Page 82 of Off Script
I haven’t showered yet and I can still smell you on my body. On second thought, might not shower today so that I can enjoy you a little longer.
“Hey stranger, this seat taken?” Willa asks flirtatiously but with a teasing grin.
I put my phone down. “It is now.”
“Texting your girlfriend already, huh?” Willa collapses onto the seat and plops her large tote bag onto her lap.
“Caught me. How’d you know?”
“That naughty smile gave it away, Benji.”
“Give me a sec to finish texting and then we can talk, Pip.”
Rushing, since I feel Willa’s inquisitive eyes on me, I keep my replies brief.
I’m sorry too. Missing you already, babe.
PS don’t shower.
“Last night was fun, but I am not cut out for late night partying like I used to be,” Willa grumbles, stretching her arms above her head. “How’d Carlisle deal with it?”
Not wanting to rehash our goodbye in its entirety, I paraphrase, “Okay, but not great.”
“Trouble in paradise?” She tilts her head towards me.
“No," I disagree. "At least not anything more than what I expected given our situation. It’s as good as I can hope for, but I can’t wait for this to be over so I can get back to her.”
“Yeah, I can’t imagine what Carlisle is going through. It’s got to be a rollercoaster of emotions for her.” Willa sorts through her tote and grabs a few things from it before shoving it onto the seat across the aisle from her. “Is she jealous,” she swivels her hand between us, “from all the stories about us?”
“She is a bit,” I nod. “If the shoe were on the other foot, I couldn’t handle watching her pretend to date some other dude, so I understand her feelings.”
“Can I ask you a question?”
Like a dork, I point my finger at her like it is a gun. “Shoot.”
“Whydidyou agree to our arrangement if you were already seeing Carlisle?”
“Jada and Becky strongarmed me into agreeing.” Dropping my head back against the headrest, I sigh deeply. “Plus, the studio would have forced me to do it regardless, and from what Becky told me, I couldn’t say no without potentially damaging my professional reputation.” I narrow my eyes. “Especially since you agreed to it so easily.”
“Sorry,”Willa winces sheepishly.
I overheard what Willa told Carlisle, but I wonder if there's more to it. Carlisle's earlier fear that Willa may have feelings for me tumbles through my thoughts. “Why’d you agree to it?”
“I didn’t want to be difficult. Like you said, they could force us to do it anyway.” She shrugs. “Just seemed easier to go along with it than to fight it and catch flack.”
A flight attendant interrupts our conversation to ask if we want anything to drink. We both decline. I’m grateful for the interruption. When I think back to how the fauxmance started and how rocky things were with Carlisle, it dredges up lots of anxiety and fear. And that fear is already festering in my gut from our earlier argument. I’m trying so hard to prove myself to her, but I worry that it might not be enough.
“Hope it’s okay if I’m terrible company on this flight. I plan on sleeping the whole time.” Like a seasoned traveler, Willa holds up ear plugs and a cozy blanket that she removed from her carry-on bag earlier. “Cool if I use your fat shoulder as my pillow?”
“I think you mean muscular shoulder,” I kid. “But sure, knock yourself out.”
Willa pops the armrest up and snuggles into my side, dropping her head onto my shoulder. “Thanks, Benji.”
“Sweet dreams, Pipsqueak.”
More of theCaptain Commandercast and studio personnel trickle onto the private plane, and I nod my hellos. As the plane prepares for take-off, my phone vibrates on the table in front of my seat, and I eagerly flip it over to read the incoming text, hoping my movements don’t jostle Willa too much as she naps.
CARLISLE
