Page 85 of How to Kiss a Movie Star
“You’ve caught yourself a good one,” Lea says to Audrey, her tone warm. “Are you a doctor of medicine? What’s your specialty?”
“Not medicine,” Audrey says. “I have my PhD in wildlife biology.”
“Oh, I love that.” Lea snaps her fingers. “Actually, have you ever done any consulting? I’m reading this script right now, andoh,it’s so gorgeous. Historical. West Virginia mountains. A little bit of coal mining, a little bit of falling in love. But there’s one character who’s this activist, in opposition to the mining industry for environmental reasons, and I’m feeling like the science is a little thin. Would you be willing to take a look? Give me your professional opinion?”
Audrey’s eyebrows lift. “Oh. I…sure. I’d be happy to.”
I give Audrey’s waist a reassuring squeeze. This is the first I’ve heard of the script Lea’s reading, but Audrey would be a perfect consultant. The woman knowseverythingabout everything.
“Truly? That would be amazing,” Lea says.
The door behind us opens again, and this time it really is Claire. Her gaze meets mine for the briefest second, then she looks down, a flash of trepidation crossing her features.
It isn’t what I’m expecting, and I narrow my eyes.
“Okay. Looks like we’re getting started. I’ll see you on the other side.” Lea heads across the hall to where her interviews are taking place, and I pull Audrey into my arms. She settles against me with an easy comfort that warms me from the inside out.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I say, smiling down at her.
“I’m glad I’m here too.”
“We’re ready to roll,” a voice says from behind me.
“They’re just waiting on you, Flint,” Joni calls.
I look at Joni and nod, then lean down and kiss Audrey, lingering long enough to cause a few snickers and whispers to sound across the room. “Promise you’ll stay where I can see you?” I ask when I finally pull away.
She leans up and kisses me again. “I promise.”
I pass Joni on my way to the middle of the room where Claire’s waiting for me, and she grabs my arm, halting my progress. “So we’re kissing now?” she whispers under her breath.
“Looks like it.”
“You’re really selling it,” she says through clenched teeth.
“Well, I’m a really good actor.”
She leans back and studies me, then her gaze narrows. “You aren’t acting, are you?”
I smile. “Absolutely not.”
A sound guy approaches, mic in hand, and attaches it to my collar, then melts into the crowd of techie people standing behind the cameraman while a makeup artist quickly descends, powdering my face until Joni tugs her away. “That’s enough,” Joni says. “He looks great.”
Claire offers a tentative smile when I sit down beside her. She seems fidgety, nervous, almost like she’s afraid to look at me, which is incredibly out of character for her.
“Hi, Claire,” I say. “How are you?”
She looks up, her expression curious, maybe even a little surprised. “Okay, I guess,” she answers. “How are you?”
I don’t have time to answer her because someone calls “mics on” from behind us, and then we’re off.
The process is just as taxing as it always is. We answer ten different variations of the same ten questions over and over again.
What was it like working together?
Is there any animosity between us now that we’re no longer together?
How was it filming on location in such a beautiful country?
