One Year Later
NICK
EXT. FILMSET – CAPRI – SUNSET
Delaney gently nibbles on her lower lip as she watches the actors playing Finn and Lexi from her canvas chair.
LEXI
When did you know?
FINN
That I was in love with you?
Lexi nods and Delaney nods along with her.
FINN
When I took you to Considerit.
LEXI
The doughnut shop? That’s when you knew you were in love with me?
Delaney mouths Lexi’s line along with her, then glances over her shoulder at Nick.
Nick winks and Delaney beams back. She turns to watch the end of the scene, but Nick can’t take his eyes off Delaney.
Which is exactly how it’s been for the past year.
It often strikes me how incredible it is that Delaney and I are together, that we met by happenstance and are making a life together. It may not look like other couples’ lives, but it’s ours and we’re a formidable team.
On set and off.
‘Cut! And that’s a wrap, everyone,’ calls Chloe Chang, our director.
I’ve been so in my head that I missed the actors saying their final lines. All good – I’ll see their exchange a dozen times or more in post-production.
The crew breaks into spontaneous applause and I clap along while Delaney shouts, ‘Woo-hoo!’ and pumps her fists in the air. Chloe shoots me a grin.
Another reason to pinch myself – my film’s being directed by an Oscar-nominated director.
Chloe, with her impressive track record of thoughtful, critically regarded films and her reputation as an actors’ director, was our first pick.
And the moment she finished reading the script, she called Delaney to say yes.
Well, what she actually said was that she’d never forgive us if we went with someone else.
Delaney played it cool on the phone, but when she hung up, we both jumped around my lounge room like kids on a bouncy castle.
This is my life now.
I’m in love with an incredible woman, my debut film premieres in the summertime, and I’m already in talks about the next project.
So, like I said, pinching myself.
* * *
Delaney
The crew starts packing up and our leads, Roddy and Maya – currently unknowns, but soon to be household names, I’m positive – hug it out, laughing and crying at once.
They’ve been fantastic as Finn and Lexi, believably falling in love right before our eyes. And more importantly, the camera.
Nick and I finally agreed on a more upbeat title, and Between Here and There will open in movie theatres across the globe next summer.
There’ll be a press junket and appearances on late-night TV – not only for the actors, but also for Nick if I can convince him he won’t suck at it (I’m still working on that).
But seriously – super hot and talented stunt coordinator turns screenwriter and producer – the media will lap it up.
Nick comes up behind me and envelops me in his arms, and I sink into his embrace.
‘That’s a wrap, babe,’ I say. ‘How do you feel?’
‘I’m still pinching myself.’
‘You’ve said that every day since we started shooting,’ I say with a laugh.
‘It’s been true every day.’
Chloe jogs over, her eyes lit up. ‘Hey, you two, we did it.’
Nick releases me to hug Chloe, picking her up and swinging her around.
‘Hey, I’m afraid of heights!’ she squeals and he sets her down.
‘Thank you, Chloe,’ he says earnestly. ‘Truly. Everything I envisioned – you not only brought it to life, you’ve sent it into the stratosphere. It’s going to be a beautiful film.’
‘Well, we still have to edit the damned thing and there’s the score and the—’
‘Hey, ease up on him, Chlo,’ I tease. ‘He’s a post-production virgin, don’t forget.’
‘Hah!’ she laughs and Nick joins in, cool with being the butt of the joke.
Roddy and Maya wander over, obviously floating on air, and chat excitedly to Nick and Chloe.
I’ve convinced them to stay on in Capri for a few days – take a break, explore the island, chill…
You don’t get to do that when you’re shooting on location – the sixteen-hour days, night shoots, taking twenty bites of gelato in a row to get the shot.
It’s been an intense shooting schedule, with both of them in every scene. They deserve a vacation.
Nick and I do too, so we’re staying for a whole week. It’s our first real vacation together since we were here last year, thrust together by fate.
And what a year! Total whirlwind.
We spent the first six months doing the long-distance thing – only we aced it this time. We talked and texted every day, shared photos, sent gifts back and forth, and flew here, there, and every-frigging-where to spend as much time together as we could.
He’s been out to LA quite a bit, and we always make time to hang out with Megan, Gabe, and the kids.
Gabriel is in awe of Nick, treating him like a human jungle gym, but Nick’s great about it.
And that first morning over pancakes, Irina whispered in my ear, ‘He’s okay for a boy,’ which Nick and I took as her seal of approval.
And my moms love Nick – maybe even more than they love me. They certainly make up for Nick’s parents who are… let’s say, reserved.
The second half of this past year has been consumed with Between Here and There.
It’s been a tonne of work, but it’s been ours – our labour of love – and it’s meant we’ve been together twenty-four-seven.
And it’s just so easy.
We bounce off each other, we make each other laugh, we challenge each other. And sure, we argue sometimes, but like Cherie said, when they’re your best friend – your person – you emerge from the tough times stronger than ever.
Nick looks over, flashing me the hugest grin. I’m so frigging proud of him. He says goodbye to the others and heads over, leaning in close.
‘We’ve got a couple of hours before the wrap party. How about we go to the hotel and build a pillow fort?’
We’re staying in the same suite at La Sirena di Capri and tonight, the hotel is hosting our wrap party. Vittorio has been amazing, organising the whole thing. He is such a sweetheart. We even gave him a cameo in the movie, along with Gennaro from the limoncello distillery.
‘Is that a euphemism for sex?’ I whisper back.
‘Too subtle?’ he quips.
‘For someone who writes screenplays, it’s maybe a little… dorky?’
‘I’ll give you dorky,’ he says, wrapping his arms around me and laying a smacker of a kiss on my lips.
‘Would you two please get a room?’ Chloe teases drily.
Nick breaks the kiss, and I grip his biceps to steady myself.
‘All right, everyone,’ he calls out, ‘Delaney and I are off to get ourselves a room!’
I throw my hands over my face, my cheeks flaming beneath my palms. Of course, everyone knows we’re a couple but oh my god!
I drop my hands and shake my head at him. ‘You dork.’
He leans down and presses his lips to my forehead, then looks me in the eye. ‘I love you too.’
‘I know.’
‘Did you just Han Solo me?’ he asks, pretending to be offended.
‘Maybe.’
I break into a giggle and Nick holds out for three whole seconds before he cracks up.
We say goodbye again – even though we’ll see everyone in a couple of hours – and wander back to the hotel hand in hand.
As we walk, I inhale in the warm, fragrant air, marvelling at the kaleidoscope sky, and smile to myself.
Capri will always hold a special place in my heart.
And not just for the pizza.
* * *