Page 16 of Becoming Cinderella

“You’re doing great.” I say, but then he steps on my foot. I wince and his eyes grow wide. I hold tightly to his hand, knowing he’s going to try to pull it free again to stop. He apologizes but I shake my head. “That’s okay, you’re doing great. Remember, slow, quick, quick.”

“Slow, quick, quick.” He repeats to himself until the song comes to an end. “I only stepped on your foot once!” He grins as he picks me up and spins me around. He stops when he sees the clock on the wall and frowns slightly. “Is that clock accurate?” He lets me down and hurries over to check his phone.

I stand frozen, trying to calm my heart down. It happened so fast, but I can’t not think about the way his arms wrapped around me. The way he was able to lift me up with ease.

“I’m sorry Carter, I have to get going. I’m due on set.”

“That’s okay, we can keep working on the box square next time.” I grab my bag and sling it over my shoulder when I see the sunglasses he left the first day in there. “Oh, here,” I hold them up to show him. “You left these the other day.”

Liam gives me a half smile when he sees them. “My hero. These are my favorite pair of sunglasses.”

“I’ve searched all the land for the boy who these belonged to.” I do a horrible fake accent as I hold them in my open palm like I’m presenting him a gift.

Liam takes them and puts them on. “The perfect fit.”

We both don’t say anything else, just staring at each other with matching grins when the clock on the wall catches his attention again.

“I really do have to go. I’ll see you soon.” He starts to walk to the door when he stops, turning around like he forgot something. “Can I get your number? We can figure out the next best time to meet.”

The second he leaves I’m definitely calling Penn to let her know Liam Taylor just asked for my number!

“Just uh, don’t share that number, okay?” He says it like he hates to say it, but it’s something that has to be said as he crosses back towards me.

“I wouldn’t do that,” I assure him. He might be a huge Hollywood star, but even the thought of passing along his number would never cross my mind.

He gives me an appreciative look, one that I’m sure has him internally hoping he’s right about being able to trust me. It’s pretty evident that boy lives with walls built highly around him. I’d be lying to myself if I said it didn’t intrigue me and make me want to knock them down.

Chapter Five

A couple days later I’m scheduled to work with Jared again. We chat for a moment before he asks if I’ve had the chance to talk with Penn yet. Any excitement I might have had to be working with Jared today instantly vanishes.

“Oh, right.” I can lie and tell him she isn’t interested, but that will just nag at my conscience if I do. “I’m sorry, I haven’t had a chance.” I feed him the partial lie instead.

His shoulders slump and I’m instantly hit with guilt.

“I will soon though.”

I turn away from him. Soon? Why do I keep telling him I will do things I don’t want to do? What is it with this boy?

“Thanks Carter.” He says as I pretend to start on the homework packet I had been assigned, dismissing the conversation from continuing.

After a few minutes of not being able to focus much on my homework I send a quick text to Liam, letting him know now would be a good time for whatever plan he has up his sleeve.

Liam: Are you working right now?

Carter: Yes. And J wants to know if I’ve already talked to P

I’m scared to use the full names in case he can see my screen, even though he’s focused on his own homework and not me. Even though the codes are not hard to decipher, I still use them.

Liam: When are you off?

Carter: We close at 6, so usually out of here by 6:15

He doesn’t text back and I set my phone in my back pocket when I notice Jared with one hand tightly grasping his hair as he’s looking at something on his phone.

“Are you okay?” I push my homework to the side, letting him know he has my full attention.

He looks at me and gives me a fake smile. “Yeah, great.”