Page 25 of Take It Till You Make It
“That’s great. Can you straighten a little?”
Something sparks in Crispin’s gaze as we slowly straighten.
“Okay, that won’t work. Let’s have Arabelle stand in front of you again.”
I don’t want to leave this embrace. I want to stay like this forever. I have no idea what’s happening, but I’m pretty sure if we stop now, it’ll never happen again. Finally, I breathe and straighten all the way, stepping away to turn around. I’m shocked to find everyone enraptured by us. Like they can’t wait to see what will happen next. It’s a bit disconcerting.
“I want Arabelle in front of Crispin, but a step to your left so you’re only half in front of him.”
I’m having a hard time concentrating, so I shuffle around until I hear an affirmation. Then Crispin’s long arm wraps around me, his hand splays on my belly, and I swear I teeter on the edge of fainting. Is this what it feels like to swoon?
“Other arm straight, Crispin.” The shutter of the camera is still working overtime. “Arabelle, give me your best steely look.”
“Wow,” I hear someone say.
Sally steps forward, her elbow resting on her other arm that’s wrapped around her waist, and she appears to be gnawing on a nail as she studies us.
“Okay, now, Arabelle, I want you to look aloof. Like having the world’s sexiest teen heartthrob wrapped around you means nothing to you.”
I laugh.
“That’s not aloof.” The photographer laughs too. “Crispin, wipe that smile off your face. Focus, you guys.”
I just laugh harder. Then I take a deep breath, blow it out to reset my emotions, and search for aloof. What is aloof? I close my eyes, stretch my neck, and when I open my eyes again, my face is straight, mostly blank, slightly condescending – I know that look thanks to the teen heartthrob currently wrapped around me.
“Excellent!” The shutter clicks. “Oh yeah. Crispin, perfect. Man, I could do this all day.”
I wish I could see what we look like. There are people whispering excitedly and pointing. Talking behind their hands like they’re sharing secrets. Sally’s eyes are bright with excitement as she watches us. The feeling brewing inside me is heady, powerful.
“Well, I hate to end this, but I need to move on. Arabelle, that’s all we need from you today. Thanks for your time. Sally, let’s get you up here.”
The assistants jump into action as I step away from Crispin, trying not to shiver from the lack of his warmth. I have no idea how to end this strange thing that just happened and decide to pretend like it didn’t rock my world. As I step away, Crispin grabs my hand. I turn back to him as he raises it to his mouth.
“That was fun,” he says. His warm lips press against my knuckles, and I swallow audibly.
I forced my head to nod and my lips to curl upward. My voice is barely a whisper. “It was.”
I turn and walk away, trying not to stumble drunkenly, though that’s totally how I feel.
Sally passes me on her way to the set. “That was really condescending,” she murmurs.
I snort. Even though I’m free to go, I stick around to watch some of their photo session. Will the same magic spark between Crispin and Sally? Maybe I should want that since they are love interests in the movie, but I don’t. What happened just now feels special, and I don’t want anything to take that away.
Nothing does. Though they have a great session and really connect, it isn’t sizzling like it was with Crispin and me. When I’m satisfied that no extra magic will spark between them, I make my way to wardrobe, eager to get out of my heels.
Chapter Eleven
Sittingin traffic the next morning, on the way to the studio, I realize I’m nervous about seeing Crispin. Spontaneously, I dial Glory.
“Ari! Oh my gosh, I was just thinking of you. Isn’t it stupid early there? I wanted to call, but I was afraid of waking you.”
I laugh. “I have a seven AM call time most days. I have to go to makeup first since I’m an underling. Is that what I am? An underling? Anyway, I get my makeup done by the same makeup artist as Chandra Miracle, so I have an earlier call time than her. I have a hard time believing you were going tocallme, though.”
“I was!” Glory insists. “I even opened the phone app to see if I remembered how to use it.”
“I don’t think the phone part of your phone is an app.”
“Whatever. Oh my gosh, it’s so good to hear your voice. I miss you so much!”
