tom wouldn't pursue Ryland without shoving it in Colt's face. He lets those thoughts reassure him.
He calls Ryland after the day is done. Production has been in L.A. for a while now. Being in L.A. means Colt gets to stay at his own place. Summer break has started too. Ryland should have some time. Ryland could come visit and stay with him. He could stay for a couple weeks probably. It'd be fun. They could hang out with Jody and Dan. Ryland could come to the set, if he wanted.
He brings all those things up before wrapping up with, “So what do you think?”
Ryland takes a moment to consider, “I can't for a couple days. Friday I've got a da-,” he cuts himself off. “I've got daytime plans. You know, in the middle of the day, during the day. Daytime,” he lets out a nervous laugh. “I could do something the week after, though.”
“Uh huh,” Colt replies, they can hash out details in a second. Colt is not letting that slip up get away from him. “Would these plans happen to be a date?”
Ryland sighs.
Colt decides today he's going to push a little more, “Look, Ry. I'm not gonna let this go, so you might as well talk.”
Ryland groans, he's frustrated “Ugh, Fine, yes it's a date.”
“So you gonna tell me about them or do we have to play 20 questions?”
“I'll tell you a little, but that's it, okay?” he agrees, but doesn't continue.
Colt waits for a second before he gets impatient, “Well? Go on.”
“I'm thinking, settle down or I'm hanging up.” Colt knows it's an invalid threat. He can just blow up Ryland's phone if he does that. It'll annoy him, but it'll be worth it. Ryland starts talking, “He's cool and super confident. Nice, kind. He listens to me and doesn't take himself too seriously. Doesn't mind when I poke fun at him.”
Okay, this is a lot. Ryland must really like this guy. He hasn't brought up any previous dates, but he's talking like this isn't a brand new relationship. Colt wants to believe that he would've known though. Ryland sounds like when Colt talks about Jody. He's happy for him.
“Also he's really hot. Like crazy attractive. And his voice…” Ryland's got the vocabulary to keep going for a while. Colt figures he should stop him before he starts working himself into a spiral.
“Well damn, I think I got the picture. Where did you meet? Does he got a name?” he interrupts.
Ryland seems to have realized he was rambling just a second ago. He is quick and defensive with it this time, “None of your business. I've told you plenty, already.”
“Well let Nunya Business know your brother wants to meet him. Just to talk, eh?” It's a joke and a threat, but if he finds out that this dude is an asshole he won't hesitate to beat the shit outta him. Figuratively or literally are both options he’s open to.
“He's busy. It was hard enough for us to make plans for Friday.”
“Alright, alright. Soon though,” Colt gives in. Right now they have different plans to make anyway. “If you fly in on Monday morning early or in the evening I can pick you up, cool?”
When he picks Ryland up at the airport Monday morning he looks a bit off-kilter and nervous. Colt chalks it up to the flight. Ryland has never been a fan of flying. Colt is happy to see him and excited to show him around. He also plans to try and get more information on this “boyfriend” of his. Maybe he can get Jody in on it. As long as Tom keeps his distance from Ryland and doesn’t try to pull any of his usual bullshit everything should go perfectly. He can’t wait for Ryland to see the absolutely crazy stunt they’re going to rig up in a few days. He’s gonna lose it.