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partner is skilled.

JAMES

(smirking at euphemism)

Lucky for you, I am.

James holds out a hand to Annie.

Annie takes his hand and James pulls her in for a dance. They twirl and laugh together. The next song is slower paced, “Last Christmas.”

They keep dancing, getting closer and closer, their lips almost touching.

Chapter 21

Ellie

“Cut!” Yueyi yells.

I slump against the wall, taking a moment to close my eyes and breathe. What a long, exhausting day. The final days of filming always are—there’s so much pressure to perform since there’s very little room for error. Hopefully this is it, and we can call this a wrap and be done. Tomorrow is our final day of filming, my most important scenes, and I’m pre-emptively tired just thinking about it.

Then, it’s over. Another movie in the bag. My sense of pride for completing another film is met with a twinge of sadness. I always get the blues when Christmas comes to an end, even if the Christmas has thirty-degree heat and fake snow. I’m already looking forward to my next opportunity, but I don’t have anything lined up yet and am not sure when that will happen. I’ll have to call my agent.

Leaving my off-stage spot, I walk back into the main room of the café.

Julia smiles her perfect smile. “You did great, Ellie!”

Oscar puts an arm around me. “I could feel the emotion pouring out of you. It made my own delivery so much better.”

“Great job, Ellie,” Yueyi agrees, stepping in front of the blinding lights. “Why don’t you all head over to the restaurant? First drinks are on me.”

Oscar laughs. “They’re all on you. It’s a wrap party.”

We make our way back to hair and makeup and Mariah is there waiting for me. She looks up from her phone and a smile lights her face.Oof, that smile.I once had to work so hard for it, and now she gives it to me freely. What a privilege.

I try to push my way toward her, but Oscar and Julia guideme to the other side of the room to their station. They pass around makeup wipes and we each take one, rubbing our faces to rid ourselves of the layers caked onto our skin.

“Seriously, that was the best performance of the whole film,” Oscar continues, wiping under his eyes. “No offence, Julia.”

“None taken!” She pauses to blot her lips. “I was going to say the same thing. I’d tell you to stop outshining me, but the way you delivered your lines made me deliver mine even better. I’m still so new at this, but having such a strong supporting actress on my team is an incredible help. I feel like I’ve learned so much.”

I balk at her words. “Wow, thank you.” For once, I’m not sure what else to say.

“I’m heading home right after filming tomorrow,” Oscar says. “So it’s our last night together as a crew.”

“Same, I have a flight to catch back to Calgary,” Julia agrees. “Can’t believe it’s already over.”

“Guess we’ll have to drink double to make up for tomorrow,” Oscar jokes.

“Not too much,” Yueyi warns, coming up from behind. “I don’t want anyone hungover tomorrow. Everyone has to look cheery and rosy.”

Oscar winks. “That’s what makeup is for.”

Yueyi tsks. “You troublemaker.” Then she wraps her arms around all three of us for a group hug.

I’ve never felt as included with the team as I do right now. Part of me is wondering if I slipped as I exited my scene and am actually on set right now, unconscious on the floor and hallucinating all of this.

I pull away from the hug. “I’m not sure if I can come out tonight.”