Page 14 of You and Me, For Real
“You are? Since when?”
“Since today. There’s a dog in my tent.”
Her lips tilt. “Luke can watch the dog.”
He could, but I wouldn’t do that to him. Besides, I’m wholly uninterested in going somewhere with Scarlet tonight. No doubt it’d be some loud, obnoxiously over-crowded club.
“I thought you were supposed to be maintaining your good-girl image? You know, one that doesn’t go out and party anymore.”
“It wouldn’t matter if you were there with me. Then it’d be a date.”
We’d been on numerous “dates” like this. Most of the time, I served as her eye candy and bragging rights to all her friends. None of them knew about the contract, per our NDA. That meant I played right along with her schemes as her doting boyfriend.
“You’ll have to forgive my absence. I’m just not in the mood for more acting tonight. I need a break.”
She tilts her head and studies me. “It’s not always pretending between us.” Her thumb grazes my bicep back and forth.
I scoff, assuming she’s joking.
But her expression remains serious.
Oh.
“I’m not exactly your type.” Meaning that she likes someone who enjoys going out every night and partying.
She lifts her shoulder slightly. “Opposites are good for each other.”
I don’t know how to respond to this.
Jean Claude cuts in, “Griffin, turn, please. Look at the camera. Serious. No smiles. Perfect, perfect. Scarlet, drape onto his shoulder. Yes. Just like that.”
Every few seconds we shift our positions slightly, Scarlet’s surprising words playing on a loop in my mind. The silence is near deafening. My focus shifts to the dog in my tent, worryingfor her well-being and her filthy condition. She’s probably just as anxious to wash the oil and residue off her as I am.
Do dogs only take baths? Do they take showers? Did Luke order shampoo for her? I want to call out to Luke inside my tent before I forget, but Scarlet’s hand brushes my jaw, and I realize I missed some direction from the photographer.
“I’m sorry. What was that?” I ask Jean.
“You two are in love. You are beautiful together. Like magic. Taste the magic in one another.”
“He wants us to kiss, silly.” Scarlet’s lids lower, and her lips soften, awaiting my move.
Luke pops out of my tent. “I’m going to meet the delivery guy for the dog supplies. The girl’s asleep. I’ll be back in two shakes.” He jogs off without a backward glance.
Scarlet’s hand is more insistent on my jaw, but my focus is torn. I want to check on the dog and make sure she’s okay. Scarlet leans in, brushing her nose against mine.
“Yes, yes. That’s it. Show me the magic.”
Robotically, I lean in, me going left, Scarlet tilting right like we’ve done hundreds of times.
A truck backfires up the street.
The dog shoots out of the tent like a gunshot, ramming into one of the strobe lights and knocking it over. The collision causes one of the reflectors to tip on its side. The wind catches it, and it takes off down the beach. One of the assistants starts chasing it. The dog tucks tail and runs in the opposite direction.
I hike the railing, jump over, and run after her.
It’s probably half an hour before Luke and I manage to wrangle her. She’s terrified, panting heavily and trembling, but exhaustion wins over and she allows me to pick her up. I carry her back to the shoot. The sun is almost set. The assistants are packing the equipment. Scarlet is nowhere to be found. Andstanding in front of my tent is my fuming father, yanking out his Bluetooth earpiece.
“That was a disaster. I told you bringing the dog here was a bad idea.”
