But I’m the star of this movie. IamDessi Blue, and this is my big break. The whole cast and crew worked so hard to get to this point.I’veworked hard for as long as I can remember to reach this moment where I’m the lead in one of the biggest movies of the year. I endured a grueling shoot over months while living through the worst health crisis of my life. I’m not letting the team down when faced with a few questions. I’m not lettingmyselfdown, and Canon needs to respect that.
“How much longer? Let’s wrap this up,” he snaps, glaring at the poor girl… Percy, I think was how she introduced herself. All the people who interviewed us today have run together into one big blob of names and faces. I probably wouldn’t recognize one of them if they walked back through the door at this point.
“Like I was saying,” I continue as if Canon isn’t trying to shut this shit down expeditiously. “My favorite part of the process was working with this amazing cast. What a blessing for my first feature film to be with such a stellar group of actors.”
“You got your start on Broadway,” Percy says, pressing her advantage lest Canon swoops in again. “As I was watching the screener, I couldn’t help but think this part was made for you. Your vocal performances, the choreography. Did you feel your previous experience prepared you well for this opportunity?”
“Perfectly,” I reply. “I couldn’t have written a part for myself better than this. And speaking of the vocal performances and the choreography, shout out to Monk—”
“You mean Wright Bellamy, the music supervisor?” Percy clarifies.
“Yes, Monk really tested me vocally, but I grew so much as a singer being under the direction of such a gifted musician. And Lucia, our choreographer.” I whoosh out a breath and shake my head. “I’ve never worked harder or been prouder than I am of what she pulled out of me as a dancer.”
Percy finally redirects her questions, moving on to Trey seated beside me. She asks about transitioning from Nickelodeon, which makes him roll his eyes since his days as a child actor are so far behind him, but he answers politely anyway. Like the professional he is. Like we all are, exceptCanon peers down the line, brows drawn together like an anxious parent instead of the man helming one of the decade’s most epic biopics.
Stop, I mouth, sneaking him a discreetly pointed glare.
Instead of stopping, this man stands, walks behind the line of stools set up, and comes down to my end. Percy stumbles over her question, flicking a curious glance to Canon before refocusing on Trey.
I stiffen when he leans forward to whisper in my ear. “Babe, you okay?”
I’m going to ignore all the swoony, melty things that happen in my body when I hear the concern threading that deep, rich voice. I turn my head just enough to meet his dark eyes.
“I’m fine,” I hiss. “And this is unacceptable, Canon. Go sit down.”
“Do you really think I give a fuck what she or anyone thinks if you need to stop for the day? After all we’ve done,I’mexhausted and I don’t even have—”
Before he can saylupus, I press my fingers over his lips. A mistake for two reasons. One, because touching him there reminds me of the life-changing work that mouth accomplished between my legs last night. Two, because Percy gives up any pretense of not being riveted by the sideshow we have become.
“Is everything okay?” she asks.
“Of course,” I offer with what I hope is a reassuring smile. “Canon knows I’ve been under the weather and wanted to make sure I’m feeling fine.”
“It’s been a really long day,” Canon says, his tone gruff. “I was just… concerned.”
“Tell me if I’m overstepping with this next question,” Percy ventures.
“I’m already sure you are,” Canon says dryly.
Percy gulps, but bravely plows ahead. “Ms. Saint, you’ve spoken openly of late about your journey with lupus, but we haven’t touched on it here. And the other thing we haven’t discussed is the very public relationship between you and your director.”
For a moment, you could hear an ant piss it’s so quiet. Yes, Camille exposed our relationship on that podcast, her vindictive ass, but like they say: What the devil meant for evil… Being outed ended up being a turning point in our relationship, a way for Canon and me to openlyacknowledge how we feel about each other. But we don’t discuss it, and our publicists always make sure anyone interviewing us knows we don’t want to. The work of the cast and crew shouldn’t be overshadowed. Canon is especially protective of me being respected for my talent, not whom I’m dating.
“That is definitely overstepping,” Canon says after a few seconds drawn tight with tension.
I close my eyes and bow my head.
Oh hell.
“I’m going to address your question,” Canon goes on, to my surprise. “Because I’m tired of answering the same shit over and over today and not talking about real things. Neevah’s soaring talent—that’s a real thing.”
I open my eyes and slowly turn my head until I can study his profile, the dramatic slope of high cheekbones and the flared arrow of his nose.
“Neevah acting and dancing and singing her ass off, while managing a chronic illness, and humbling us all with her work ethic,” Canon says softly. “That’s a real thing.”
His words cast a spell of care over me, and my muscles relax, the tension of holding myself tightly all day loosening. His wide, warm palm presses to the small of my back. That pressure against my body, the love in it, the intimacy—I want to lean into that touch; surrender to the pull of this man the universe saved for me.
“I’ll leave it to Neevah to address her health if she chooses to,” Canon goes on. “I haven’t spoken about our relationship much, not because I’m ashamed of it, but because I’m so proud of her. I want people to see her as an artist in her own right and not get it twisted that somehow her decision to be with meaftershe had secured the role and done the work has any bearing on all the praise she deserves.”
