Page 1 of Rocks You Like a Cabernet

Chapter One

Bryn

“Ican feel you looking at me,” I murmur from my place on the sofa, my voice muffled by the pillow I’d shoved my face into an hour ago before falling asleep. Slowly, not wanting to wake up, I shift my position so that a bit of my face is exposed.

Cool air hits my hot skin. It feels nice, but doesn’t distract me enough not to peek an eye open to see who’s in my space.

My personal assistant of five years stares at me. I wouldn’t say Stella and I are friends, she is after all being paid to stay by my side, but she’s the closest thing I have to a confidant. Sad really, that I have such a small trust circle.

When Stella doesn’t say anything, I have to hold back my annoyed huff. She’s looking at me like she’s a little kid in a candy store.

“What do you want Stella?”

Silence.

When the silence continues, even at my prompting, something at the back of my neck tingles. Stella has her quirks, but prolonged silences isn’t one of them.

Not unless she has news.

A sharp pain goes down my back as I ungracefully push myself up from my prone position. My body slips off the couch accidentally, but I go with it. At Stella’s feet now, I grip her knees in anticipation. When my gaze connects with Stella’s again, her big brown eyes meeting my stormy blues, I’m instantly alert. Her eyes are sparkling, almost electric.

She knows something big.

“What is it?” I prompt her, unable to wait a second more. I give her knees another squeeze. “Do you have news?”

She nods, again keeping me in suspense. Sinking into the sofa beside me, Stella reaches for my hands and pulls me up from the floor to sit beside her. My heart is racing, about to thump out of my chest. I think she’s trying to kill me with the suspense. Stella does nothing but stare at me with her big doe eyes.

“You’re killin’ me Stells. Tell me already!”

“You got the role,” she rushes out, the words all mashing together but I can make them out. I’ve been waiting to hear them for the last month.

“Say it again.”

“You got the role. You’re going to be Princess Adelina of the Northern Mystic Realm. You did it!” Her hands smack down on mine and our fingers instantly intertwine.

“YES!” I scream, jumping up from the sofa, taking her with me. “Yes! Hell yes,” I continue to celebrate, punching the air with my fists and dancing around the room. Stella joins me, jumping around with wild movements. “Oh my God, I can’t believe it’s happening. It’s really happening.”

“You worked hard for this, Bryn,” Stella praises me as she comes in for a hug. My body is shaking I realize as she backs away, hands now clasped under her chin as she grins ear-to-ear at me.

Running both hands through my hair, I blink in amazement. I didn’t think this role was going to happen for me. I wanted it. Badly. Desperately even. Yet I didn’t think I would land it. By far this was the most grueling audition process I’ve ever gone through.

Granted, in the past I have been very typecasted and only had to do the bare minimum. This new opportunity as Princess Adelina was my chance to show the world I was more than a pretty face and a giggling rom-com girlie.

As Princess Adelina I would have fight scenes and stunt work. I would have to train to be a badass and challenge myself with more emotional range than I ever have before. It was exciting. A new beginning for a career that was dwindling before my eyes.

There are only so many years a woman has in Hollywood before her fame and public adoration takes a fall. Not a dip, a fall. And I was sinking fast. Being part of the internationally acclaimed bestselling romantacy franchise The Burning House of Firelight was my last chance to show the world, and producers honestly, that I could do more. Be more.

I was ready.

“Tell me more,” I demand from Stella, reaching for her again as I sit. “Do you have any more information about the cast? Production times?”

The spark of joy that was shining on her face a second ago disappears. It’s not anticipation that fills my stomach this time, it’s dread. She tries to shake it off, but I’ve already seen it.

“Yes. Production for you and—umm, for you, begins in two weeks. The script is being sent over as we speak and you’ll need to fly out to Vancouver by the end of the week.” Stella continues to rattle on about how the series will be filmed and the possibility that next season, if we get picked up, would focus on my character's storyline.

I hear her, but I’m also waiting for her to stop talking so I can ask the most important question.

“Who got the role of Eren?”

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