Page 2 of Rocks You Like a Cabernet

Eren is Princess Adelina’s love interest in the series. Their relationship is a rollercoaster of emotions and they are one of the most beloved couples in the entire franchise. It was vital that whoever got the part and I had intense chemistry. We’d really have to sell the tension and longing.

I was praying Jay Henderson got the part. He and I had worked together before and clicked instantly. I had more brotherly feelings towards him than deep-hot passion, but I knew we could make it work. Fake it till you make it, right?

“Umm, I’d rather not say,” Stella admits. She taps on her phone a few times before holding it up for me to see the screen. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust but once the words focus, I only see one headline.

My heart stops.

Rock legend Henrik Westwyld takes to a new stage as lead in The Burning House of Firelight streaming series.

“No.” My eyes flick up to Stella then quickly back down to the screen. “No, that can’t…they couldn’t…What in the world is happening?”

“I’m sorry,” Stella whispers.

Strike me down dead. Henrik Westwyld was the absolute last person on the planet that I would have cast for this role. Why the hell would they even consider him? He was going to ruin everything.

And why would he even want a role like this? He was a rockstar for God’s sake, with no acting background other than acting out like a spoiled child.

The worst part of all this was that Henrik and I had…history. Nothing romantic, but he wasn’t someone I wanted to be around. I would put money on the fact that he doesn’t even remember me.

But I remember him…and what he said.

I couldn’t, and wouldn’t, fight the producers on this casting. I would just have to suck it up and put on the best performance of my life–both on and off camera.

Because if there was one thing I was really good at, it was smiling through the pain.

Chapter Two

Henrik

Ihad no idea what this girl's issue was. Since the moment we met, Bryn Bright has been giving me the cold shoulder and the iciest smiles. I feel like I have fucking frostbite every time I leave her presence.

She was good at hiding her dislike of me when we were surrounded by other cast members and crew, but when it’s just us, I need an extra layer of protection against her cutting stares.

I needed to get her alone. Ask her what the issue was and how we could get past it. The last thing I wanted was to jeopardize the show because of some misunderstanding.

Maybe she had a thing against rockstars. I’d run into that a few times–not a lot since the majority of women threw themselves at me instead of dashing in the other direction–but everyone had their quirky tastes.

Maybe I’d taken the trailer lot she wanted. Or mistakenly drank her unlabeled kombucha. Who knows? Our first scene was being filmed tomorrow so we needed to hash this shit out before then. The tension we needed to depict was of forbidden lovers torn apart. Not a serial killer stalking her next victim.

Her dislike of me would probably be great fuel for our characters' enemies-to-lovers plotline but our first scene was a lusty one. She needed to act like she wanted me desperately tomorrow. More than anything in this world. Not give off vibes that she desperately wanted me anywhere but near her.

“Alright Henrik, how does that feel now?” Looking at myself in the mirror I give my body a wiggle. Eren’s costume is a heavy motherfucker with all its dark fabric and lace but shit do I look good.

“Jaimie love, it’s fucking perfect. The collar feels a ton better.”

“Great,” she claps her hands. “Now carefully take it off and hang it over there. I’ll steam it and get it ready for tomorrow.”

Giving her a thumbs-up, I head back into the curtained area and change back into my regular clothes.

There wasn’t much difference between being a rock performer and an actor. You still had rehearsals. Still had to test lighting and sound and know where your marks were. Still had to wear hot and heavy clothing. People still shouted at you from all angles.

The biggest difference that had taken me a bit to get used to was the pace. Usually, when on tour or recording in the studio, you did your thing and then you had a little time to rest. Recover and rejig. Not on set.

One day you’re doing a table read and being whisked away for a fitting and the next day you’re on set for hours, legit filming something that won’t air until episode six. I have great stamina, but it was tested.

No joke, one day after rehearsal I went back to my temporary apartment and took an ice bath. Straight up filled the tub with ice cubes and soaked my sore body for as long as I could.

The mental and physical sides I can handle–I live for the challenge. What I can’t deal with is having my co-star hate me for no reason at all. Her and I needed to have a come-to-Jesus moment and it needed to happen soon.

---