Page 71 of Off Script
“You’re getting a little too much joy from my discomfort.”
“Calm down, Benji,” she teases me and gently caresses my cheek.
I’ve noticed that her casual touching has increased as we’ve gone public with our fake relationship, and I’m not sure what to make of it. Especially since she's still touching me and we're alone.
Walking into my house through the garage, I toss my keys on the kitchen counter and yell, “I’m back!”
“In here,” Carlisle calls from the living room.
She’s curled up on the couch under a blanket eating popcorn and watching a new episode ofDateline. I'm not surprised. When I asked her earlier who her celebrity crush was, fully expecting she'd say me, Carlisle told me it was Keith Morrison.
Yep, she could totally murder me and get away with it.
Carlisle looks cozy and comfortable… until she sees who has accompanied me home. The look of shock on her face is pretty much what I expected. I drop a kiss on her forehead as I settle onto the couch next to her, grabbing a handful of popcorn for myself.
“Carlisle, this is Willa. She wanted to meet you.”
“Um, hi. Pleased to meet you,” Carlisle stammers politely to Willa before turning to shoot laser beams out her eyes at me.
Willa leans down to give a very startled Carlisle a brief hug before sitting down on the other side of her and grabbing her hand. Watching Willa interact with Carlisle, I chastise myself for my earlier thoughts. Willa touches everybody, not me specifically. She’s a touchy-feely person.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Carlisle! I hope it’s okay that I came over.”
“It’s all good,” Carlisle says, her voice saccharine.
I’m totally going to pay for this later.I just don’t know if my punishment will be in the form of a strongly worded lecture or arsenic in my oatmeal.
Laughing, Willa says, “No, I’m sure it totally sucks to be ambushed like this, but I thought it might put your mind at ease if you met me. Benji is one of my best friends in LA, and since you’re obviously important to him, I hope that we can be friends too.”
I can see Carlisle softening to Willa’s charm, as I hoped she would. Sliding my arm around Carlisle’s shoulder, she relaxes and shoots me a small grin.
“I’d like that too, Willa. Thank you for coming over.” With her elbow, Carlisle nudges me hard in the ribs. “Though a little heads up would have been nice.”
After apologizing, I ask, “Wine, anyone?" A little alcohol will help grease the wheels and get rid of the discomfort we're experiencing.
When they both nod, I leave them alone to talk while I grab a bottle of pinot noir from the kitchen. Uncorking it, I let it breathe for a minute before pouring it into three glasses and returning to the living room. Though I shouldn’t, I surveil them from the doorway.
“Benji told me how you guys met, and I have to say, it’s by far the most unique meet cute that I’ve heard. Though I guess it’s technically more of a speak cute,” Willa kids. “I’ve always known that he was a smooth operator, but I’m impressed that he managed to hook you from a wrong number.”
“He almost didn’t. My roommate and I were convinced that he was either married, in jail, or a serial killer.” Then her smile fades, as Carlisle nervously plucks at the woven blanket in her lap. “Are you dating anyone?”
Wrinkling her nose, Willa replies, “Not anymore. I was dating a professional baseball player last year, but we broke up. It’s hard to date long distance, you know?” Willa scrunches her nose and shrugs.
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Breakups are hard,” Carlisle commiserates.
“They suck.” Willa shucks off her heeled boots so that she can sit cross-legged on the couch facing Carlisle. “I’ve sworn off men for a bit, so I was actually excited when our management team suggested the arranged dalliance.” Seeing Carlisle’s questioning gaze, Willa explains her comment further. “Having a fake boyfriend should keep other guys away from me, so that I can take the time I need to be by myself.” She pulls one of the couch’s throw pillows onto her lap. “Wasn’t it Emma Watson who said she was dating herself? That’s what I think I need to do too.”
Carlisle nods. “That makes sense.”
No, it doesn’t. That literally makes no sense. How do you dateyourself?
Cocking her head to one side, Willa looks thoughtful. “Though it does make me wonder why Benji agreed to it since you guys are dating?” she mumbles, almost to herself.
Fuck, it’s definitely going to be arsenic in my oatmeal now.
I need to get in there and explain before Carlisle gets any bad ideas planted into her head, but before I can reach the living room, I hear Willa continue, “Actually, no, I don’t. Benji is a consummate professional. He’s able to compartmentalize his personal and professional lives easier than I am.” Willa waves her hands in the air. “Please forgive me for speaking before I thought it through.” She reaches over and clasps her hand over Carlisle’s. “He obviously really likes you. You’re all he could talk about at dinner tonight.”
But I can see that Willa’s earlier words have affected Carlisle. Worry is etched upon her face.
