Page 32 of Take 2

Chapter Twenty-Nine

T he green scrunchie stretches as I twirl my finger through it.

My laptop screen has fallen asleep, but staring off into the middle distance is half of writing.

This is a good place for it. The middle distance is bright blue sea and puffy clouds.

Except I’m not really staring at nothing. I’m watching him.

I’m transported to the stands at Camp Randall, watching Ryan play football in his Badgers red, his family at my side as we cheer him on.

There was the time I nearly jumped out of my skin when he got hurt and then didn’t breathe as he limped off the field.

I remember Anna’s arms wrapped around me as we jumped and cried when we won the game that would send us to the Rose Bowl senior year.

There was more fanfare, but watching this film shoot isn’t any less exciting for being quieter.

I blink back tears and push it down. Not the same.

This is actually more fun, as it’s only the celebrating and scoring parts.

Getting trampled happens even further behind the scenes than we are today.

If I didn’t know that part from first-hand experience, this would all look much more glamorous and not as well earned as Ryan’s achievements on the field.

But I know how hard Preston has had to work for this, even if the road he took to get here was different than mine.

He glances my way, and this time last week, I’d have been embarrassed to be caught looking at him, but now I hold his eye contact without reservation.

His expression brightens, and he winks at me.

The flutter in my stomach is so juvenile, but it can’t be helped.

If this romance that’s threatening to be my big second chance could stop trying to feel like the first botched one, that would be really great.

Preston turns his attention back to Chris. “You want a tiebreaker? Mira!” He waves me over, and I put my neglected laptop in my bag to go over to them.

“That’s not fair,” Chris says. “She’s your girlfriend; she’s obviously going to side with you.”

“I’m what?” I lay the faux shock on thick, my hand grasping invisible pearls and all.

“The only reason I haven’t been hitting on you—”

“Haven’t you been, though?”

“… is because I thought you were dating him.” Chris points his thumb at Preston. “Once I’m positive he can’t change anything to kill off my character or something, that would change. Don’t tell me I’ve been wasting all this time.”

My eye roll is so dramatic it almost hurts. “You are so full of shit. Anyway, I would never turn down an opportunity to point out when Preston is wrong, so it’s all irrelevant.”

Now that I’ve read the screenplay, it’s easy and even fun to participate in the conversation. In the argument over whether Chris’ character would lie to the woman he loves to push her away, I have to side with Preston.

“As far as he knows,” I say, “there is no way he can end up with her. Being together is only going to destroy them both, so even though it’s torture, he’ll do whatever it takes to end it. He knows it’s hurting her, but he thinks it will ultimately be less pain. It’s completely valid motivation.”

Chris groans. “Clearly, you’re sleeping together. Get back to writing a movie better than anything this idiot will ever make.”

I smile at Chris and slide my gaze to Preston. “Always what I’m working on.” I lift my wrist with the green scrunchie to wiggle it in front of him.

“I look forward to watching it,” he says.

“And I look forward to directing it,” Rafael says as he approaches us. “We’re on for dinner so I can lure you into wanting me on your next project, yes?”

“Absolutely.” The absurdity of Rafael Medina being the one needing to convince me is through the roof.

“Excellent. I’m out of here to wash work off myself.” He looks at Preston. “I’ll meet you both in the lobby?”

“See you there.” Preston turns to me as Rafael leaves. “Ready to go?”

“Yep.”

“You’re breaking my heart, Mira,” Chris says, shaking his head.

“Use that for a role.” I blow him a kiss and turn to grab my bag.

As we get into the rental car, Preston says, “You asked me how I’ve managed to stay single, but I’m sure Chris isn’t the first person whose advances you’ve ignored.”

“Those are not real advances.”

He starts the car. “You don’t think so?”

“Of course not.” I shake my head as we back out of the parking spot. “He could have anybody. Anyway, it’s no big mystery why I’m single. I don’t have the time to dedicate to a relationship.”

“Or you don’t want to dedicate time to one.”

“It hasn’t been a priority.”

He keeps his eyes on the road. “It’s hard for people to understand the workload.”

You don’t make time for me—for us. “Yeah.” My voice is barely a whisper.

“What if there was someone who understood?” He slides his hand around mine.

“Are you buying into the rumor that I’m your girlfriend?” We pull up to the hotel, and a valet opens my door. “ Merci,” I say as I step out.

Preston comes around and lays a hand on my lower back as we walk in. “Is the idea of you being my girlfriend really so ridiculous?”

“I’m definitely not your girlfriend.” I press the elevator call button.

“What are you then?”

“Your rival who you’re fucking to keep me from writing and beating you.”

He laughs, but the steady way he looks at me tells me the issue isn’t dropped.

I groan. “What happened to taking it one day at a time?”

“Does that title have a term length? Why can’t it just be for today?”

We step into the elevator, and I look up at him. “You’re only asking if I’m your girlfriend today? ”

“Yes.”

“All right. Today, I’m your girlfriend.” I look at my watch. “Does that expire at midnight or when we wake up tomorrow?”

He wraps his arm around me as we exit the elevator. “I’ll check with you when we wake up if you’ll be my girlfriend tomorrow too.”

“What if you don’t want to be my boyfriend tomorrow?”

The lock clicks at the tap of the key, and we step into my room. Preston’s green eyes shift as if he’s about to admit something embarrassing, and he clicks his tongue. “I’ll check with you tomorrow.”

Rafael waves to us from the lobby bar as we walk up. “Mirabelle, you look perfect for where we’re going!”

I smile and thank him, not mentioning that I looked up pictures of the restaurant to know that my bright yellow dress would fit the aesthetic perfectly.

It’s a ten-minute walk through the Jardins du Café de Paris and alongside the Jardins de la Petite Afrique to get there.

Inside, the mishmash of bright green, blue, and coral chairs gives a sunny feeling to the small space.

We enjoy Italian wine and food, and Rafael asks about the screenplays I’m working on selling. Talking about my scripts has never been a strong suit of mine, but he asks good questions that help. Still, I don’t feel the excitement for those.

“And what is it you’re writing now?” Preston asks.

I clear my throat. That’s a very good question. I don’t really know what it is. It may be one that goes straight to a drawer, never to see the light of day. It’s not what I usually write, and I’m not sure if it even translates into a good movie. “It’s kind of cheesy…”

“Cheese is my favorite,” Rafael says with a smile.

Preston smirks at me. “Good thing you’re talking to the best writer to ever come out of the dairy state, then.”

By the time we have shots of limoncello in front of us, he’s asked me to send it to him as soon as it’s done.

All the while Preston’s warm gaze has been on me.

I’ve known what it’s like to have someone look at me with love in his eyes, but this is different.

This is like … I’m the star athlete being watched with pride now.

I didn’t think that was something I craved.

I like being behind the scenes. I don’t want to be the starlet signing autographs, but even this silent acknowledgement from someone who gets it is like snuggling up in my favorite blanket to watch a comfort film.

“My agent, Danny, and Lisa kill it together, obviously.” Rafael waves a hand between Preston and himself. “I’d love to see what they’d do with our names together on a project.”

“Well, I hope you’re still interested in that once you’ve read it.”

“Oh, I see. You don’t realize how much you’re worth. That’s why you’ve settled for him.” Rafi shoots a teasing smile at Preston.

“I keep trying to tell her she could do better, but how many years of seeing her single could I possibly stand before trying?”

My cheeks heat. “You two are going to make me egotistical.”

“Honey,” Rafael says, “if Hollywood hasn’t done it yet, it cannot be done.” He pushes out his blue chair and stands. “I am going to go make bad decisions at the casino. I don’t suppose you’ll join me?”

I slide my purse onto my shoulder as Preston and I stand. “I’m afraid I’ve used up all of my available bad decisions in coming to this country.”

“I promise I won’t judge you too harshly for the company you keep,” he says as we step away from the table.

“How very generous of you.” Even if it’s all joking, it’s still kind of fun to hear.

I’ve never been that girl. I was the girl people didn’t believe was dating the college football player.

While I do feel a bit more confident now, there’s still no way anyone would actually think I’m out of Preston Greene’s league.

Rafael splits off from us to go to the casino, and Preston’s hand wraps around mine. I look up at him and smile. “Thank you for all of this.”

“You could land directors like Rafi anyway. This was just a good excuse to get some time with you.”

“Lisa might be able to land me directors. It’s not my area of expertise.”

“Well, that’s why you have Lisa, who is amazing, but this doesn’t hurt either.”

I nod, and my foot catches on something, sending me tripping forward. Preston pulls my hand back and leans in to catch my waist with his free one. “You really have a difficult time staying on two feet lately.”

“Last time was entirely different,” I say, straightening myself up.

“Good thing you have food in you this time.”

I tuck in under his arm and breathe him in as we continue on. “Good thing you keep being close enough to catch me.”

“All bets are off on non-girlfriend days.”

“Oh really? You’d just let me smash my face on cement?”

“Not on purpose. But your hand may not have been in mine.”

“This is blackmail.”

He chuckles. “Are you that unsure of your ability to not fall down?”

“This trip has shown me that I shouldn’t be particularly confident in any of my abilities.” My ability to shut down Preston has been blown. And it is blown yet again in the morning when he asks me to be his girlfriend, and I say yes.