Page 46 of Becoming Cinderella

I point again, this time pulling myself to him to close our distance. “It was a shooting star.” I smile at him, proud of myself for making him believe there was something.

He returns my smile and my heart pauses in my chest.

“Did you make a wish?” I wrap my arm around his which makes him close his eyes, his smile faltering.

Worried I did something wrong; I release my hold on Liam, but he opens his eyes and holds my hand, not allowing me to pull away. It’s quiet in the studio, like the rest of the world has fallen away. The only thing letting me know time is still pressing forward is my heart pounding in my chest.

“Can I tell you a secret?” It’s barely audible, but Liam still hears it because he gives me a small nod.

“You know when you try to take a picture of the night sky on your phone? The stars can be bright and twinkling but you’re never fully able to capture it in a photo. No matter what settings you change on your phone, the picture just doesn’t do the sky justice. I worry I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to recreate how I feel when I’m with you, but I’ll never be able to get it just right. That you’re my night sky and everything else will be dull in comparison.”

Liam swallows, his eyes seem to get darker as his gaze dips to my mouth. I think he’s going to lean in and my heart leaps into my throat, but instead his eyes snap back to mine, blinking a couple of times like he’s waking up. He lets go of my hand and sits back, putting some space between us.

I know we’re role playing, but I realize I mean those words for Liam, not for Jared. Except Liam thinks they’re for Jared. They should be for Jared.

And now I can’t stop thinking about what Penn said last night. Even though she was off base because I’m not in love with Liam.

I’m doing all of this for Jared, because it’s Jared I have feelings for.

Not Liam.

“I don’t know Carter,” Liam clears his throat as he runs a hand through his hair. “That was pretty smooth to me. I don’t know what guy wouldn’t fall for you.”

Chapter Thirteen

Liam had to cancel the next dance lesson due to filming going longer than expected. He’d sounded really overwhelmed on the phone. He said since they were approaching the end of filming everyone is stressed about getting everything right, making sure they leave no room for error.

I feel bad, wishing there is a way I can lighten his load. Since I can’t act out his scenes for him, which is truly a blessing because nobody wants that, I decide I’ll take him a box of cupcakes for a pick-me up. It’s not like it will ease his stress, but hopefully it will at least make him smile.

I still don’t have an explanation for the way I acted when I was with Liam in the studio. The way my body had responded to his or what I had said about him being my night sky. I’m sure he thinks I was pretending he was Jared when I said that, so maybe I’m the only one overthinking our improv scene.

I don’t have an issue getting through the security like I did last time because Liam has included me on a list of approved visitors. I park in the same lot I had before, looking around at my surroundings as I grab the box of cupcakes from the passenger seat, like whoever took the picture when I was up here last time is still somewhere lurking. I’m a bit disappointed when I don’t see anything suspicious, but I don’t know why. What was I expecting? A figure standing near a tree with their hood up and a camera aimed at me? And what would I have done anyway? Fight them? Right. I don’t even think I know how to correctly throw a punch. Do you tuck your thumb in or you don’t want it tucked in? I can never remember, so hopefully I never need to know.

I make my way to Liam’s trailer with my head down, weaving around production assistants, camera operators, movie extras, and all the other people who help make a movie. I knock on his trailer door, even though I’m sure he’s on set. I wait a few moments before knocking again, just to double check. When he doesn’t answer I pull on the door which thankfully opens. His trailer smells like him, that minty fresh scent that I think I’ll forever associate with him, and it is fairly clean in here. There are a few pages of the script on his table next to his phone and a pair of shoes next to the couch.

There are no personal touches to the trailer, a way for him to make it feel more homely. I know he isn’t actually staying in his trailer but in a hotel, but still, he spends most of his time in here and it doesn’t even look like it. If it wasn’t for the name on the door or the familiar scent of him, I wouldn’t even know this was his trailer.

I set the cupcakes on the table next to the script and I notice there are some highlights and notes scribbled in the margins. I pick it up and look at his writing, realizing I haven’t seen it before. His writing is small, neat, and block letters. I smile as I read through some of his notes, wondering what it would look like if he wrote my name.

I continue to shuffle through the notes he’s written on the pages when there’s a crash outside that makes me jump. I quickly set the script back on the table and look through my bag to see if I have a piece of paper to write a note to leave with the cupcakes, but all I have is a receipt for an order of chicken nuggets.

“Came to say hi. Thought you could use some sugar. Have fun with your princely duties!-Carter”

I place it on top of the pink cupcake box and leave.

I don’t get very far when Olivia calls my name. She waves with a wide grin as she comes towards me. She’s wearing yoga pants and an oversized T-shirt, but her hair and makeup are done like she’s either been filming or about to. She’s noticeably without any smudges of dirt across her face this time.

“I thought that was you!” She leans in and gives me a hug once she reaches me. “How are you?”

“I’m uh, great.” I return her hug, realizing how unsure I sound. If I’m able to hold normal conversations with Liam, surely Olivia isn’t any different. “How are you?”

“I’m great, just busy. So, what are you doing here?” She glances around. “Are you waiting for Liam? I think he’s down shooting for a while.”

“I was just dropping off some cupcakes for him.” I point in the direction of his trailer like that will explain everything.

Oliva’s eyes follow my finger towards Liam’s home away from home then back to me.

“Do you have some time to hang around for a little bit?” She links her arm with mine, like she’s going to lead me somewhere. “Please? I get so bored.”

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