Page 62 of The Love Raffle
“Cut! Take five!” The recess bell went off, and the cast left set and headed for the snack table.
“Ugh, this costume is chafing,” Fiona complained, her words getting lost in the richness of her accent. She was Scottish today and had been since the beginning of filming.
Amber laughed as she unscrewed the cap of her water bottle. “Ask them to switch yours with something more comfortable. I got wardrobe to do that with mine. It might be too tight.” She downed half of her water bottle as she watched the crewmen rearrange their set. She had lost count of the movies they’d done. This franchise would last all eternity at this rate. There were way too many comic books, and fans loved every one of them. The films seemed to gross higher and higher with every release.
Levi got his makeup adjusted by a few artists. He’d just left the set along with a few of Captain Evolution’s villains. They shared a light joke, and he chuckled, fist-bumping the actor who played the main antagonist. “I think I’m getting a bit too old for this,” he said, picking a strawberry from the center of a fruit platter. His cape flowed behind him. Captain Evolution had gotten a makeover two movies ago. Halloween around then was a trip! Levi felt flattered to see so many remakes of his iconic costume.
“You sound like Conner. He’s always complaining about touring like he didn’t ask to blow up. Same with Elouise.” Amberstayed still for her blush adjustments. “You should be used to this, Levi. It’s been like seventeen movies.” She barked out a laugh along with their cast and crew.
Levi poked her nose. “You need to stop making fun of me.” He went in for a kiss, but Rachel walked by and grabbed him by the arm, dragging him back two steps.
“Calm down, lover boy. We wouldn’t want another scandal on our hands, would we?” she said with her phone to her ear. Oscar snorted beside her. The two made their way to Beca, who was standing on the opposite side of the warehouse.
Levi hit his forehead when the cast jeered around him, poking fun at this old joke. “You people—she’s my wife! No one cares about what happened six years ago. Come on.” He pulled Amber close.
Amber became shy, avoiding his eyes. “I care.” She faced him, setting both hands on his cheeks. “Because it’s our origin story.”
Levi was putty in her hands. The beat of his heart drowned out the murmurs from their onlookers. “Right. How could I forget?”
They were about to kiss when that pesky bell rang again.
“Back to set! Five over!” Their director climbed back to his chair for the next take.
Amber and Levi smiled at each other and then pulled away. They had work to do.
As the day stretched into evening, the set buzzed with activity. Scenes played out against green screens, dramatic stunts were rehearsed, and the hum of cameras rolling created a rhythm they had all grown accustomed to. Amber stole glances at Levi whenever she could, catching him in his element. Whether he was delivering a line or sharing a laugh with the crew, he radiated a magnetic energy that she couldn’t help but adore.
During another short break, Levi found her near the props table, adjusting her costume. “You’re incredible, you know that?” he said, his voice low enough to keep the moment private.
Amber rolled her eyes, but her smile betrayed her. “I’m just trying not to trip over my own feet in these boots.”
He stepped closer, his fingers brushing hers as he handed her a water bottle. “You’re a natural. And I’m not just talking about the acting.”
She blushed, glancing around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. “You’re biased. But I’ll take it.”
When the final scene of the day wrapped, the cast and crew erupted in applause. Another successful shoot in the books. As they packed up and prepared to leave, Amber and Levi lingered for a moment longer, standing on the edge of the set.
The warehouse doors opened to reveal the soft glow of twilight. Levi took Amber’s hand, their fingers intertwining naturally. “Ready to head home?” he asked, his tone warm.
Amber nodded, a sense of contentment settling over her. “Yeah. Let’s go home.”
Their house in the hills awaited them, a sanctuary where the lines between their on-screen roles and real lives blurred into something beautifully seamless. For now, the world could wait. They had each other, and that was enough.
