Page 54 of The Love Raffle

“Yes…no… I don’t know, Levi.” Amber avoided his striking blue eyes to investigate the striped pattern on her sofa. The stitching left an itch on her cheek. “I want to be as independentin my career as possible. Then there’s also the risk of attacks from your fans. This is definitely for the best but at the same time…” She had to face him head-on.

Levi gulped when those soft brown eyes made contact with his. “At the same time what?”

“Running around and hiding like criminals is crazy.” Amber giggled. “I don’t know, Levi. Maybe Rachel is right after all, and we shouldn’t date—”

“Hey, hey, no. Amber, please. Rachel wants us to break up, but I’m fighting for us,” he whispered with a burning throat. Sobs crept around it, fighting to pour out, but he fought harder.

Amber resisted the urge to scoff at him.

“Are you?” She found that hard to believe. “You seem so scared of her. You were so scared that you kept quiet while she accused me of using you to get ahead,” she snapped, her migraine worsening her mood.

Levi bit the inside of his cheek. “I…I’m sorry.”

Amber closed her eyes. “I wasn’t going to say we should stop dating forever.” The pain intensified behind her eyelids. It was almost unbearable. “I just meant we should take a break. You know, like damage control. How funny.” She spoke into her couch. “It’s the life everyone wants but is somehow so restricting. We both have our reasons why it is better to hide this.”

Levi stayed silent.

Amber went quiet too; a shallow sleep had taken over her.

Levi got up. He rummaged through his pocket for his phone and contacted a door dasher.

“Alrighty.” Rachel and Oscar were through in the kitchen. His agent put Amber’s phone on her center table then frowned at her sleeping form. “Did she pass out?”

“She’s exhausted.” Levi replied. He picked up her phone and called the restaurant manager.

Rachel didn’t understand. “What are you doing?”

“Yeah, hi, Amber can’t come in today. She’s ill… Oh, I’m her neighbor. She called me over to help out. She can’t do much for herself… Yeah, thanks.” Levi hung up the call and put her phone back on the table. “I think I’ll stay here with Amber till she feels better.”

“Yeah, very funny. You’ve already been missing from the set for too long. There are some scenes you need to complete.” Rachel fanned her hands towards the door. “Now let’s get moving. You can call her in the morning. The longer we stay here the higher the likelihood that we get caught. And we don’t wantthat, do we?” She spun him to the door. “Now off you go.” Rachel carefully avoided the small table while pushing Levi. The space between the couch and table was not ample for walking. She made it through regardless.

Levi stopped at the door when Oscar opened it. Amber had left the locks undone. He looked at her while his agent and caretaker stepped out, considering this “break.” “Can’t even be there when she’s sick.”

Rachel had started a call in the hallway. She turned her back to Levi and Oscar.

Levi sighed as Oscar emerged beside him. “I did tell you it was a bad idea,” said Oscar. “But you went and got that poor girl wrapped up in this.” With that, he walked off ahead.

Levi tried to place himself in her shoes. What was best here? He knew how she felt.Take a break from dating.

* * *

The shooting took him into nighttime. Midnight exactly. He’d said his lines pristinely and completed his stunts with ease but not a second was spent immersed in his craft. All he could see was Amber’s face in his mind, her cheeks red and foreheadcreased from pain. Dating at night and working all day. He’d forced it on her. Because of his stupid life.

Levi’s bedroom was his solace tonight. Yet, his king-sized bed and spacious room felt far from luxurious. He lay in the middle of it all, watching the ceiling. These galaxy lights were partly to blame for his loneliness. It reminded him of when Captain Evolution was stranded in space. But this wasn’t a scene. It was Levi’s life, and he lay there with his mind weighing tons.Amber.

He chose a faux star and pictured her face within. The brightness shone around her. That smile he’d been deprived of all day. Did he deserve it?No.All he had done was hurt her lately. Cast her aside and snuck her around like she was someone to be ashamed of.She’s not. She deserves to be seen in the spotlight.

What could he do, though? Rachel had taken care of the situation. The public was thrown off their scent following Amber’s statement.It wasn’t even her words or ideas.What was this? Were they even people? How was it okay to put words in their mouths like that? All for a movie?

Fiona wasn’t in love with him. She had her partner hundreds of miles away. He liked her fine, but this pretending in real life just for a movie they were acting in was foolish. He had only met Amber again because of some other scheme to promote him and his work. He was a human being. Not a product. Amber was human too. Why hadn’t Rachel considered they might develop feelings when she forced him onto that show? He wished he’d never gone on it. He wanted to go back to that night at the club with Amber. To be bold for once, get her number, decline the show, and see what happens. But he knew that as much as he wanted to, he couldn’t go back in time.

Rachel had planned for everything except for his feelings. And now Amber’s feelings were being ignored as well. How was this fair and why had he allowed it? Whether he dated Fiona ornot, the movie would be a hit. Who was this all for anyway? He was a liar, Fiona was as well, and none of it was real.Except for how I feel for Amber.

And now everything was uncertain. He hated this so much it burned his insides. He wasn’t a teenager anymore. Rachel knew her stuff, but he did as well. All these Hollywood publicity stunts had grown old anyway. Amber had a point. The fans weren’t stupid. So many of them posted their theories on social media and it was scary how many were correct.

He wiped away his tears. “Ugh.” Levi grabbed his pillow to smother his face. “Amber…I’m sorry.” He hoped she stayed home tonight. She needed rest.Levi fever.What a pain he was. Jenny had experienced firsthand what this industry could do, and now Amber would experience the same.It’s already starting.But he didn’t want things to end. He deeply desired to experience more with her.We need to talk with no agent or babysitter around.

“We’ll work this out,” he said out loud. “I will fix it.”

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