Page 37 of You. Me. Us.

As she slept, Julius gazed down at her, a tender smile playing on his lips. In sleep, the worries and self-doubt that often clouded her features were replaced by a serene beauty that took his breath away. He marveled at the way she fit so perfectly against him, as if they were two puzzle pieces finally clicking into place.

Around them, the plane moved swiftly, but not quietly. Occasionally someone came up to him with a whisper, asking for a photo, but they were all quiet and accepted when he gestured to Hillary with an apology.

His world had narrowed down to the woman beside him, the one who had captured his heart so completely.

She feels like she’s the missing piece I never knew I needed,he thought, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face.The one who sees beyond the fame and the charm, who challenges me to be better, to want more. Even when the more isn’t for me.

As the plane soared through the clouds, carrying them toward their next adventure, Julius closed his eyes and let himself drift into thought, content in the knowledge that she trusted him and would make certain to keep that trust when things got rough.

Julius’s mind wandered to the day they first met, last month. He had been instantly drawn to her quick wit and infectious laughter, the way her eyes sparkled with interest and intelligence. As they worked together, he found himself looking forward to reading her piece, eager for any opportunity to think of her without it seeming over the top.

Even with her at his house, after the movie when he’d convinced her to just lay with him to see what peace and quiet together would be like, she’d been so brave.

“You know, for a big-shot actor, you’re not half bad,” she had teased him that evening in his bed. “I might even go so far as to say you’re tolerable.”

“Tolerable?” he had echoed, clutching his chest in mock offense. “You wound me, Hillary. And here I thought we were becoming friends.”

“More than friends?” She had arched an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Julius.”

That had been the start of it all, the spark that had ignited the flames of their connection.

With the start of filming looming on the horizon, Julius couldn’t help but wonder what the future held for them. Would the demands of their careers pull them apart, or would they find a way to navigate the challenges together?

Late-night talks,he mused, his fingers absently tracing the curve of Hillary’s shoulder.Stolen kisses in the shadows of the set. Perhaps even a secret rendezvous or two, away from the prying eyes of the press.

The possibilities were endless, and Julius found himself growing more and more excited at the prospect of exploring them with Hillary.

We could be something special, he thought, his heart swelling with a mixture of hope and longing. He already knew she was something special, but it seemed she agreed he was, too.

Hours passed, and Hillary slept while he did nothing at all but relax. He wasn’t good at sleeping on planes, but it meant he could watch over her and that was fine by him.

The gentle chime of the fasten seatbelt sign pulled Julius from his reverie, and a quick glance outside the window told him they were landing. As the world outside the window transformed from a sea of clouds to the sprawling landscape of theirdestination, Julius felt a mix of excitement and apprehension stirring in his chest.

He knew that the road ahead wouldn’t be easy. The demands of their schedules, the constant scrutiny of the media, the pressure to maintain a certain image—it would all take a toll. But as he looked at Hillary, her face soft and peaceful in slumber, Julius knew he was willing to face whatever challenges lay ahead, as long as he had her by his side.

“Attention passengers, welcome to your final destination: Nova Scotia. We will begin our descent in a little less than ten minutes. Please return all seats and tray tables into their upright position.”

The plane touched down with a gentle jolt, and Hillary stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She blinked up at Julius, a sleepy smile spreading across her face.

“Hey, sleepyhead,” Julius teased, his voice warm with affection. “You missed all the good stuff out the window.”

Hillary stretched, stifling a yawn. “Oh, I doubt that,” she replied, her tone playful. “My dreams were far more interesting than anything happening out there. Besides, I don’t think my stomach enjoys watching things be below me, at least not according to the signals it sends my brain.”

Julius chuckled, shaking his head. “I don’t know about that. There were some pretty spectacular cloud formations.”

Hillary rolled her eyes, but her smile remained. “Next time, wake me up for the cloud formations. I wouldn’t want to miss out on such riveting entertainment.”

His ears popped as the plane did begin its descent. A glance at Hillary revealed she was totally calm. A distinct contrast to almost every other time he’d been with her, a pang went through him as he realized he kept putting her in uncomfortable situations.

Then you’ll have to fix that, starting now.

seventeen

. . .

Hillary sat hunchedover the coffee table in the hotel room, the pages of the script trembling slightly as her fingers shook slightly. She tried to focus on the words, but they seemed to swim before her eyes, taunting her with their importance. Tomorrow’s table read loomed like a towering wave, threatening to sweep her under and expose her as a fraud among the seasoned actors.

The soft rustle of pages turning mixed with the faint sound of Hillary’s pen on her notepad were the only sounds in Hillary’s dressing room. Hillary wasn’t certain if this was even how one prepared for a full table read—assuming one did—but it was how she was doing it. Her eyes flickering back and forth between the script in her hands and her notes. The big table read was tomorrow, and she could feel the weight of expectations on her shoulders.

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