Page 84 of A Little Bit Extra

“I do. With Cassie's love and support, I've decided to stop pretending and start chasing my dream, which is not acting. I want to write. So, I did just that. I wrote a movie. The movie's plot, which is inspired by a true story, holds a special place in my heart.”

I can feel Cassie's penetrating stare, but I resist the temptation to look back at her. Not yet. I keep my eyes on Mia, waiting for her to ask her next question.

“Can you share anything about this movie?” Mia says, sounding way more excited than before if that’s possible. This interview has evolved from being an exclusive interview with me to announcing some of the top news in Hollywood. Her company is going to be thrilled with the amount of traffic they’ll get after this.

“Yes, thank you for asking. So this movie is a romance movie. It’s about a couple that goes through life searching for love, acceptance, and understanding. They end up finding it in each other and fall in love over a short period. It’s called A Little Bit Extra, and we start filming next week.”

“What?” Cassie says and then covers her mouth with her free hand. “Sorry, Mia.”

I give her hand a squeeze and look at her this time. She has a look on her face that I enjoy, slightly irritated, slightly amazed, but mostly surprised.

“Wow, that’s so soon, Emmett. Well, I can’t wait to hear more about it. Tell me, do you have a cast yet?” Mia asks.

“We set the cast. Cassie is playing the lead role, and I will actually act alongside her. It’s our story.”

Cassie’s hand goes back over her mouth.

“Cassie, I can see from your expression that this is news to you. If you don’t mind me asking, can I get your thoughts on what Emmett just talked about? It looks like you didn’t know about the movie?”

Cassie’s hand slowly leaves her mouth. She looks at me once, gives my hand a squeeze, and returns her gaze back to Mia.

“I knew about the movie. Well, I knew they cast me as the lead in A Little Bit Extra. I knew the plot, to an extent. It’s honestly why I accepted the role. They only gave me the title page and a short synopsis of the movie. They didn’t even give me a script. But, after reading about it, I could envision myself being a part of this movie. I related to the main character in a way I couldn’t understand, and now I know why. Because it’s my, our, story.”

“That’s great, Cassie. Well, thank you both for sharing your story with me and the rest of the people tuning in right now. Emmett, I wish you the best on this new journey and can’t wait to see your film. You can count on me to be there when it premieres.” The interview is over. Cassie remains silent until Mia and her crew pack up and leave.

“You’re in trouble, Emmett Davis,” Cassie says. My gaze meets hers and I’m met with her intense stare and defensive stance, arms crossed firmly over her chest.

“Oh, come on, Cass, you can’t be mad at me.”

Cassie is trying extremely hard to hide the smile that’s appearing beneath her fake frown.

“Why didn’t you tell me it was your movie?” she asks.

“You wouldn’t have accepted the role if you knew from the beginning. I wanted you to know that you got the role because of your talent, not because of me. It was important to me that you knew how ridiculously talented you are. You deserve the world, Cassie. I just wanted to help move the needle and give you an opportunity to chase your dream. You’ve given me so much these past few months and have asked for nothing in return.”

I walk up to her and stand a foot away. I tip my jaw down and give her my best puppy dog face, earning me a chuckle. She steps forward and throws her arms around me.

“You’re the worst,” Cassie says into my chest.

“You love me.”

“Yes, I love you.”

Cassie looks up and I meet her halfway to press my lips against hers.

My phone buzzes in my back pocket. I sigh and reach around to grab it. It’s my dad. I’m not surprised. I honestly thought he was going to call as soon as the interview was over, so giving me 10 minutes is a record.

“You don’t have to answer it,” Cassie says, and I know she’s right, so I press the decline button.

If my parents want to support me and my writing, that’s a decision they will make over time.

“Want to talk about it?” Cassie asks.

I shake my head. With our first date on the horizon, I don't want to delve into it. When I have the love of my life standing in front of me, I don't need to think about my parents. She’s the one who’s given me the courage to face my past and look at my future. Cassie reaches out with her hand, intertwining her fingers with mine.

The world now knows that I’m done acting. They know about Cassie and I.

We don’t have to hide anymore, and I feel so relieved.

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