Page 3 of Between the Lines

That question came from someone I didn’t know, but pegged as a production assistant, who Charlotte immediately gave her attention, except…

Alec was supposed to be my costar.

Well, it sounded he’d still be my costar, but more specifically…he was supposed to be mylove interest.

It was half the reason I was so nervous about the show.

Alec Everett was a veteran actor—he’d been a breakout star as a child, then made the unusual decision to take a break and go to college, where he’d excelled in athletics. That excellence had taken him into professional football, where he remained until an injury derailedthatcareer, and he returned to what he called his “first love,” where he was welcomed with open arms.

Since then, he’d been in dozens of hit movies and shows, solidifying himself as a household name. He was incredibly talented and unfairly good-looking—a combination that made him a scene-stealer, which meant I’d have to pull out all the stops to avoid being overshadowed, to hold my own when we were both on screen.

That had been made abundantly clear in the chemistry read.

He’d been super pleasant, perfectly amiable, which was all—hell,more than—I could ask for from someone I’d be portraying intimacy with. And clearly the production theme thought I could handle it, or I wouldn’t have gotten the role.

I’d done really well, honestly, and I could give myself those props.

Alec though, was downrightdelightful.

His character, Silas, was pretty typical of the kind of stand-up guy Alec played often, with a twist of actual swag. He was the uncle of a troubled student in my class, who’d been tasked with caring for her in the wake of her parents’ death in the crossfire of gang activity that had nothing to do with them.

The circumstances were sad, but Silas was stepping up—a good guy, even with his hood streak. Alec had done the part justice in the little I’d seen, but I could see why he would want the role Daniel—another young Black powerhouse—had been cast for.

Jude was…less good.

Not exactly avillain, but definitely not a typical gentleman character. It would be a departure for Alec, and probably a good challenge for him.

But ifhewasn’t going to be Silas anymore…who was?

I didn’t get to ask Charlotte about it before the production assistant whisked her away, and I had to just get in my spot and take a seat, once I realized I should be looking for mycharactername, not my own.

In my seat—next to the empty one for Silas—I dug in my bag for my phone, sending the same text to several people.

Do you know anything about last-minute changes to the cast?

Even though chances were I’d find out before any answers came through, I still had to ask. Nerves built in my chest as the rest of the cast trickled in—Alec sitting at the place marked for Jude, giving me a triumphant smile in greeting. Vanessa—freaking Vanity—breezing in to take the seat on my other side. Between me and Alec, because she would be portrayinghislove interest now.

“Elodie Perry—my favorite of the young baddies,” she greeted me with a hug. We’d met on multiple occasions now, but as a fan of her music, I was still in awe every time. Her chatter was just the distraction I needed from waiting to see who I’d be acting with. A quick inquiry to her let me know she didn’t know who was taking over the role—Alec didn’t either.

Right when I started to worry that the role hadn’t been recast yet at all, the door opened once more. I couldn’t even tell who’d walked in yet, but still…my heart leapt somewhere in my throat.

The low rumble of the voice.

The slow swagger through the shadows.

And then, still before I could see his face…the familiar brown skin.

I tried as hard as I could to swallow the sudden lump in my throat as he moved around the table, offering greetings to people as he came around.

To the empty space next to me.

“Hey, Ellie,” he said, and just like usual, that deep tenor hit me right in the panties.

He was the only person who called me that.

The only person whocouldcall me that.

I forced a smile to my face, trying not to sound—or look—as flustered as I felt as I returned the greeting.

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