Page 80 of How to Kiss a Movie Star
I shake my head. “Something different. That one is already a sure thing.”
She nods. “Sounds like a big deal.”
“It’s a great role. It’s thoughtful. A little cerebral. And it’s atoughcharacter. Butgah—when I read the script, it felt right in my bones, you know?”
Audrey reaches over and squeezes my hand, her lips lifting into a smile that sends a bolt of heat straight to my heart. “I like it when you talk about your work,” she says.
I hold her gaze. “You do? You know my work ismovies,right?”
She rolls her eyes and tries to tug her hand away. “You make me sound like such a troll. I’ve watchedtwomovies with you now, and I loved them both. So there.”
I grin and hold her hand a little tighter. She’s not about to get away from me. “Two down, only thousands more to go.”
“The point,” she says, wagging a playful finger in front of my face, “is that you light up when you talk about acting. I can tell you really love it. I’m just saying that’s fun to see.”
“Well, we want him to light up for this role,” Kenji says. “It’s the kind that could land him another Oscar nod. Maybe even a win.”
I settle back into my seat, loving the way Audrey leans into me, her body flush against mine. “Only if I do it justice.”
“For now, just focus on making a good impression when you meet Sheridan,” Kenji says.
I nod. “I can do that. What time do we start tomorrow?”
“Early,” Kenji says. “Eight a.m. Interviews will run until four, then you’ll have a couple hours free before you walk the red carpet at six p.m. sharp.” He looks from me to Audrey, then back again. “You’re going to feel jetlagged in the morning, and you always get puffy when you’re jetlagged. Stay in tonight. Even if Simon asks. And no alcohol. Alcohol also makes you look puffy.”
Audrey snickers beside me, and I nudge her knee with mine.
“Simon will definitely ask,” I say, knowing my publicist well enough to sense exactly where his priorities are.
“He will. And he’ll probably want you to show up somewhere Claire is going to be.” Kenji looks toward Audrey. “Don’t let him cave, Audrey. Simon is very persuasive. Keep him in tonight. Tomorrow’s a big day. You both need to rest up.”
Audrey nods, but Kenji has nothing to worry about. I can’t imagine wanting to go anywhere when the alternative is stayinginwith Audrey.
I’ve been thinking way too much about all the time we’re going to spend together. Thehotel roomwe’re going to share—not that I have any intention of trying anything. I won’t even kiss her unless she asks me to, even if it takes every ounce of restraint to keep from doing so. I just want her to be comfortable, to be able to relax for one night before everything gets crazy tomorrow.
Beside me, Audrey sighs and drops her head onto my shoulder as she stifles an enormous yawn.
The contact sends that same pulsing energy through me. Every place she touches me crackles with electricity. I could light up all of Los Angeles with this energy, with the fire that sparks whenever her skin brushes against mine.
I lift my arm and wrap it around her shoulders, tugging her closer until her head is resting against my chest. It feels so easy. So natural to hold her like this.
She must think so too because she lifts an arm and wraps it around my waist. Whether intentional or not, her hand slips under the hem of my T-shirt and presses against the skin on my lower back. Her touch is whisper soft as her fingers trace tiny circles on my skin. I close my eyes, not wanting her to stop but knowing if she doesn’t, I might lose my actual mind.
She’s killing me with this.Literallykilling me.
My phone buzzes from my pocket, but I don’t dare move to grab it. Instead, I tilt my wrist and read the message notification on my watch. It’s a text from Kenji, and it’s only two words long, so it’s easy enough to read the entire thing.
Kenji:Fake, huh?
I look up and meet his knowing expression. All I can do is shrug.
I don’t know much right now.
But I know that nothing about holding Audrey in my arms feels fake.
We take the long way to the hotel, some swanky place in West Hollywood, giving Nate and Joni time enough to get our luggage, then get to the hotel and do a security sweep to make sure everything checks out.
Kenji has already checked us in, so it’s a relatively straight shot from the car, through the hotel doors, and to the elevators. From there, it’s a quick ride up to the eighth floor, and suddenly, Audrey and I are alone.
