Chapter thirteen
Jenna
Day two has beenas chaotic as day one, only there’s a little more structure than there was yesterday. Everyone knows their places, careful not to step on toes, while Tahnee and I watch from the sidelines in amazement and just do what we’re told.
We’re the only ones who’ve never been on a movie set before, aside from Cole and a couple of the younger extras who are local to Grangewood Creek.
You’d never be able to tell that this is his first movie, though. From what I’ve allowed myself to watch, he’s a natural. Whenever he’s relaying his lines, everyone’s eyes are glued to him. Not on Mara, or any of the side characters. He’s the focal point for everybody, me included.
Mara has also made her desire for him very obvious, while ignoring me in the process. But Tahnee said she overheard Mara talking about Cole and me, and how we wouldn’t last more than the week.
I’d told myself going into today that I was going to tell everyone the truth, but after she made that little comment, I knew I wanted to let it go on for a little while longer.
“I cannot believe you get to dateCole,” one of the younger extras, Monroe, said, as she batted her eyelashes in his direction while sitting in my chair.
He and I haven’t had a chance to speak yet, so I haven’t been able to tell him that there isn’t a universe that exists in which I would be his girlfriend in real life.
Hell, I even ignored his text asking me to go on a date.
And now every time my phone pings, I panic, assuming it’s him.
The Herring Girls group chat has been blowing up constantly, each with questions directed at me that I’ve chosen specifically to ignore. I only answer the ones about our games night this weekend. My mom’s been texting and calling a lot, too, no doubt to either ask me for money, or invite me to meet her new boyfriend. But I don’t have the energy to deal with a slurred, one-sided conversation.
I vowed to myself that the next three months would be mom-drama free, and I meant it.
I’ll return her call later when I have the mental capacity to focus on something other than…him.I figure once I’m out of the building and he’s no longer in my line of sight, it’ll be easier to focus.
It worked for me last night.
I only thought about him while I lay in bed with my—“Did you hear what I said?” Tahnee asks, forcing me out of my trance, and I reluctantly pull my gaze from the hottest man I’ve ever seen, not realizing my fingertips were gliding along my lips.
Her black hair is down and straight, wispy curtain bangs parted evenly, showing off her stormy eyes. “No, sorry,” I admit, shaking my head. “What did you say?”
She smirks, shoving her hands into her dress pockets. “I said, whenever you’re not looking at him,heis looking atyou,and Mara is always watching both of you, probably trying to catch you out. I’ve been paying close attention. It took Laurel clicking in his face to get his attention.” She laughs, and I feel my cheeks heat, heart pounding from my ears to my throat. I don’t know when I went from wanting to avoid him, to getting nervous when Tahnee tells me he looked my way.
“I’m here to do my job, Tahnee. Same as you, same as him. Same as everybody else in this room,” I remind her for what feels like the fifth time today. But it’s a reminder to myself more than anything. “I don’t mix business with pleasure.”
“Well, that pleasurable man that you told Margot and me all about, told everyone here confidently that you are his girlfriend. Oh, and he’s heading in our direction,” she says, and I whip around. He remains firmly in the spot he was when I last allowed myself to look, going over the script with Jude. I catch Mara in the corner of my eye on her way toward him. I feel like a goddamn fool for accidentally feeling excited to see him approaching me, and even worse when I see Mara’s hand run through his hair before she loops her arm around his waist.
“Knew it,” Tahnee quips from the extra distance I’ve put between us as my legs move closer to my fake boyfriend and his on-screen girlfriend.
“Hey, baby,” I say, loud enough for mostly everyone to hear.
What the fuck am I doing?
“Hey, Snow.” He tilts his head to the side, his tanned cheeks turning a soft shade of pink with a gentle smile.
Just go with it.
“I wanted to see what you wanted for dinner tonight?” I ask, tiptoeing to place a soft kiss on the corner of his lips, and it forces Mara to take a step back.
Good.
My insides do that thing where they attempt to somersault, but continue to screw up the landing.
He dips his head, whispering in my ear, “You know what I want to taste, Snow.” He pulls away, kissing my lips softly and I nod at him.
I fucking nod.
