Page 36 of The Location Shoot
“Thank you,” Michael said, slipping it into his pocket.
The conversation moved on, and soon they were sharing lighthearted stories and enjoying Swedish bar food, including herring, prawns, meatballs, sausage, caramelized goat cheese, and an array of salads. Popular music played in the background all evening, and they just about died when Queen came on.
“What are the odds?” Finn joked.
“If you’re going to be stuck listening to one thing, you could do a lot worse,” Michael said.
“Agreed,” Ella said. “Their music actually reminds me of Jean’s approach to filmmaking.”
“How so?” Charlotte asked with great interest.
“Well, Freddie Mercury was a brilliant performer, as were all the members of the band, just as you are all brilliantactors. But they were like a group of misfits who somehow created magic together. Looking at the five stars in this film, well, most wouldn’t cast you as a group, yet Jean saw the potential for magic putting you together. What made Queen’s music so special was that it was never one thing, could never be pinned down, because they always took unexpected risks. That’s what Jean is trying to do with his body of work. It’s why he works in the open, sometimes maddening way he does. He understands that an ordinary process won’t yield extraordinary results. The only failure he sees is mediocrity, playing it safe. He’s trying to get you to take risks, try new things, be willing to fall so you can soar.”
They all sat for a moment, processing her words. Eventually, Charlotte sheepishly said, “That’s why I’m here, why I took the role, but . . .”
“What?” Ella asked.
“Acting is my whole life. I have nothing else to show for myself. What if I discover I have no more to give? What if there’s no more depth, no more layers?”
Ella reached across the table and placed her hand on Charlotte’s hand. “Impossible. Like art, life is a process of discovery. There is always more. All you have to do is confront that fear.” She squeezed Charlotte’s hand and pulled back. “And you may feel acting is your whole life now, but perhaps you won’t always feel that way. We can always remake our lives, if we choose to.”
Every person at that table let Ella’s words sink in, each deeply needing to believe them.
Finally, Charlotte smiled, raised her glass, and said, “Join me in a toast to this glorious day.”
“Cheers!”
THEY ARRIVED BACK AT THE HOUSEand heard Jean and Albie in the dining room, laughing uproariously. “I think I’ll go have a drink with them,” Michael said. “Great day, guys.”
Willow said, “I’m going up to my room to try on my new things and post on my Instagram.” She hugged Ella tightly. “This was the best day. Thank you.”
“I’m heading up as well. I’m going to call my husband before it gets too late. Ella, thank you for everything,” Charlotte said, uncharacteristically letting down her guard and hugging her.
Finn and Ella lingered for a moment. “Everyone had such a great time today,” he remarked.
“Yeah.”
“Did you?”
“It was perfect,” she replied, touching his wrist.
“May I walk you up?”
She took his hand and led him upstairs, unlocked the door to her room, and turned to face him.
He stroked her cheek and said, “You told Jean you should only sleep with people who you’ll never love or who you’ll always love. Ella, I’m completely in love with you. If you feel it too, be with me.”
She pulled him into her room and shut the door. He brushed his fingers across her wrist, up her arm, and then across her cheek. He took her face in his hands, and they started kissing softly and with increasing passion, running their hands through each other’s hair. He pulled his shirt off, and she slipped her sundress over her head. Gingerly, he unhooked her bra and let it fall to the floor. “My God, you’re beautiful,” he said, gently caressing the sides of her breasts. “I want to feel every part of you.” He put his lips over her pale pink nipple, lightly licking it with the tip of his tongue. She moaned with his every touch. He picked her up and carried her to the bed, gently pulling off her underwearbefore hustling out of the rest of his clothes and lying beside her, staring adoringly into her eyes.
“Touch me,” she whispered, taking his hand and putting it between her legs. As he moved his fingers in slow circles, she writhed and moaned with delight.
“That’s it, baby. Let it out,” he whispered, lightly kissing her neck.
“I need you,” she whispered, pulling him on top of her. He slid inside her and moved slowly at first, kissing her softly. Their bodies found their rhythm, and he began to move faster until he could no longer take it and raised his head, screaming in ecstasy. They tried to catch their breath as he lay on top of her, both of their bodies quivering.
Eventually, he rolled beside her, and they lay quietly as he traced his fingers from her brow to her cheekbone.
“That was so special,” Finn said, caressing her hair. “I’ve never felt anything like it.”
