Page 86 of Every Now and Then
“Slip her bra strap off her shoulder.”
We run through it several times as the cameras circle around us, catching the same sequence of events from different angles, until Colt finally yells, “Take five while we set up for the next shot!”
At this point, I have to lose the jeans. Shit’s about to get real.
Before now, we’d been teasing, barely touching one another. But that all changes in the next scenes. After Colt admonished me for finding Annabelle’s eyes while filming, I tried my best to ignore her presence, like the love of my life wasn’t standing there watching me fake intimacy with another woman.
But there’s no way I’ll be able to film the next scenes without worrying about Annabelle’s reaction.
When I asked her to come to the shoot, it was because I wanted full transparency and honesty between us. I didn’t want her to be blindsided by how racy and risqué the music video was.
When I walk up to Annabelle, she’s worrying her lip between her bottom teeth. “Hayes, maybe it’s better if I leave? I’m not helping you by being here.”
Charlotte chirps, “Might not be a bad idea, Hayes. You’re distracted.”
Keeping my gaze on Annabelle, I reply, “Didn’t ask your opinion, Char.”
Charlotte harrumphs, crossing her arms. “No, but you pay me to give it to you unsolicited.”
Grabbing Annabelle’s hand, I drag her into another motel room, shutting the door behind her, so we can talk privately. I sit on the edge of the bed and pull her down next to me.
“I’m sorry, Annabelle. I had the best of intentions bringing you with me tonight, but…” I run my fingers through my hair. “But maybe it wasn’t the right thing to do. I hate forcing you to watch this. If you want to leave, I completely understand.”
She’s quiet for a moment. “Do you want me to leave?”
“No,” I whisper, swiping my thumb over the back of her hand. “As much as it feels like I’m punishing you by asking you to stay and watch this, I still want you here.”
There’s a loud knock on the door. “Hayes! It’s time to get back on set!”
I cup Annabelle’s cheek. “While I want you here, your comfort is more important. If you’d rather leave, that’s okay, baby. This is your decision.”
She breathes out a long exhale before placing her hand atop mine, giving my fingers a gentle squeeze. “No, you always support me, Hayes. You wipe away tears you didn’t cause. You let me be weak, let me drop my guard, because you’re strong enough to carry the weight when I can’t. So, if I can be strong for you now, let me. If you want me here, I’ll stay.”
“Thank you." Pressing my forehead to hers, I stare into the depths of her sunflower eyes. “I love you.”
A second series of knocks interrupts us. Time to get back to work.
I stand, holding out my hand, and together we walk back onto the set.
From her spot in the doorway, Annabelle hovers and watches.
As I shove off my jeans.
As wardrobe slathers coconut oil across my torso so I’ll glisten under the lights like I’ve worked up a sweat.
As someone else works styling gel into my hair, making it look artfully disheveled, like I’ve just been rolling around in bed with a hot piece of ass.
Colt walks over to me and motions for Sloane to join us. Clapping his hands, he gets right to it. “We’re going to pick up where we left off. Sloane, you’re on top of Hayes, but this time, I need you to be more forceful, Hayes. We’re done teasing. Okay?”
Sloane and I both nod and then we take our positions on the bed. It gets really fucking real when Sloane sits on my lap. With my jeans off, I feel her body heat through my flesh-colored boxer briefs.
Fuck, it feels wrong.
The music cues up, and Colt starts his running commentary again.
“Hayes, hands on Sloane’s hips. Flex your fingers. Really grip her. We need to see the passion.”
“Sloane, rock against him, moving your hips.”
