Page 55 of Words I Couldn't Say
THE BUTTERFLIES ATTACKING MY STOMACHwere relentless, fluttering in an insane fashion, flapping their wings so frantically that they’d fall off if they kept moving. We’d been filming minor scenes, but we were about to get into the meat and potatoes of the movie now that everyone was available for shooting. Today was the first time I’d really get a chance to get to know my costar. The costar Tawni had nearly threatened to stalk when she’d found out Trevor would be portrayed by the one and only Leo Lockwood. He was whatPeople Magazinecalled this generation’s Scott Eastwood. Yes, while the studio might have gone with a lesser-known actress to play the role of Abigail, they’d certainly gone all out for Trevor’s casting.
As Tucker had made Cincinnati such an important piece of the story inThose Three Words, Jonathan thought it would be a great idea for Leo and me to get a feel for the city. And, well, since I’m a born-and-raised proud Cincinnatian, I was the perfect tour guide. Now that I was waiting in the lobby for Leo to show up, I wondered how it’d match up to the sleepy, coastal town in Maine he’d grown up in.
Then I saw him and knew the poor boy had no idea what he was doing.
“Nope.” I shook my head at Leo the moment he walked off the elevator. I wrinkled my nose at the sight of him and sighed. He had a lot to learn about Cincinnati.
His usually bright smile faltered when he saw my frown. He peered down then back up at me. “What? What is it?”
I placed my hand on his shoulder and marched him back onto the elevator. When the doors closed, I turned to him, poking him in the ribs. “This is unacceptable. You have to change.”
He cocked his head to the side and frowned, revealing one dimple on his left cheek. Tawni claimed that it was his greatest feature. To me, it had nothing on Tucker’s.
“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?” His eyebrows drew together as he frowned at me.
“If you want to get a feel for being Trevor, you have to change,” I insisted again. “The first rule about being a Cincinnatian? You absolutely cannot wear those colors.”
“Bu—”
I cut him off with another poke to the ribs. “No black and yellow! For Christ’s sake, did you even read the script? Trevor plays for the Reds. You can’t be seen around town wearing Pittsburgh colors. Now, go change!” I said to him, shoving him off the elevator when we got to his floor.
He shook his head and chuckled, making a show of rolling his eyes at me. “You sure take this whole sports-rival thing seriously, don’t you?”
I grinned. “We sure do. That’s your first lesson of the day.”
Leo swiped his key then glanced back at me. “Mind waiting out here? I’d ask you in, but…” His gaze went down the hall to where a maid was obviously well aware of who we were. Or well, who he was. A young woman following him into his hotel room was the last bit of gossip he needed someone selling to the tabloids, and I completely understood. And agreed with it.
“Not a bit. And I was going to surprise you, but my aunt Lexi was able to score us some pretty sweet tickets to tonight’s game. So, if you have anything red, white, or black in there, you’d fit right in.”
His face lit up. “You’re taking me to a baseball game?”
I nodded.
“Right on.”
He disappeared into his room, and I settled back against the wall, taking the time to check my phone in hopes I had a text from Tucker.
As usual, he didn’t disappoint.
Tucker: I miss you already. Cancel on the playboy and come play hooky with me.
I grinned and hastily replied.
Me: As amazing as spending the day playing hooky with you sounds, you know I can’t. And you know he’s not a playboy.
He responded in seconds.
Tucker: Tonight. You. Naked. In my bed.
Me: And that’s different than any other night, how?
A minute passed before my phone vibrated again.
