Page 42 of A Hard Sell

“Come check out the table settings.”

They perused the setup, thrilled with everything, right down to the food that no one would be eating. They helped with a few finishing touches, ensuring the bottles of Sartini wine were displayed prominently on every table, and conferenced with Hanna and the director, Yuan, before the extras were brought in.

“All right, let’s get you seated here.” Hanna placed them at an intimate table for two. “You’re on background all morning, so all you need to do is act like you’re on a date. You can whisper-talk to each other, smile a lot, bat your eyes, pretend you’re eating… Just have fun!”

They watched while Hanna directed the rest of the extras around the set, then she gathered up the ones playing the servers.

“So…come here often?” Luka cracked quietly to fill the silence as they waited.

“Hmm.” Thomas laughed in a low chuckle. “First time.”

“I think I’ve forgotten how to do awkward first date chit-chat. It’s been a while.”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“I mean…” The faintest hint of a blush dusted Thomas’ cheeks. “You must have offers.”

“Um, not really!”Well, this is embarrassing.Luka fiddled with the silverware. “I don’t know… I work a lot. I don’t go out to meet people much.”

Thomas looked like he wanted to say something, but he just nodded, the silence stretching out again.

One of the set dressers appeared with two plates. “Don’t touch the food,” was all he said in a bored voice as he plunked the meals down in front of them.

They looked at each other.

“Terrible service,” Thomas said.

Luka shook his head. “This is going in my review online.”

And so for the next three hours, they sat at their table holding forks and knives, smiling and pretending to eat.

“What’s the worst first date you’ve ever been on?” Luka asked at one point when the director had paused to adjust the lighting.

“Hmm…” Thomas frowned. “Probably this guy who had just broken up with someone. He got drunk, borrowed my phone to call his ex right in front of me and then he threw my phone into the ice bucket after he hung up.”

Luka laughed. “Wow. That’s bad.”

Thomas nodded. “Dodged a bullet with that one. What about you?”

“One time, fresh out of college, the guy took me back to his house, only it was his parents’ house. We had to sneak into his room in the basement. And it was filthy. Cereal bowls, empty chip bags, bread crusts…” He shuddered. “But I tried to get over it because he was brutally hot. Then when we were completely naked and, you know,engaged, his mom came into his room to put his laundry away.”

Thomas pressed a hand over his mouth, trying to hold back a laugh.

Luka ducked his head and laughed too. “It’s funny now, but I left my shoes behind running out of there!”

Thomas snorted through his fingers.

“They were my favorites,” Luka said wistfully.

“Quiet on set!” Hanna called. They choked their giggles down.

When they paused for lunch, they were delighted to open their boxes to find chicken sandwiches on thick, nutty bread, with caramelized onions and provolone cheese.

“Wait, I chose the caterer, didn’t I?” Luka said, a memory stirring.

“Amazing work,” Thomas said. “I trust you for all my food and beverage decisions from now on.”

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