Page 75 of Banter & Blushes

“Did we get a dark scene of June and Colt?”

He rubs hisDuck Dynastybeard and thinks. “No, the sun was still setting.”

Mackenzie sighs. “I should’ve booked her another day. I wanted it to look like they spent more time on the beach together, and the night would signify that.”

“Could we get her back here tonight?”

Mackenzie shakes her head. “She’s in Miami. She had some modeling thing to go to the day after our gig.”

I stare at the food truck, watching Tiffany work. The last thing I want to think about is having to kiss the other girl and how the whole world will see it on video soon. Then a lightbulb goes off in my brain. “What if we get a different girl?”

“We don’t have time to reshoot everything,” Russ says.

“Not for everything, just the dark part.”

“Like a stand-in?” Mackenzie leans forward, interested.

“Yeah. Someone who looks similar. It’ll be dark, and all you need is to show that we’re kissing by the water, right?”

“Yeah. But where are we going to find another girl with long blonde hair”—Mackenzie checks the time—“who can be on set and willing to kiss you in half an hour?”

“Hold on.” I push my chair back and jog to the food truck. Tiffany and Genesis are serving dessert to the last few people on set.

“More fudge?” Tiffany smiles.

“No, I need you to kiss me.”

“Whoa.” Genesis steps in front of her. “Talk about PDA. Bro, this is a place of business.”

“Not now or here. When we start shooting again on the beach.”

That answer must satisfy Genesis, because she moves back so Tiffany and I can talk.

“On camera?” Tiffany’s eyes widen.

“Yeah. They need some kiss scenes in the dark and they didn’t get them with June.” I find myself whispering her name like it’s a curse word.

Tiffany blinks, so I continue. “I said I could find someone who looks similar, and I could kiss her instead.” I point, like a nerd. “Her being you.”

Genesis laughs, and we both glare at her.

“Come on! You seriously think Tiffany looks like her? She’s all tall, and tan, and . . .” Genesis makes a slightly obscene gesture to mean having a large chest.

“They have the same hair and are the same skinny,” I counter.

Genesis beats her fist on the counter and cackles. I do my best to ignore her.

“It’s dark and they have things you can stand on to make you taller,” I say to Tiffany. “The best part is I won’t have to act and will actually enjoy kissing the girl in the video.”

Her face lights up, and the hyena she hired finally shuts up. Once the shock wears off, Genesis lets out an “aww.”

“Do I have time to clean up?”

“Uhh . . .” I attempt to say I’ll check, but Genesis speaks up.

“Go! I’ll clean in here. And you can check back over it when you’re done because I know it worries you to leave me in charge.”

“Thanks.” She hugs Genesis, then joins me outside the truck.

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