Page 48 of Love At First Fright

“Wow, I’m flattered they’ve all turned up for me,” Rosemary said.

“You’ve earned it,” Mona replied sincerely and switched on the mic.

“Thanks for joining us here today for a reading and signing from the inimitable Rosemary Shaw, the scream queen of historical horror.” There was enthusiastic applause.

Rosemary took a deep breath, her eyes casing the room.

Lots of smiling readers, but no Ellis. He did say he would come, and she knew he would.

But where was he? Had he finally figured out a “celebrity disguise” so good even she couldn’t spot him from this vantage point?

Unlikely. He was probably just running late.

After the introductions, she read a snippet from the third chapter of When the Devil Takes Hold, when Alfred first arrives at the manor and takes in its gothic facade.

Except now that she read it, her mind drifted to the film set.

That day with the rain streaming down, Ellis’s figure standing before Hallowvale.

The character of Alfred transmuted in her mind to look more and more like Ellis as she read on.

At one point, Rosemary looked up, her eyes scanning the audience again.

He was there. In the corner of the room, leaning against a bookshelf, his baseball cap pulled down and, even though he wore sunglasses inside, she could tell his gaze was locked on her.

Her heart thumping wildly in her chest, she offered him a secret smile, which he returned. Ellis was here.

When her reading ended, the signing began.

This bit was always easier. All she had to do was chat a little with each reader; the trickiest part was making sure to spell their name correctly when signing.

She kept wondering when Ellis might come and join her, though he was probably holding back to remain inconspicuous.

After a while, the people began to blur, and within forty-five minutes she was already on her second Sharpie.

There were only a handful of people left now.

One delightful reader had even brought her a framed print of some fan art they had made of David in Julia.

It was funny, the way a book took on a life of its own after it was published and in the hands of readers.

Perhaps on a subconscious level she’d envisioned the scientist character of David as queer, but it certainly hadn’t been her main focus of his character.

Yet, much like the Babadook, in the years that Julia had been out, David had become something of a queer horror icon in niche book circles.

Something about having a homoerotic relationship with the voice of the unfathomable deep was queer-coded when she really thought about it, so perhaps it wasn’t too surprising.

“Hi, I’m a really big fan,” came a rumbling, familiar voice. Rosemary looked up and met Ellis’s gaze, his sunglasses tipped down his nose a little.

“Inconspicuous.” She chuckled. “I wasn’t sure if you’d be able to make it.”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he said, resting his hands on the table. “I just got stuck in traffic, but I think I got here when you were only a few minutes into the reading.” He bent closer. “It’s absolutely killing me that I can’t kiss you right now.”

That had her blushing. “Why don’t you do it then?”

Ellis shook his head. “I can’t, love. Trying to be inconspicuous, remember?”

“No one knows we’re together, and no one would suspect it’s you,” she countered, whispering.

“Maybe not, but I reckon people might decide they want a closer look at the guy who’s making out with the scream queen herself. Anyway, you’ve got a copy to sign for me.” He placed a copy of Julia in front of her. “I’ve heard the author is rather talented.” He smirked.

“Oh really?”

“Mm. Pretty fucking hot, too. Or so I’ve heard.”

Heat tingled along Rosemary’s spine, chasing up her cheeks and neck. Her fingers itched to reach out and take Ellis’s hands in hers, resting as they were on the table before her.

“And who shall I make it out to?” She looked up at him from beneath her lashes, relishing the way his hands flexed. Ellis liked seeing her in her element, just as much as she liked seeing him in his, it turned out. His expression made it explicitly clear what he would be doing to her later.

“Mr. F—”

“Hey, you’re taking a long time, man, you know there are other people in this queue?” The guy behind Ellis barged in, rounding on Ellis.

“You look kind of fami— Wait, are you Ellis Finch? Oh my god! Hey, guys, it’s Ellis Finch, he’s here!”

Rosemary wasn’t prepared for what happened next.

The rush of people was immediate, congregating in a mob-like fashion around Ellis.

She heard various calls of “Can I have your autograph?” and “Take a selfie with me, Ellis!” and for a brief moment she lost him in the swell.

Flashes of smartphone cameras popped from every side, and more and more people flooded into the room.

“Sorry, Mona, I think I’m going to have to go,” Rosemary said, and Mona nodded but seemed preoccupied with the way customers seemed to be vaulting over chairs in the event space to get closer to Ellis.

This was insanity—it was just Ellis. Except, Ellis was one of the most famous actors in the world, a fact which Rosemary appeared to have forgotten.

Now the need for his disguise made even more sense.

This wasn’t the paparazzi, but it was just as intense.

Rosemary slipped around the signing table, pulling her bag onto her shoulder, and did her best to weave into the mass of people.

She didn’t bother calling out for Ellis, he wouldn’t be able to hear her anyway.

“Ellis, take a photo with me!” someone called, and Rosemary heard a “Not right now, sorry” response from Ellis, and then she saw him.

A pair of women had looped their arms into his, effectively locking him in place unless he purposefully struggled free.

Which he wouldn’t do, because he was too polite.

“Excuse me, you’re going to take your hands off him right now,” Rosemary said loudly, all anxiety about the heaving crowd vanishing in the face of Ellis’s struggle.

She spoke with her firmest, sternest Southern drawl.

It was the voice she’d heard her mama use countless times on her in childhood, and it did something to people.

It made them pay attention and it brooked no disrespect.

The frenzy stilled, and Rosemary locked eyes with a shaken Ellis, sunglasses vanished, cap askew.

She recognised the look in his eyes; she’d seen it before when the photographers had swarmed onto set.

This was a nightmare for him, but it was in her power to get him out of here now.

She pulled his arm free from one of the women and said quietly, “Let’s go. ”

Thankfully, the crowd parted for them; even though people continued to snap photos, they were given space to leave.

Man, people really lost it when faced with a celebrity.

She wondered why she hadn’t felt that way when she’d first encountered Ellis, though perhaps in some way she had.

It had just been overshadowed by her grumpiness at their first few meetings.

Ali, scanning books at the counter on the ground floor, waved at Rosemary and thanked her for coming. Clearly the drama on the third floor hadn’t reached them down here yet.

“Thank you for the lovely event.” She smiled back and, arm looped with Ellis’s, they ducked out of The Reader’s Rest.

“Where’s the car?” she asked. Now they were out in the breeze and light November drizzle, Ellis became more himself, running a hand through his hair before putting the cap back on.

“Just on that side street,” he said, taking her hand and leading the way.

“That was fucking intense,” she said.

“Yeah.”

“Are you okay? Did anyone…do anything? Those women shouldn’t have put their hands on you.”

Ellis gave her a look. “I know. Thank you for defending me in there. I just sort of freeze up in moments like that.”

“I get it. Feels like a natural response. Is it always that bad when you’re out in public? I can see now why you didn’t want to stay living in London.”

“It’s not always like that. Red carpets are much more controlled, and most of the time people local to my house don’t really say anything. I see them looking, but people are generally respectful of my space. But sometimes, it just takes a couple of people and then it turns into…that.”

They arrived at the car, Ellis opening the door on Rosemary’s side first and then walking around to his. When he’d pulled into his seat and locked the doors, finally Rosemary heard him exhale deeply.

“Jesus Christ,” he said, throwing his cap in the backseat. “I am sorry you had to witness that, love.”

“Are you kidding? I’m the one who’s sorry, Ellis. I don’t know how you live like this, I could never manage it.”

He stared out the front window, and Rosemary noticed his jaw clenching and unclenching.

He almost seemed like he wanted to say something, and Rosemary hoped he’d just come out and say it—but she didn’t want to push.

Clearly, emotions were running high after the swarm in the bookshop. Had she said something to offend him?

Slowly, Ellis turned to her. “You did really well in there, love,” he said, clearly opting for a change in conversation. Fine, but she would try to bring this up with him later.

“You think so?” she said, moving closer for a kiss.

“I know so. I felt very proud seeing you up there, doing the reading. In your element.” He captured her lips with his, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear, the pads of his fingers running down the side of her neck, tracing her collarbone.

“Did you text your friends about lunch tomorrow?” he asked. The week had gone by in a flash and now Rosemary only had a couple more days before she was flying back to the States to see her dad. Still, she and Ellis hadn’t properly discussed what would come after. She didn’t know how to bring it up.

“I did. Immy and Eric are leaving the twins with Eric’s parents so they can come, and Dina and Scott will be there. And your sister?”

“Annie will be there. She’s very excited to meet you.”

“Right back at her.” Rosemary placed a hand on Ellis’s cheek, and pressed another kiss to the corner of his mouth. “Let’s go home. I should start packing before tomorrow, otherwise I’ll forget to do it.”

Ellis’s expression hardened. “Of course. You need to pack. We should go then.”