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The Love Stunt

Page 82

by Lulu Morris

Caleb shrugged. ‘You’re one of the first to die.’

Jesus! Why did it sound like he was looking forward to the prospect?

Patrick was getting pissed off now, and he snapped, ‘I guess, so what?’

‘So, you’re not the terrifying monster. That’s played by Harry in the interior scenes. You’re a golem. You swing a club, I dodge it, and then I kill you.’

Patrick glared, but nodded. ‘Sure, whatever. Look mate, I’ve heard you don’t really get how social media works. But you know, my brand could really help build yours. I’ve got—’

‘No thanks,’ said Caleb, turning for the first time to face him. ‘Last time I checked, I had more followers than you. So, you wouldn’t be building my brand. I’d be building yours.’

‘Positions for golem fight!’ shouted the AD.

‘Time to die,’ said Caleb with a cruel glint in his eyes as he stepped onto set.

Hannah ducked her head down to cover her smile, while Patrick flushed with anger and strode after Caleb, apparently willing to be murdered for the second time.

Emma came to sit beside her, as Lucas and Bianca walked hand in hand back to their trailer. They were sickeningly loved-up.

‘Alright?’ asked Hannah brightly, hoping to distract her.

Emma nodded. ‘I guess. The studio wants me to get Lucas and Bianca to sign a relationship agreement.’

‘What’s that?’

‘A big, long list of what they won’t do to each other when they inevitably break up.’

Hannah grimaced. ‘I imagine that’s a hard sell to a loved-up couple.’

‘Yep.’ Emma gestured over at Patrick meaningfully. ‘You okay?’

Hannah chuckled. ‘I guess. Kinda wish I had an agreement for all of my relationships.’

Emma gave her arm a squeeze. ‘I don’t know what’s going on with you and Caleb. But he wouldn’t come over all guns blazing like that if he didn’t care.’

‘He hates him. Patrick has that effect on people.’

‘If you say so.’

They stopped speaking as the crew prepared for action. The stunt was a fighting sequence she’d seen practised a hundred times. Although she’d seen it with Jackson as one of the golems, not Patrick. Unfortunately, Patrick had managed to weasel his way into yet another stunt role. But at least all he would be doing was standing on a plastic boulder in his silly suit. Waving his big green bat around uselessly until the prince killed him.

Watching Caleb fight was like watching a beautiful dance; his body was smooth and powerful in its movements, and he embodied the warrior prince so well that Hannah had to stop herself from gasping at some of the close strikes of his fellow performers.

Unfortunately, when he reached Patrick, something went wrong. The swing of the bat was too fast, and instead of being able to duck the strike, Caleb was smacked in the head by it.

The crack of the baton and the loud ‘Oof!’ from Caleb had Hannah leaping to her feet and grabbing her bag before Caleb had even finished staggering back from the blow.

‘Cut!’ shouted the AD, more exasperated by the bad take than concerned about Caleb’s wellbeing.

‘Shit, sorry!’ shouted Patrick, with far less sincerity than she would have liked.

‘Caleb!’ Hannah gasped, skidding to a stop in front of him at the same time he was straightening up. There was already a red lump above his eye where the bat had struck him.

‘I’m fine!’ he snapped. ‘Let’s go again.’

‘No, not until I’ve checked you,’ said Hannah, taking him by the arm to help steer him towards the chairs.

He yanked back his arm with a hiss. ‘Seriously, it’s nothing. Stop panicking!’