Page 24 of My Lucky Star
“I don’t have any clothes like these.” My voice was hoarse. “And my waist is not this narrow.”
“This was taken on set. Burcu didn’t dress like this either, not outside work. Wait.” Cem picked up the phone and tapped away until he found what he was looking for – a photo of him and Burcu on the beach. It looked like a selfie, with Burcu holding the camera. She wore a yellow sundress and a woven hat. The combination looked more elegant than anything I owned, but it was a style I could possibly pull off.
“Okay.” I nodded slowly. “I can source a dress like that I think.” What else was on Emir’s list? “Oh, the locations! There are some very secluded spots around here and my car is as boring and nondescript as they come.” I turned to Emir. “Are you taking the photos? Or should they look like selfies?”
Cem pointed at the photo on his phone screen. “That was a selfie. Is that what you’re thinking, Emir?”
Emir scrutinized the photo. “This is good. Very natural.”
“Selfies it is then!” Cem’s voice brimmed with excitement.
Emir turned to me. “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely be there to chaperone this one.” He shot a sideways glance at Cem, whose smile withered.
“Thank you.” My voice crept up. I couldn’t decide if his presence would make me feel safer or more agitated. Either way, it probably wasn’t wise to spend time alone with the gorgeous actor whose slightest touch made me shiver from head to toe. No, definitely not wise.
I filled my lungs.
You have leverage. Use it.
“And you’re happy to relocate to another accommodation on Monday?” I asked brightly. “That’s four nights away.”
Emir gave me a slow nod. “If you agree to these pictures. We need more than one post. Possibly some video. We can do it all on one day if you bring a few different outfits.”
“Like, how many?”
“I don’t know. Five or six?”
My eyes widened in horror. That was my entire capsule wardrobe, which was mostly jeans and T-shirts anyway and I’d blown my budget on those clothes I’d bought Cem. I’d have to dig through Mom’s closet. If I did that, I’d have to tell her what was going on. And if I told her... no, that was definitely a bad idea. “We’re not telling anyone else about this, right?”
“I was about to raise that with you. I don’t have any NDAs on me, so we have to trust you.” Emir looked at me as if he absolutely didn’t. “Have you told anyone else about meeting Cem?”
I grimaced. “My boss at the film office knows there’s someone Turkish staying here. No names or anything. She doesn’t have any links to Turkey, as far as I know.”
“Are you sure?” Emir folded his arms, his face unreadable.
I nibbled at my fingernail, trying to anticipate every possible outcome. Who would Janie talk to?
“Please don’t do that,” Emir barked, and I dropped my hand. “Burcu would never bite her nails.”
“Sorry.” My face burned.
Cem laughed. “Relax, both of you. This plan is so nuts nobody would ever suspect it.”
I smiled. It was impossible not to smile around him. “I hope you’re right. What time should I come tomorrow?”
“As early as you can,” Emir said. “We don’t want to hit traffic.”
It was my turn to laugh. “Don’t worry. There’s no traffic.”
***
IDROVE AWAY FROM THEhotel, my heart pounding in my ears. I wasn’t even sure why I felt so unsettled, but eventually I had to pull over by the beach road and sit in my car, taking deep breaths.
This is good, I told myself. Now I have a chance to make everything work.
I simply had to find six high fashion outfits, choose the right secluded locations... and then search inside myself for the persona I’d left behind. The one I hadn’t toyed with in months. The actress.
I’d spent so much time and energy trying to move on, to become someone who didn’t need the camera on their face, who didn’t seek the thrill of it. If I stepped into this role of Cem’s girlfriend, would I lose the progress I’d made? Had I even made any progress? The stirring in my gut made me wonder.
