Page 84 of The Fate Of Us

My heart didn’t sing for Asher the way it belted for Nate.

Just like how my heart doesn’t cry for acting the way it sobs for writing.

It’s a love that’s impossible to compare.

I think that’s why I was nervous to cross paths with Eleanor; because when I did, I’d haveto lie to her. I’d have to lie about how much I’ve adored being here. I couldn’t do that to someone I looked up to. I just couldn’t.

I eventually find the courage to slip out of my dressing room, immediately being blindedby the stage lights that seemed brighter than they were a few days ago. Maybe they amped them up for Eleanor, like when your principal would sit at the back of your classroom and the teacher that’s been anti-homework all year decides to send you home with a two-thousand-word report that’s due the next day.

That’s what it feels like.

And when I see Sebastian without his signature, million-dollar smile, I know that thewoman stalking behind him, all legs and no evidence of ever smiling in her life, is the reason he’s no longer Mr. Nice Guy.

They make headway over to me, freezing me to the floor like I’m about to be grounded. Ianxiously wait for them to reach me, and the longer I don’t see Seb crack a smile, the more worried I get.

“Adaline, I’d like to introduce you to someone.” Icy, emotionless, so completelyun-Sebastian of him. He twists his body and gestures to the scariest woman I think I’ve ever seen. “This is Miss Winthrop. Eleanor Winthrop. The author of—”

“Sebastian, let the poor girl breathe,” The lady with the sharpest cheekbones and deepestbrown eyes I’d ever seen, with, somehow, a sweeter voice than Amber’s, says to him with a pat of his shoulder, before turning her attention down to me.

“Miss Moore, it’s a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance.” She pushes her way pastSeb, who has a glimmer of a smile on his face. The movement makes her black bob shake, the clean-cut lines as sharp as her cheeks.

“I’m…“ I stumble, wondering if her casualness was a test for me to drop my guard. “It’sa pleasure… too. I’m such a huge fan.” I beam, earning me a smile that didn’t match her aura.

Like if the evil queen had Snow White’s personality.

Her eyes soften slightly, as they trace my face. “I can say the same with you, my dear. Mylittle girl was so beyond jealous of you in that Christmas movie you did as a kiddo; she refused to leave the house without string lights wrapped around her pigtails for weeks!”

Her chuckle was like a cup of sugar; the meaning of sweetness.

Sebastian craned his neck upward to Eleanor, who towered over him in the maroon heelsadorning her,would shock me if they weren’t polished, feet. I study him with a smile as his eyes narrow, like he’s questioning whether the woman before us was the same one who was just in the meeting with him, the one who caused his casualness and southern charm to disappear.

“Neither would my little sister,” I laugh, doing my best not to crack at the thought ofGoldie, every colour of sparkly ribbon perfectly tangled in her golden blonde braids, rushes through my mind.

“Are you enjoying your visit so far?” I ask with a cough, hoping to help the lump in mythroat go away.

“Oh, yes. I still can’t believe this is happening. A movie, of my book. I’m sure I’ll neverget over it.” She beams, before turning to Sebastian and laying a freshly manicured hand on his shoulder. “Seb, would you mind giving me and Miss Moore a moment to talk?”

His head bobs forward, like a dashboard bobblehead. “Yeah, sure! Not a problem. I needto… uhh… get this next scene set up. Yeah, sure, I’ll head…” he says, throwing a thumb over his shoulder. “Yeah, I’ll go.”

Before we know it he’s practically running towards the gaggle of crew members huddledaround one of the four cameras surrounding the set, as I shift my head to Eleanor, who catches my eye as I nod my chin at her.

“I take it the meeting went well if he’s practically jumping out of his skin every time youtalk to him?” Laughter bubbles around my question.

Eleanor lets a smirk curl up her face, her mahogany eyes shooting me a knowing look. “Ithought his nice guy act was just an act when I walked in. I take it that’s not the case though?”

I shake my head. “Seb’s probably my favourite director I’ve ever worked with. He’s got agift with this job for sure, and he’s just a really good guy.”

“No need for the ice queen act then?” She asks, dipping her eyes down her body and backto me, a laugh slipping past her lips that matched her patent pumps.

“I don’t think so,”

A shrug rolled through her shoulders. “I just wanted to make sure the story wasn’t beingturned into something it shouldn’t. I’ve seen it happen before, and half the time it’s like these people never read the book they’re turning into a movie.”

I nod at her. “I get it. I can’t imagine writing such a heartwarming story, only for it to beturned into something completely different.”

I can’t imagine releasing a book into the world in the first place.

“But Seb, and everyone really, has done such a good job. We’ve…”Liar. Liar. Liar.“All,really enjoyed this project.”

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