Page 48 of The Fake Script
"Auston,” Clarence says from behind me, planting his hands on my shoulders. “How are you today? Ready to roll?”
“You know it.” I bob my head as he draws up a chair and sits next to me.
“You look tired. Don’t you think he looks tired?” he asks Robyn and Cillian.
“Exhausted,” Cillian says with a suppressed smile, and Robyn just shrugs. Cillian lifts an eyebrow. “What were you doing all night, lad?”
I roll my eyes. “I’m perfectly rested, thank you. How are you, Clarence?”
At that moment, Emma comes back with her coffee, and we all chat about the day ahead. Slowly, everyone trickles out as we get closer to go time, and our group follows suit. The beach behind the hotel has been completely hijacked by production. How do you spoil a beautiful natural landscape in a few minutes? Packing it with a movie production crew and equipment should do it.
Still, I know it’ll look amazing on screen. Only we get to see the ugly necessary to make the dazzling. They’ve set up a few tents for costumes, hair, and makeup, and I even have my own private tent. Robyn arranged everything so I can rest in comfort between shoots.
“Wow,” Emma says as we step into the tent. “You’ve got everything in here. Almost a complete replica of your trailer on our street.” Then, she gasps. “Oh no, Auston.”
“What?” My eyes widen.
“They forgot your ‘sexiest man alive’ covers. What will you do?”
I cast her a playful glare. “Funny.”
She chuckles. “At least my coffee machine is here.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Yourcoffee machine?”
She blushes. “Well, you only got it because of me.”
“And because I love coffee too.”
“Look who has an elevated taste in coffee now? You’re welcome,” she teases.
I scoff, but she’s not wrong. Once you taste the good stuff, it’s hard to go back to the regular brew.
“Had I known it was here, I wouldn’t have drunk so much at breakfast,” she says. “That stuff was really watered down.”
“Exactly. That’s why I had just one cup. I noticed right away because of myelevated taste.”
She rolls her eyes, but I can tell she’s fighting back a smile.
“I’ll make myself a cup, but I won’t offer you one. Since you already dranksomuch,” I say, grabbing a mug.
“We did establish that it was watered down, so if you ask me, I actually haven’t had that much yet,” she says, her expectant look making me smile.
I press the brew button and inhale the toasty aroma of fresh java. “There you go,” I say, offering her the first mug.
“Thank you.” She sighs, drawing a deep breath over the mug. “So, what’s on the agenda today?” she asks once we both have our coffee.
I glance at the call sheet taped next to me. “Shooting call is in an hour. We’re filming two scenes.”
“Only two? Usually it’s three, sometimes four.”
I nod. “It always takes longer when we’re off our regular location shoot. Plus, these are the kissing scenes, and those always require more takes.”
Her face tightens, her mouth twisting. “Kissing scenes?”
“Well, thisisa romance movie, so those are expected.” I chuckle.
She frowns. “Isn’t that weird, though? Especially with Madison and your complicated history.”