Page 85 of Off Script
“About tonight,” I start. “I’d like to discuss our physical boundaries, how we should act when we’re in public. I need to be able to tell Carlisle what to expect. This situation is painful for her, and I want to be as respectful to her as I possible.”
“Benji, Carlisle is a big girl, and this is the big time.” The derision in Willa’s tone takes me aback. Her nostrils flare and her lips are pinched. “The studio has hundreds of millions of dollars at stake. We have to sell this thing between us.”
“I know, Willa.” Retreating another step, I hiss, “Look, you don’t need to lay it on so thick. Especially now when no one is around.”
“There’s always someone watching, and if you believe otherwise, then you’re being painfully naive.” Hurt, anger, and disdain swirl together to make Willa’s voice almost unrecognizable. “Do you honestly believe that just because there aren’t cameras pointed at us that people aren’t watching and taking notes, Benji?”
Running my hand through my hair, I clench my jaw in frustration. “I’ll see you in there.” Willa wraps her hand around my wrist, attempting to stop me, but I shake her off and stalk to the bar. I need a fucking drink.
How did that conversation spiral out of control so quickly?
Luckily, I’m not required to stay at the after party for long, so it’s easy enough to keep my distance from Willa until I can catch one of the limos back to the hotel. I’m just shucking off my jacket and rolling up my shirt sleeves when I hear a soft knock at the door on my bedroom door. To keep up the ruse of our relationship, the studio has booked Willa and me into a suite. We share a common living area, but we have separate bedrooms and bathrooms.
I swing open my door. “Hey, Willa.” I’m still pissed, but I’ve had time to simmer down. This is a difficult situation for both of us, not just me. “I’m sorry I lost my cool earlier.”
She hovers uncomfortably in the doorway, looking sheepish.
I gesture for Willa to enter my bedroom. She takes a seat in the chair while I drop onto the edge of the bed.
“I’m sorry too. Your comment caught me off-guard, and I reacted poorly, Benji. I’ve been getting a lot of pressure about making the showmance believable, and I thought tonight went well. I was happy about it and wanted to celebrate.”
I've been replaying our argument. “You were right to keep up the charade since we were still in public.” I sigh and roughly rub my hands down my face. “This whole idea of a PR relationship is all new to me. Hell, having a girlfriend is new too. I’m juggling a lot, and I don’t want to accidentally drop the ball and let someone down.”
“I get it.” Willa looks down at the ground, avoiding my eyes. “I’m sorry that I snapped at you. You’re right. We should talk about what we’re comfortable with doing physically when we’re in public.” She pauses. “Honestly, I trust you and I feel safe with you. I think that’s why I never thought to discuss this with you beforehand. I don’t really have any boundaries that need to be upheld, so tell me what yours are.”
After I stalked off and left Willa at the party, I started thinking seriously about this, so I have my answer ready. “No more kissing on the mouth unless it’s absolutely necessary. I’m fine with casual touching and hugging and whatnot when we’re in front of the cameras, but when we’re not, like at the reception, it feels unnecessary and gratuitous. It should be enough if we simply stick together.”
“Okay, yep.” With one sharp nod of her head, Willa shoots me a strained smile.
“Hey, I feel like I’ve upset you. That wasn’t my intention, Willa.”
“You haven’t, I promise.” She expels a slow breath. “We’re such good friends that being with you feels natural.” She lifts one shoulder. “It’s easy to forget it’s all an act.”
A warning bell goes off in my head as I digest her words.Could Carlisle’s fear that Willa harbors romantic feelings for me be accurate?Rubbing my forehead, I ponder the complexity of that possibility.
If I was walking a fine line before, I feel like I’m walking a tightrope now. Both Carlisle and Willa are important to me, and I don’t want to inadvertently hurt either one.
We hear a knock on the outer door of our suite. “Are you expecting someone?” I ask, hoping that a fan or reporter didn’t somehow sneak past security to gain access to our floor.
“Yeah.” Unfolding her body, Willa rises from the chair and walks toward the door. “I’m meeting Thad and a couple others for a drink at the hotel bar. Any interest in joining us?”
“No, I’m staying in tonight. Jet lag is kicking my ass. Thanks though.” I follow her to the door, catching her hand as she steps into the hallway.
“Well, shit. Don’t you two look cozy?” Thad scoffs with a smirk.
Ignoring him, I pull Willa in for a brief hug, bowing my head to whisper in her ear, “Be careful with Thad. He’s bad news.”
She tugs out of my arms and replies sarcastically, “Thanks, Dad.” One side of her mouth quirks up before she adds, “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were jealous, Benji.”
Captain CommanderCouple Look Cute & Cozy
Captain Commanderco-stars Ben Sutton and Willa Radford are taking the entertainment world by storm this week as photos and interview segments from their global promotional tour for the movie continue to circulate online. Though neither Sutton nor Radford have directly confirmed their relationship status, their electric connection is undeniable to even the most casual of observers.
“You can see how much they love each other, it just oozes out of them,” one fan gushed, after having briefly met the couple outside of the Paris Film Festival. “They’re so lovey-dovey with one another!”
Evidence supporting the popularity of the Sutton-Radford pairing occurred this week when#Willenbecame the number one trending hashtag on X, the social media platform formally known as Twitter. Willen, the amalgamation of the actors’ first names, has quickly been adopted by online fans to show their support for Hollywood’s newestitcouple.
The rumors hit fever pitch today when two new candid photos emerged of the couple. The first photo shows them napping togetheron a private jet. Looking cozy, Radford sleeps with her head on Sutton's shoulder as they cuddle under a shared blanket.
