Page 92 of That Secret Something

“Unless you can think of another photo you’d rather have.”

“Jess, don’t play with me.” A slow smile spread across her face. “Are you saying you want to come with me?”

I let her sweat for a few seconds more, just so I could soak up the adorable look in her eyes. “Yes, Rebecca, that’s exactly what I’m saying.”

She kissed me, her hands finding my waist. When we parted, her eyes searched mine. “Are we really doing this?”

“I think so. If you want to.”

“I do.”

I leaned in and kissed her again, grasping the folds of her shirt to bring her closer. I never wanted to be apart from her; we had to make this work.

We had to try.

IV

Epilogue: Two Years Later

Epilogue

The screen went dark, and the auditorium erupted into applause. I whooped and cheered at the top of my lungs, feeling a swell of pride as Rebecca’s name appeared in the ending credits.

She walked out onto the stage, dressed in a deep green velvet suit and a white T-shirt, alongside the actress who’d starred in the short film. They both waved and took a quick bow as the crowd continued to applaud.

Rebecca’s gaze drifted over the audience. Her killer smile told me she’d spotted me, and it pierced straight into my heart. She’s been so nervous in the run-up to the event; seeing her relax a little lightened the load on my shoulders.

“Woo!” Lily shouted, so shrill that I winced. “That’s my sister!”

On my other side, Jade nudged me, indicating Lily with a smile. “Is she always like this?”

“Kinda. Yeah.” I laughed, then joined in with Lily’s shouting.

Someone switched a microphone on, and the film festival director strode across the stage, waving his arms. “Wasn’t that great? Rebecca Lawson and Lyndsey Farrell, everybody!” He gave each of them a congratulatory handshake and readjusted his oversized square glasses. “So, who wants to ask the first question?”

The crowd fired out a series of questions. What inspired the idea? How long did it take to create? What are your plans for the future?

Rebecca and Lyndsey took their turns to answer, making the audience laugh when they told the tale of how they’d met. Lyndsey had been starring in one of Jackie Cochrane’s TV shows while Rebecca was working on the set. Lyndsey and Jackie hadn’t seen eye-to-eye on a lot of things, and when Jackie declined her request for a day off for her friend’s hen do, Lyndsey had decided to go anyway. Rebecca found her in her trailer the next day, thirty minutes before they were supposed to shoot, hungover and without her script.

Rebecca had got her a couple of espressos and a chocolate muffin—plus a brand-new script—saving both that day’s production and probably also Lyndsey’s job, since Jackie had been none the wiser.

Lyndsey had promised to make it up to her, and that’s how they came to work together—and how they both came to be standing on this stage, after their success in the Manchester Film Festival.

After the interview, we headed into the entryway while we waited for the next film to start.

I spotted Rebecca and Lyndsey in the corner beside the popcorn stand, deep in conversation with a handful of important-looking people. Rebecca nodded, accepted a few business cards, and then the suits went back into the auditorium. Her eyes met mine, and she grinned.

I rushed over to her, and she opened her arms.

“You’re amazing!” I crushed her in a hug and breathed her in. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks, baby.” She gave me a quick kiss before turning to the rest of our group. Lily and Tyler, Jade and her girlfriend Tia, and Mr and Mrs Lawson each gave their congratulations in turn.

“Oh, my sweet little Rebecca.” Sally sniffed, wiping her nose on a tissue. “You’ve done ever so well.”

“Thanks, Mum.” She gave her a squeeze, but that only made Sally sob harder. Rebecca rolled her eyes over her mum’s shoulder, and Lily made their excuses and took their mum to spruce herself up in the toilets.

Mr Lawson wiggled his eyebrows as the swing door closed behind Sally’s wails. “So…what did those fancy folk have to say, Becca?” he asked.

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