38. Aspen
Chapter 38
Aspen
A fter our hair and makeup are done, Willow and I do our tandem shoot. It’s a lot more fun than I anticipated, and the three hours of our time in front of the camera together flies by. After all, what’s better than blasting pop music and posing in princess dresses with your sister?
Willow’s poses are a lot more precise than mine. I’m basically just flouncing around in my dresses. Usually I would feel self-conscious about that, but I’m in particularly high spirits after mulling over Willow’s talk about hope. She’s right, there’s so much good in my life. I have a fantastic family, a job I’m passionate about, anything I could ever need, great friends, and a pretty incredible costar. So, I continue dancing the hours away until the creative director calls it for the day’s joint shots.
Then, they move onto taking solo shots of me while Willow munches on some food in the hair and makeup room. It only takes them about forty-five minutes to finish my photos, and then Willow’s up, leaving me with some free time.
After about twenty minutes of watching Willow expertly model for the camera—how the fuck is she so fluid, never repeating the same pose twice?—boredom starts to sink in. Naturally, I default to scrolling on my phone, browsing social media. I spot a link to a video titled “Grey Aldridge and Vivienne Karavella talk The Blue Diamond. ”
I’ve resisted watching any clips of Grey from his press tour last week, telling myself that it would cross the line into obsessive territory. But, since I decide to lean into today’s high spirits, I allow myself to recognize that I’m missing Grey like fucking crazy, and maybe that’s not a bad thing. Unable to resist the temptation of hearing him talk about a project he’s passionate about, much less hearing his laugh and seeing his smile, I click on the video.
Interviewer: I’m here with Grey Aldridge, who is reprising his role of James Bond in the upcoming film, The Blue Diamond , and model Vivienne Karavella, who’s better known for walking the runways, but is making her acting debut as the feature Bond girl of the film. Hi, guys, how are we doing today?
Grey and Viv answer at the same time.
Grey: Good, how are you?
Vivienne: Great, how are you?
All three laugh.
Interviewer: So, I can tell already that the tension is there, right?
Vivienne: Oh, totally. But who wouldn’t have chemistry with this guy, right? I’m pretty sure he could make a brick wall blush.
Interviewer and Vivienne laugh, Grey smiles genially.
Grey: Says the supermodel.
Interviewer: How did you guys prepare for your roles? Were there any special workouts or diets?
Vivienne: I just kept up with my usual routine from modeling—lots of low impact strength training and clean eating.
Grey: Same, I’ve been doing the same workout routine for years.
Vivienne: You should really release a workout course, Grey. I’m sure plenty of people would pay to work out like you. But then again, I don’t think they could keep up. You’re built like Hercules.
Vivienne reaches out and squeezes Grey’s bicep and Grey laughs.
My stomach twists at the sight of Vivienne Karavella touching Grey like that. Not only do I feel a hint of jealousy, I also feel for Grey, who’s told me time and time again how much he hates being objectified like that.
Grey: As if you’re not literally a supermodel, Viv.
Interviewer raises her eyebrows and leans in, clearly interested.
Interviewer: On a nickname basis, huh?
Vivienne: He is with me. Sadly, there aren’t many nicknames for Grey.
Interviewer: So you guys are pretty close? Did you meet on set or did you know each other beforehand?
Grey: We met on set. Being a lowly actor doesn’t usually lend itself to mingling with supermodels.
Vivienne laughs.
Vivienne: And being a lowly model doesn’t lend itself to mingling with movie stars.
Grey and Vivienne look at each other, and it feels like the interviewer is third wheeling. Vivienne looks away first, a smirk on her face and slight color on her cheeks. It’s playful, it’s flirtatious, and it stings.
Interviewer: So, Grey, how were Vivienne’s acting chops?
Grey: Brilliant. I don’t know why she hasn’t acted before now. Really, she’s a natural talent.
Vivienne: You’re just being nice.
Grey: No, I really mean it. I see a lot more films in your future, Viv.
Interviewer: High praise from Grey Aldridge himself.
Grey: I just call it like it is. I’m sure everyone who watches the film will agree, Vivienne is an incredible actress.
Vivienne: Thank you.
Interviewer: I’m sure viewers will also appreciate how much chemistry you two share, on and off set. That actually leads me to my next question—and don’t hate me, guys, but this was by far the most requested question from viewers, so I just have to ask. Was there ever anything romantic between you two?
Vivienne: I don’t kiss and tell.
My stomach drops out from my body. She can’t be serious. If Grey had been with Vivienne, wouldn’t he have told me? Then again, I guess he’s under no obligation to. Our relationship is fake. I know that. So why do I feel like my heart’s been ripped from my chest?
Grey: If there was anything, it’s over now.
Interviewer: That’s right, because rumors have it, Grey, you’ve been going out with Aspen Jordan.
Every muscle in my body is tensed right now. I don’t know what I was expecting when I clicked on this video, but it certainly wasn’t to hear Grey being asked about me. Not that it matters. Clearly he’s going to confirm we’re together—that’s the whole point of this fake-dating thing.
Grey: We’ve been hanging out a lot. She’s a great girl.
Interviewer: Are you officially a couple?
Grey: What’s the phrase here in the States? I plead the fifth?
Vivienne: Always so mysterious.
Interviewer: So what I’m hearing is that instead of using dating apps, you just pick up women on set.
Grey laughs.
Grey: Hey, when you work with such beautiful women it’s hard to resist.
Interviewer: You heard it here first, gentleman—the Grey Aldridge method. Just become an actor and date the gorgeous women you work with.
Vivienne: The main point is that you'd have to look like Grey Aldridge. I don't think many men are as attractive as he is. If there are, they likely have no trouble attracting women wherever they go; they don't need to become actors for that.
Grey touches his heart in mock-affection.
Grey: I’m flattered, Viv. But enough about me, can we talk about the movie? There was this really cool stunt story I want to tell everyone about. It took three days and two stunt doubles to film.
Interviewer: By all means, go ahead.
All the optimism Willow stirred inside me earlier has drained, leaving me feeling less than empty. I turn my phone off. I don’t want to hear anymore. Their chemistry, their banter, it’s all like a dagger thrust deep into my chest and twisting further with every sexually-charged second between them. Even though the video’s stopped playing, Vivienne’s laugh keeps replaying in my mind as dark shadows creep in, whispering that Grey doesn’t feel anything for me, that our relationship is truly fake. That I was a fool to think, even for a second, that maybe it was more than that.