Page 82 of Method Acting

Great.

“Hey,” he said, coming up to the counter. “I was hoping I could grab a takeout order.” He raised his hand to my height. “He’s about this tall, dark hair, gorgeous, a little moody. Killer smile.”

I couldn’t help it.

I freaking smiled, and then I got mad at myself for falling for it.

“You’ll need to wait,” I replied. “He’s busy for another—” I checked the time. “—twenty minutes.”

“It’s okay. I can wait.”

I handed him the dirty-cup tub. “If you’re gonna wait, you’re gonna help.”

He grumbled, but took the hint and went and cleared the last table of cups and plates, then he waited by the door for us to finish.

“Night, guys,” Mason called out as we were leaving.

Then it was just me and Chase . . .

And Daniel with his camera.

I wanted to sigh and complain, but this was acting. Method acting, at that. Immersing myself into my character.

Chase picked a speck of lint off my shirt and gave me a soft smile that totally should not have made my stomach swoop. “Wanna come back to my place?” he asked, his voice low and inviting.

“Not really,” I replied. When his eyes gave me a what-the-hell look, I followed it with, “Will your housemates be there?”

He grinned and took my hand, all but pulling me toward my dorm. “Oh, thank god. I was hoping you’d say that.”

I laughed. “Don’t you have friends to hang out with or something?”

“But what we do together and what you did to me last night is way more fun.”

Oh my god.

Daniel got that on camera.

He’s acting. This is for the show.

Right. Acting.

Yes, Amos. You should try it sometime. Be Elijah. What would Elijah say right now?

“Oh, do we still have your mom’s birthday thing this weekend?” I squeezed his hand, hoping he’d roll with it. Discussing plans and family is what boyfriends of one year would do, right?

“Shoot. I forgot about that. I still haven’t gotten her anything. We’ll need to go shopping some time.”

“Correction. You’ll need to go shopping some time.”

“But you have better taste than me.”

“Well, that is true.”

“I mean, you chose me so clearly you have exceptional taste.”

“You’re so full of yourself.”

“Gonna be full of you later.”

---