Page 16 of Love like the (Real) Reel Thing
“Oh my God, Jess! I thought you’d never get here!” Emily practically bounced over to Jess when she got to Linford Castle the following Monday.
Jess hid a smile and clicked out of theDaily Globeonline article.
“Has something happened?”
Emily blinked. “So much! All the actors and the crew are here. And they’ve hired the runners – they’re basically helpers who run around and get stuff for you.”
Did that make her Chief Runner, Jess wondered. Though it sounded like they had all that already covered.
“And they have their own first-aid person, and an intimacy coordinator called Callie somebody, I can’t remember her last name. Do you think there’s a lot of sex in this?” Before Jess could reply, Emily added, “I’ve met Afric and Spencer. Afric was flying in from London but Spencer was coming from LA, and he was super jetlagged. But they seem so cool, Jess. Afric has this completely adorable white Toy Poodle called Diva. And Lisa was taking some publicity photos of Afric and Spencer coming in the door and posing together, and they seemed so happy. I kind of wonder if the rumours are true.” She pulled a face. “I really want them not to be.”
“They’re probably not,” Jess said.
“I don’t know.” Emily sighed. “TMZ have an article today saying that Spencer only agreed to work with Afric if he got first billing and more money.”
“Emily, there you are!” Lisa Greensmith swept into the foyer and smiled briefly at Jess before turning her full attention to Emily. “We need these photocopied and put up in the village.” She handed Emily a flyer. “I don’t think I’ve distributed fliers since I was in middle school – Ireland is just so quaint.”
Emily looked at the flyer. “It’s about the open auditions tomorrow for the three small roles,” she said, frowning. “But isn’t this the same one as before?”
Lisa shot her a cool look. “I’m gonna bet that nothing gets past you, Emily.”
“We’ll make sure they get put up,” Jess said hastily, wondering why Lisa hadn’t asked one of the runners instead. “I’m a bit surprised they haven’t cast all the roles yet, to be honest.”
Lisa’s smile widened fractionally. “We thought it would be good PR to have a few of the locals in these roles. We need one man and two women, and they literally have about two lines each. But they’ll get a credit.”
“Sounds exciting.” Jess glanced at Emily. “Why don’t you audition?”
“Me?” Emily chewed on her lip. “I hadn’t really thought about that. But yeah, maybe, if you think I should?”
“It’ll be down to Doug,” Lisa’s tone was dry. “If you can act at all ... actually, from what I’ve seen of you in the past couple of days, I think you’d probably be fine.”
Emily flushed. “You think so? I did tap dancing as a kid.”
Jess caught Lisa’s eye and felt a flash of annoyance. Luckily, Emily hadn’t picked up on the barbed compliment.
“Right,” Lisa said briskly. “We’ve invited the press along later today for a photo shoot with the writer and the rest of the cast, in front of the castle. We’ll have security and a couple of our runners on the gates to check press passes.” She paused. “Jess, Anthony gave me your number so I’m texting you mine now.”Her thumb flew over the numbers on her phone and a moment later Jess’s phone pinged.
“Okay,” Lisa continued, “filming starts the day after tomorrow to give everyone plenty of time to rest. But I want to organise a photo shoot for tomorrow, get our two leads out and about, chatting with the locals, petting lambs, drinking Guinness – whatever.”
“I can point you in the direction of the local and national press,” Jess offered. “Have you got a press release you can –”
“All in hand.” Lisa turned away. “Later.”
Jess and Emily watched her leave.
“She’s so cool,” Emily said.
Jess flashed her a warm smile. “Actually, you’re way cooler.”
“I haven’t seen this number of paparazzi since the celebrity wedding last year,” Anthony said. He and Jess were standing to one side in the courtyard area at the castle, while the cast and author and scriptwriter, Deb Considine, arranged themselves for the photo shoot on the front steps.
Jess nodded absently. “I think there were more last year.” Half of which had ended up chasing her, after mistaking her for the celebrity runaway bride.
Jess’s thoughts drifted back to dinner the previous week with Robert. A traditional music session had been in full swing in The Tin Whistle when they’d arrived, and they’d squashed in beside a few locals who all seemed to have heard of her. Jess had been a bit wary of asking what they’d heard, and the level of noise in the pub had made any real conversation between her and Robert almost impossible.
Despite telling herself that there was no point getting involved with someone she probably wouldn’t see again once shereturned to Dublin, it had been lovely to spend a couple of hours with someone who seemed to have zero expectations.
She pulled herself back to the present, studying Afric and Spencer as they smiled for the cameras. Afric was taller than she’d expected, her trademark long, dark hair treated with red lowlights and a curly perm for the role. It changed her completely, Jess thought, but it was probably more comfortable than wearing a wig.
