Page 29 of Beyond the Spotlight Discreet Version

Weren’t you worried about paparazzi? Perhaps it’s not a good idea to draw attention to yourself

Sexy Savvy

Addy dared me to. I had to

Me

Wait. How does she know about dares?

Sexy Savvy

That’s what I asked, and she said the kids at school learned from their siblings and taught Addy. They dare each other all the time at recess

Another picture comes through. Central Park is behind her and a few people standing nearby stare with amused looks on their faces.

Sexy Savvy

My fans

Me

They’re clearly jealous

Savannah sends me two emojis: one of a crown and the other of a hand getting its nails painted.

“There’s only one reason someone smiles at their phone like that.”

I lock my phone’s screen and put it back in my pocket.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Who’s the girl?”

I sigh, attempting and failing to hide my smile. “There’s no girl. I was smiling at something my daughter did.”

“Liar. Show me.”

The movie’s director enters the room at that moment, followed by a team of producers and other key crew members.

Mylan leans into me and whispers, “Is it the nanny? The one you called Lana about?”

My eyes widen because of course Lana told Mylan that I asked about Savannah. Lana did sound a little too excited talking about how she’s an excellent and reliable worker. It wasn’t until she mentioned Savvy being funny and beautiful and newly single that I got a little suspicious of this glowing recommendation.

“It is! I knew it,” Mylan hisses. The director—a man in his forties who’s going to be the next Michael Bay with all the action movies he directs—is talking about... well, I’m not sure because I’m not paying attention.

Did I really have ‘a look’ on my face reading that text? Clearly, since Mylan called me out on it. I don’t think I’ve ever had that look when talking to a woman; that goofy, can’t stop smiling, can’t stop thinking about them look.

The table read went on without a hitch. It took three hours for the cast of ten men and five women to read through the lines while the director, producers, and script coordinator made notes for scene changes.

Everyone lingers after to chat. Mylan and I are the youngest cast members, aside from the woman playing my wife. Victoria Bedford has a few romance movies on her credits, but this is her first action film, though she won’t have a lot of screen time. The majority of her scenes are flashbacks, which we’re filming towards the end of production. She’s five-five and petite with long, dark blonde hair and green eyes.

I wouldn’t say I have a type. I consider attraction and beauty to be unconditional. I’ve been attracted to a wide variety of women because each one had something wonderful and exciting about them. All different and individual in their own rights.

And then there’s Savannah. A phenomenal and gorgeous plus-size woman who makes me feel alive like no one else. She makes me laugh when the past five years have been full of heartache.

The chemistry between Victoria and me is perfect for the role. It’ll help audiences sympathize with my character when Victoria’s character is killed, but it’s all professional on my side. Not so much for her.

She’s definitely flirting with me.