Page 73 of Words I Couldn't Say
It was heartbreak and ecstasy all at once.
Even as the salt from her tears met my lips, I couldn’t pull away. She needed this. She needed me. And for the rest of my life, I’d give her anything she asked.
A throat clearing from behind was the only thing that stopped my tongue from slipping into her mouth.
Glancing up, I noticed the cameras were still rolling and caught sight of Leo out of the corner of my eye. Assuming he had brought me to my senses, I gave him a grateful chin lift before looking around and finding bemused expressions on many faces of the crew.
Fuck me.
I hadn’t realized I’d muttered it out loud until Ava suddenly perked up and took a quick survey of the room, obviously now aware we were being watched.
“Sorry, sorry,” she sniffled, giving me a sad smile through watery eyes.
Jonathan approached us, his expression full of awe. “Now, I know why you were so adamant about casting her, Tucker,” he said, his gaze darting back and forth between the two of us.
“We weren’t together when I requested that,” I said briskly, not wanting him to get the wrong idea.
He waved me off. “I don’t mean the kissing. I meant her acting.” He turned to Ava. “You’ve been a star all while filming, but that? Sweetheart, that was Oscar-worthy. It was brilliant. Raw, heart wrenching. There wasn’t a dry eye on set, and honey, there will not be a dry eye in theaters. You were born to play this role, Ava.”
She blushed. “Th-thank you, Jonathan.” She squeezed my hand. “Don’t let him fool you. He was already in love with me when he cast me.”
My jaw nearly fell open. I couldn’t believe Ava was spilling that secret.
She winked at me. “What? He just called me brilliant. Do you think he cares that you’ve been in love with me since you were twelve?”
Jonathan’s barking laugh confirmed she was right. “I couldn’t care less what your situation was. He obviously knew what he was doing.” He stepped back with a huge smile on his face. “You know what the means, folks?”
Leo punched the air above him with his fist. “That’s a wrap!”
A huge cheer erupted from the crew. My heart, however, wasn’t cheering. Because filming was what had brought Ava back to me. I didn’t know if being done was going to take her away again. But, even if it did, I vowed that it wouldn’t be for good.
