Page 48 of First Impressions of You

That has to be it. His cologne must be fogging my brain. That’s the only explanation as to why I think we’re not talking about Melina and Arthur anymore.

“Luiza, sweetie,” Emily breaks the silence. “I appreciate the passion, but I think we can tone it down a notch. Just follow the script on this one.”

“Okay,” I agree, nodding for good measure.

“Good,” Winter murmurs.

“Good,” I snap back.

Chapter 13

“Davis, put your arm around Luiza. Hold her like you’re trying to take her away from Cameron.”

I take a deep breath, waiting for the warm weight of Winter’s arm on my body. We’ve been in the studio taking promo pictures for an hour now, and the photographer keeps shouting directions at us. The whole time, Winter’s been handling me like a porcelain doll, only light touches as if I’m bound to break anytime.

I wish my body wasn’t so drawn to him. I wish that magnetic field around us hadn’t flipped on its head. It was just a short time ago that I could feel it repelling us, and now it seems to push us together. I’m aware of his every move, so aware that I can feel the way he’s holding back.

He doesn’t want to be too close. He doesn’t want to touch me.

My mind goes to that little discussion we had a couple days ago, when it felt like we were talking about us and not our characters. Had that made him push away like this? I know my reasons to be mad at him, but stupidly, I don’t like that he seems to be mad at me too.

It’s the first time the three of us are in full costume. My wedding gown has been perfectly adjusted for my body, hugging my curves in all the right places, the bodice pushing my boobs up to create the illusion they’re much fuller than they really are. The loose sleeves give an ethereal air to the look, creating flow and movement with the champagne velvet.

Cameron is in full prince costume. His three-piece looks impeccable on him, tight in all the right places to display his fit figure. The pearly quality of the heavy fabric contrasts beautifully with his brown skin, his image a perfect counterbalance to Winter.

It doesn’t matter how regal Cam looks, it’s Winter who takes my breath away. He’s wearing one of his costumes I hadn’t seen yet, a heavy grey wool vest that cuts mid-thigh wrapped around his torso, tied in place by a dark green ribbon. His pants are also grey, one shade darker than the vest, and the shirt he’s wearing underneath is off-white.

He looks like someone who’s about to steal the princess away and make her forget she’s ever wanted to marry a prince in the first place.

“Perfect,” the photographer calls out. “I think we got all we needed with the three of you. We just need to get some shots of Luiza by herself, and then a few of just Luiza and Davis.”

The photographer places me in the position she wants. At first, I’m facing the camera, then she asks me to turn around and look at her over my shoulder. I keep changing poses, following her directions, hoping that we can get this done with quickly.

The room is full of people, and everyone’s looking at me. I’m in my full bride costume, hair and makeup done. I should feel that confidence I always do when I’m in character, but somehow, I don’t. I’m self-conscious. I can’t help but wonder what everybody’s thinking. Does this pose make me look bad? Is the dress okay? Do I look enough like a princess?

I catch a glimpse of the previews when we’re done, and I breathe a sigh of relief seeing that the pictures look amazing. In every single one of them, I look like a princess. For the first time, I feel like I actually am the star of this play. I get goosebumps just thinking about my pictures on promotional material.

This is really happening.

Then, there’s only me and Winter left.

Suddenly, everyone else disappears. Ironically enough, the studio feels smaller with just the two of us here. The lights too bright. The temperature too high. I feel trapped, knowing the photographer is about to ask us to pose like a loving couple.

I step out to change into my second outfit, the one I’m wearing in the scene Melina and Arthur reunite in the woods, taking the time to center myself. It’s easier to breathe when I’m not in the same room as him. When his cologne isn’t mixed in every breath I take.

Winter has changed too, I realize a second too late, when I walk back inside the studio. He’s wearing the pants I first saw him in when I met Adriana that first day. The white shirt he’s got on is so flimsy, it barely covers anything, his torso all but naked for anyone to see. It’s understandable why they wouldn’t want him with a shield or helmet for the photoshoot. Why hide a picture-perfect body like that behind metal?

“We’re gonna do some short clips like we did with Cameron,” the photographer announces, nodding to the cinematographer next to her. “Then we’ll start on the pictures.”

“I’ll be ready in five,” the cinematographer says. “Eat something or get a coffee. You’ve been here all day long.”

Winter and I share a look, one waiting for the other to move first. Finally, I sigh and make my way to the small table set at the back of the room with some cookies, crackers, fruits, water, and coffee. I curse myself for forgetting to bring mine from home.

I grab a cookie and a bottle of water and get out of the way so Winter can take his pick too. When he sees my choices, he arches an eyebrow at me.

“The coffee here not good enough for you, Sunshine?” It’s the first thing he’s said to me since our argument in rehearsal yesterday.

I give him a narrowed-eye glare.

---