Page 42 of Two Is Better Than One

"Unless you don't want people to know you like me."

"Be careful with challenging words like that," I warned playfully. "I might go around announcing it."

He pulled my hand into his lap, holding it near his chest. I loosened my seatbelt and leaned closer to him. He continued to drive and look straight ahead, but he reached up absentmindedly and put his hand on the side of my face.

"Do it. Go tell people you like me. I want you to."

"If I go around telling people I like you, then you might have to stop going out with other girls," I said, my heart pounding.

I had never said anything like that to a guy before.

"I know it means that," he said.

"And we live in different states," I added.

"I know," he said. "I think that's just a small detail."

I felt magic sparks in the truck with us in that moment. AJ and I were on the verge of making some significant commitment to each other. I knew it, and I didn't know what else to say.

"Okay, we know how we feel," I said, even though it was still so new. "Let me brainstorm and see if I can make my sister organically fall in love with your cousin tomorrow."

Chapter 17

Summer Stockton

The following day

I was forced to endure a full day of working on the movie set during Casey's last day of work. I was having a good time with the movie, and I did stay focused on it and tried to do a good job of acting. But goodness, my heart was tugged to Casey and the fact that this was our last day together.

He would leave tomorrow on his long trip.

He would spend a few days somewhere else, at some location he hadn't told me, and then he would go to his job in London where he would be for the next four months. I was sad with myself for being so affected by it all. It took a lot of effort and hard work for me to get past myself and do a good job on set.

I just had a couple of hours left with him. He was scheduled to get off at 5pm, once I was done with work today, and any time we spent together after that would be obviously personal time, which couldn't happen. I knew I had to make the best of these last couple of hours together while we were on set.

I had been in the trailer, changing and I tried to finish quickly so that I could go out there and talk to Casey before they were ready for me. I had a short break to change before we would film a few final takes of a scene.

My sister had been MIA for a couple of hours, but she knocked and came into the trailer before I could head back outside.

"Hey," I said. "Did you guys get back from your walk?"

"Yeah, but we're leaving again," she said. "There's this wildlife refuge I want to see. It's the one Brooks wanted to see also. It's a long drive, but I got in touch with the lady, and she wants to give us a tour! Isn't that cool? The thing is, she only has time today. I know we were going to get dinner and everything, but I don't think we'll be back in time. Brooks will talk to Casey about staying late with you tonight. Maybe he could take you to get some dinner and then back to the suite or whatever. Would you be okay with us going to that wildlife sanctuary if it's pretty much the only day that lady can do it?"

"Yeah, it's fine," I said.

"Okay, so it will be me and Brooks going over there, and AJ's going to come with us, for security."

I nodded. "That sounds good."

"Casey's going to stay with you. We might get something to eat while we're out, so it might be nine o'clock tonight by the time we get back. I'll call you when we're on our way."

"Okay," I said.

It was slightly odd that my sister was so excited about a wildlife refuge, but I concentrated on the one detail that was important—I would have a few hours alone with Casey after I got off work.

My sister left the resort as soon as she left my trailer, and I stayed inside. I called the concierge at my hotel and asked him to send sushi and Japanese dinner for two to our suite at 7pm. I figured Casey and I could swim a little, and then eat.

I texted Casey as soon as I hung up the phone with the concierge.

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