Page 37 of The Fake Script
“Let’s just do these lines together,” he says. “It’ll make me feel better if you see it first.”
“Um, okay. But we don't have to rehearse the actual kiss, right?”
He frowns, a smile teasing his lips. “No, absolutely not. Just my lines leading up to it.”
Oh, you mean when you confess your love for Sarah, telling her how you’re hopeless without her before you kiss her? That should besomuch easier.Yet, I agree. It is my job, after all. Plus, since I’m definitelynotfalling for him, it’s totally fine.
He clears his throat, and his eyes begin to smolder. “The second you walked into my life, everything shifted.” His fingers trail from my hand to my neck, leaving a shiver in their wake. It’s probably just because of how low Auston likes to set the AC. Then, he caresses my neck and my cheeks, and I can’t hear a word he’s saying anymore. I’m mesmerized by his touch. All my senses are heightened—the light above us is suddenly blinding, Auston’s fresh cologne permeates the entire room, and it’s as if he’s touching every single vein in my body. “You’re everything I’ve ever wanted, Sarah,” he whispers as his forehead bumps with mine. “I’m begging you. Release me from my misery.”
We lock eyes for what seems an eternity, bringing me back to many years ago, when we’d stare into each other's eyes during our study sessions. So many times, I thought,is he going to kiss me? Should I be brave and do it?
My lips part, and I know I have to say something, anything to break out of this, because this is not working for me. But my mouth has gone dry, and my brain refuses to produce a single sentence.
“How was that?” he finally asks, his voice low and gravelly. “Did I nail it?”
I swallow hard, coming back to my senses. “You did good,” I mumble, pulling my gaze away. I really need to get out of this funk. This has nothing to do with Auston and everything to do with Diego Loma. He’s always been one of my top book boyfriends, after all, so it’s normal to harbor weird feelings—whatever they are—when I see him come to life. It’d be the same if he was played by any other actor.
Auston arches an eyebrow. “Good?”
“Okay, you were great. You’re really starting to get his character.”
“All thanks to you,” he says, putting the script down. “None of this would have been possible without your help.”
“You could have just read the book,” I shoot back, shaking my head.
His eyes sparkle. “I like it better this way. You’ve always been a great teacher.”
And just like that, we’re back to staring into each other’s eyes. Well, not if I have anything to say about it. I quickly avert my gaze. “I’m curious, why don’t you want to read the book? It’s a masterpiece.”
“I honestly didn’t have the time, but Robyn lent it to me. I might give it a try.”
My eyes widen. “You should! You’d bring even more depth to Diego’s character. Books are so much better than movies.”
He shakes his head. “No way am I getting behind that statement. How can you beat a full-fledged production, with sound, lights, effects? It’s impossible.”
“But those things still exist when you read a book. It’s calledimagination. Some people, like me, are very vivid readers. When I read a book, I see the story play out like a movie.”
He clasps his hands. “There you go. Movie trumps book.”
Laughing, I say, “No. Because it’smymovie—my cast, my production. Exactly how I want it. When you watch a movie, you’re seeing someone else’s vision unfold. It’s fine when it’s not a book adaptation, or if it’s a book I haven’t read. But when it is, the movie kind of shatters the perfect setup I’d already built in my head.”
He strokes his chin. “Hm. That’s an interesting take. Although I think I’m still a movie man, I do understand your point. But tell me, am I ruining your version of Diego? Who did you cast?”
“No one in particular. Just this hot, dark alpha male who’s tortured between wanting to be alone for the rest of his life and finding everything he needs in Sarah,” I blurt in one breath so it’s out of the way. Hopefully, I stuffed enough in there that he didn’t notice the “hot” part.
A large grin spreads on his face. “Hot, huh? So, am I ruining the fantasy?”
I give him a pointed look. “Are you really fishing for compliments when we’re surrounded by your ‘sexiest man alive’ distinctions?”
He wets his lips, his gaze etched on me. “That’s just the general opinion. I’m more interested in yours.”
My heart hammers in my chest as he stares at me, waiting. Then, someone knocks on the door, and I suck in a breath. Whoever they are, I’m forever grateful. I need some air. It’s way too hot in here.
Standing up, Auston saunters over to the door and opens it.
“Honey, I wanted to go over the Kleo contract before I fly back to LA,” Auston’s mom says, gliding into the trailer, a pile of documents in her hands. It takes a second for my eyes to adjust to her caution-tape-yellow jumpsuit. As I’m taking the sight in, her eyes fall on me. “Oh, you have company.”
“Hi.” I hop to my feet, not sure what to do with myself. “I’m Emma. Nice to meet you.”