Page 43 of Two Is Better Than One

Me:

Hey, Allie and Brooks are going somewhere. Are you going to be okay working late? I heard back from him within seconds.

Casey:

Yes. I already set it up with Brooks.

Me:

Could you talk with me?

Casey:

Yes. Like this, or in person? I’m right outside. I can see your trailer from where I'm standing.

Me:

Could you come here for a minute? I'm ready to go back on set, but first, can you stick your head in my trailer?

Casey:

Yes.

It was maybe twenty seconds later when I heard Casey knock on the door with two medium-toned taps like it was the back of his knuckle. I was right on the other side of the door, which was why I knew their tone.

"You can open it," I said through the door.

Casey opened my trailer door and peeked inside. We made eye contact, and he gave me a curious grin.

"Step in," I whispered. "Come inside, but leave your leg in the door."

Casey came halfway into my trailer, leaning inside but keeping his foot in the door just like I imagined he would do.

I touched his arm. "I want to buy you dinner. Sushi. I already got it ordered. The others won't be back until later tonight. I have time to go swimming after work, and then we can eat and hang out."

"I know," he said. "Thanks for the sushi."

He was stoic at a moment when I wanted to be jumping up and down. We would have the whole afternoon together. I wanted to make him remember how excited he should be in the moment, so I leaned in and kissed him on the mouth. We could never do this on the other side of the door, and the forbidden nature of it all had my heart melting. It was a light, sticky one, and I leaned into him when I did it.

Casey turned and cleared his throat when I pulled back. "I am looking forward to learning more about these plans. The costume director is right outside, so… but thank you. I think that's going to be great tonight."

Casey spoke in a business-like tone, but I knew him, and he was being playful.

***

I finished with work, and before I knew it, Casey and I were in the backseat of the car, headed for the hotel.

We planned on going swimming before dinner.

I had a message from Allie on my phone that I listened to on our way back.

"Hey, it's me. There's a big monstrosity in our room. I guess it was some kind of a mistake. I took care of it already, by calling the hotel and informing them. You don't need to do anything, other than use it, if you want. There was a table set up for another couple, and it ended up in our room somehow. It's like a candle-lit dinner thing-y. I already let them know about it being a big mistake, and they went and set it up again in those other people's room. So, in other words, it was a mistake, but it's staying in our room. You don't have to pay for it or anything. The company said it was their fault. They said the hotel staff would clean any leftovers up tomorrow. You can use it, or just ignore it, or whatever you want. I saw it, and I was like whaaa… what's going on here? But then I figured out what was going on. It was meant for someone else. You'll see it when you come in. Anyway, we'll be back later tonight, at eight or nine, so I'll call when we're on our way. Love you!"

I listened to the message once in my ear, and then I let it play and held it out for Casey to hear.

"A table thing-y?" he said.

I shrugged.

---