The one-night stand I made the mistake of falling for.
CHAPTER 37
Ava
Harrison holds the door for me, and we step into the church.
He pockets his hands as we stroll down the center aisle. “It’s empty.”
“They’re just camera tests,” I say. “Nothing final. Anything they don’t like gets fixed.” I shrug. “And I don’t need glam for this. I usually do my own makeup anyway.”
I slide my sunglasses up into my hair and take a slow look around, letting the space settle.
“Don’t you at least need… I don’t know. Some kind of lighting crew?” Harrison asks. “It’s pretty dark in here. Even influencers bring that giant glowing donut.”
He holds his hands out like he’s about to catch a soccer ball.
I let out a small laugh. “No glowing donut is ever going to look as good as natural candlelight,” I say, steering his attention toward the altar.
The actor playing the priest moves carefully through the space, lighting candles one by one, reverent and unhurried.
“Oh no.” I nod toward the priest. “The studio must not have all its funding yet. They’ve got actors doubling as prop masters.” I lower my voice. “Either that, or he’s very method.”
“What kind of method?” he whispers back. Then, softer, “And why are we whispering?”
I smile. “You’re the perfect blank slate for my off-off-off Broadway acting class.”
His brow lifts. “Why am I suddenly afraid?”
“Bwa-ha-ha,” I laugh under my breath, suitably unhinged. “Come on.”
We move toward the front, and I catch the priest’s attention. “Hi.” I give a small wave. “I’m Ava. This is Harrison. Are we the first ones here?”
He blinks at us. “Oh, for the wedding?”
“Yes,” I say easily. “That’s right.”
“I think you’re a little early,” he says, with a small laugh.
He’s right. I am.
But after confessing my worst sins to Harrison and bracing for the full weight of his judgment, I really need to speed this day along.
The doors behind us open.
I turn just as a man with a camera slung around his neck peeks into the church.
I wave him over. “We’re down here.” He slips inside and jogs toward us.
I tug Harrison down and murmur into his ear, “Just go with me on this, okay? Myra said these are just camera tests. Technically, they don’t even need Pierce in the shots. If they shoot from the back or wide, it should be fine.”
He gives a short shrug. “Anything that keeps that asshole out of my vicinity.” His gaze flicks around the church. “Do I need a script?”
“No. These scenes are usually improvised,” I say. “We’ll follow the priest’s lead. Consider it your first acting class.” I give a small, encouraging clap. “It’ll be fun.”
He exhales once, then straightens his tie. “Where do you need me?”
The priest studies us. Me. Then Harrison. Then the photographer hovering nearby.
