I felt a foreign fluttering in my gut when I imagined Reese looking at me the same way he was watching the scene.
“Well, how do you feel about it?” Alina asked as we descended the steps deeper into the castle. “About shooting a scene with Mason, I mean.”
“Terrified,” I admitted sheepishly. “I have like, no acting experience.”
Alina rested her hand on my shoulder reassuringly. “Reese saw something in you… you have to have faith in him. And really, the secret is to pretend that the camera isn’t there.”
I let that sink in for a moment, trying to get my nervousness to calm down. But it was like my anxiety about the whole thing was completely shielded, impervious to even the most logical argument.
“Look,” Alina said, “Mason is an amazing actor, though I’d never admit that to his face. Just let him carry the scene and you’ll be fine. He’s always been great at sex scenes, too.”
I tensed up.
Alina smiled as if that was something completely normal to say.
“I just… I dunno, I don’t really like Mason at all…”
“Pretend to. Pretend he’s just another hookup,” she shrugged. “This is the opportunity of a lifetime, Charlie. Let the world see you shine!”
It was too much. I needed to find a place to sit down, alone.
“Um… Alina, do you mind if I get some air?”
“Sure,” she said, fixing me with an understanding look. “Take your time— but remember, we all have to be at dinner at four. That one fancy place downtown, remember? And then the afterparty.”
I nodded, trying to seem upbeat about it. But if I was honest, the thought of having to see all those people — looking Leo in the eye for the first time since our eyes locked during the sex scene. Having to look at Mason face-to-face, knowing that tomorrow we’d have to shoot our very own sex scene… looking at Reese and trying to not be overwhelmed by his aura of command. Not to mention trying to avoid Oliver and his pompous attitude for the entire night…
I exhaled, bid Alina goodbye, and then opened a door to my right. I had no idea where it went; all I knew was that I had to get away from everyone. I had to have alone time to think, to re-establish myself here.
The door opened up into a long hallway with suits of armor and torches blazing at intervals along the walls. The set designers must have gotten to this area as well — it was all set up for the last scene of the day.
My inner turmoil gave way to anxiety as I padded down the extravagant hallway and went through a grand pair of oaken double doors.
This was undeniably the throne room. There were long windows that were letting in rainbow-colored light. It swirled on the floor in intricate designs. At the back of the room was a grand chair — a beautiful golden throne.
My footsteps echoed in the empty, church-like chamber as I made my way toward it, and I was suddenly overcome with the feeling of being watched.
Pausing, I took a glance around. There was no one in here. I was alone.
With each step, I felt like static was increasing in intensity on my skin. Even though I knew that I could move around the castle between sets as I pleased, it still felt like I was doing something I wasn’t supposed to do.
That sent a thrill through me.
I approached the throne, turned, and sat in it.
I didn’t know if it was my imagination running wild or what, but sitting here I felt stronger; more confident. This was clearly a place of power.
Now that I had a moment alone, I allowed myself to comb through the events of the past week. My life had changed so quickly and so much had happened — it felt like everything was going a mile a minute. But despite everything, all I could fixate on was the simple fact that I’d been kissed by a movie star.
I could still feel the electricity on my tongue, crackling like pop rocks. It was as if by kissing me, he was giving me some of his fame.
And that feeling… that, whatever, was addicting. I couldn’t deny that I wanted more, even if Mason was a complete asshole.
I slumped sideways in the chair and rested one of my legs on the armrests lazily. For a moment I was lost in the fantasy; pretending I was king. Pretending I had any power whatsoever.
It felt good. What had Hazel said when I finished her hair?
Better than sex.
Power, or at least the illusion of it, did feel better than sex.
My mind drifted to Hazel. I wondered how she was doing? I longed to hear her advice again… I wanted the comfort of her words to wrap themselves around me and give me wings.
In my leisure, I began to reexamine everything she had said to me. About finding my “Big Love,” or whatever… and that earth-shattering explosion I’d felt when I first locked eyes with Leo. Could it be him?
But, I undeniably felt something for Reese too. It was more subtle, but it was more than a crush. And then there was asshole Mason too, and how good that kiss felt…
I had to wonder if the kiss actually felt that good, or if my memory was stretching it out into something that was out of proportion with reality.
And then there was that other thing that Hazel said… that thing about me forgiving someone in my past, and then my heartmate would be all up in my business.
I frowned, still unable to think of anyone in my past that I had grudges against. I’d forgiven all of my exes, and hardly even thought about them anymore. I had a perfectly normal, boring childhood, and didn’t have
