Chapter 7 #2
There was so much out there all of a sudden.
Pictures from the party and the concert were everywhere.
So were a few from Trafalgar Square, and even outside the coffee shop.
Drew couldn’t decide as he looked at them whether it was obvious he and Lee were faking everything or if people would believe the story they were trying to tell.
They looked so convincing. Two or three of the angles that had been taken of their kiss were really hot, showing tongue.
Drew could still taste Lee’s mouth, still smell the salt of his skin, still feel the contour of his waist as he—
He sucked in a breath and turned his phone face down, then searched the area where he sat out of the way of the work being done on set to prep the next shot.
He was just hungover, even though his head felt fine now.
London was still a whirlwind, and maybe he was still a little jetlagged after a week.
Or maybe something else was going on that reached deep down into parts of himself that he’d ignored or dismissed as committing to the parts he’d played over the last few years.
“Drew, we’re ready for you,” the AD called out, waving him over.
Relief splashed through Drew. He got up, adjusting his Victorian costume and smoothing a hand along his awful hairstyle, and walked over to take his place in front of the camera.
That relief was temporary. He could only step out of his own way to play the character for so long.
Not that he didn’t have a blast embodying an amateur Victorian detective.
His scene partners, Gemma Thorne and Sawyer Kingston, were amazing actors who he got along with.
But as with all filming, an hour of preparation meant maybe thirty minutes of shooting, then everyone sitting down again so they could set up different takes from different angles.
Drew needed something to distract himself and keep him from obsessively scrolling, so he took a page out of Abby’s book and, well, downloaded one of Abby’s favorite books to read.
A book by Lee.
A sexy dragon book by Lee.
Lee didn’t pull punches at all. Drew’d had no idea books like that existed.
He’d read the usual Tolkien and stuff as a kid, but Tolkien didn’t start off right away with a nubile young farmer’s son being sacrificed to a ripped and dominant guy who could turn into a dragon who got right down to using him for kinky-as-shit sex.
“What the hell, Lee?” he mumbled, eyes growing wide as he read through the smut on his phone.
He had to adjust the way he was sitting. He really, really had to adjust the way he was sitting.
“What are you reading that’s making you blush like that?” Gemma asked as she settled into the chair next to him, adjusting her fancy dress so that the bustle didn’t get in her way.
Drew slammed his phone down on his thigh and jerked to look at his costar with wide eyes. “Um, just a book,” he said, his sheepishness quickly flashing into giddiness that made him laugh.
“That’s got to be some book,” Gemma said with a smirk.
“It’s a hot romance novel,” Drew confessed. “Written by a friend of mine.”
“Lee Cresswell?” Gemma asked, sending him a knowing look.
A swooping feeling of wariness consumed Drew. “Yeah. He’s really good, although this is not what I’m used to reading at all.”
Gemma continued to watch him for a bit before saying, “Uh huh. You two are…close?”
The last thing Drew expected was for the whole fake dating thing to stare him in the face right there on set. “Yeah,” he said, smiling broadly. Which was an act. Maybe. He couldn’t not smile when he thought about Lee. Which was either the point or a huge problem.
“It’s okay, I saw the pics this morning,” Gemma said, leaning close to them like they were sharing a secret. “I mean, I was convinced that Jessica was your girlfriend and everyone got the whole gay thing wrong, but you can’t fake chemistry like that.”
It was clear she was referring to the kissing pics.
“It’s, um, yeah. Something I don’t like to talk about too much,” Drew scrambled to say. “I like to keep my private life private and my professional life separate.”
“Don’t we all,” Gemma laughed wryly.
Thankfully, the awkward conversation was cut short as Drew received a text.
Except the text was from Lee, and just seeing the man’s name had the blush flaring on his face again. Gemma noticed and grinned as she pulled her phone out of a pocket deep in her costume and gave her attention to that.
Drew focused on his own conversation.
“Hey, how are you doing today?”
He couldn’t help but smile over Lee’s concern. It felt nice to have someone care that way.
He typed back.
“I’m fine. Small headache earlier, but it’s gone now. How about you?”
“My headache is still lingering. I don’t usually drink that much.”
Those words sent an arrow of worry straight into Drew’s gut. Had Lee just been drunk when they kissed? Would he have let it happen if they’d been completely sober?
“Are you able to rest and recover today?”
“Yeah, I’ve got some work to do, but I can take it easy.”
Before Drew could reply, a second text came through.
“You want to hang out later? Maybe grab lunch or something?”
Drew’s pulse sped up and he smiled, but the lift was short-lived.
“I’m filming all day today. I won’t be done until late.”
“How late? Are you free for dinner?”
Drew’s smile grew. He should turn Lee down. He desperately needed sleep and rest. But somehow, the idea of going back to his generic apartment alone and spending the night in silence didn’t appeal to him at all.
“Yeah, I could do dinner. Why don’t you come over to the apartment later? I’ll text you when I’m leaving the studio.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you then.”
Drew stared at the conversation long after it was finished, a wealth of emotions rolling through him.
He liked people. He liked making new friends.
Having Lee around would stop him from getting antsy and lonely, now that Abby and Jessica had gone back to the US.
Everything was working out just how it should.
Which was only half the story of why he felt like he was walking on air when they were called back to resume filming the scene. He could ignore or compartmentalize the rest, though. Everything was working out exactly the way it should.
With renewed confidence and something to look forward to, Drew threw himself into filming for the rest of the day.
He loved the process, felt like he had a good grip on his character, and was starting to feel like a family with the cast and crew.
But the biggest confirmation that he was doing everything right, including being seen with Lee, came when he finished filming for the day and checked his phone.
He had a voicemail from an unknown number. In Hollywood, that could either be something really bad or really good.
It was really good.
“Hello, Drew. Simon Underhill calling. I’ve been following your work for a while now and I’d love to set up a meeting to talk. I’ve got some ideas percolating and I’d love to talk to you about them. Give me a call as soon as you can.”
Drew could hardly breathe, he was so excited, as he listened to Simon’s number and memorized it.
Simon Underhill was one of the most respected directors of high-concept films in the world.
He had more award nominations than almost anyone currently working.
But he was adamant about only working with queer actors, especially when casting them in queer roles.
He’d called Drew. Simon Underhill had gone out of his way to make the first move.
Which meant Drew might be in the running for a part in a film that would get critical acclaim and maybe win him a few awards.
Which also meant Simon believed he was gay.
He must have seen the pics of him kissing Lee.
Drew went hot and cold, and his hands shook a little as he dialed Simon’s number and waited for the man to pick up. The chance of a lifetime had just been handed to him, and all because of Lee.
Which was as terrifying as it was awesome.
Simon’s voicemail picked up the call, sending a jolt of nervous disappointment through Drew’s gut.
As soon as the beep sounded, he said, “Hi, Simon. It’s Drew Oberlin.
Sorry I missed your call, I was on set. But I’d love to talk to you at your earliest convenience.
You clearly have my number, so give me a call any time. ”
He ended the message there, then immediately wondered if he should have sounded cooler or more eager or mentioned how much he loved the man’s work.
There was no point in second-guessing, though. Jessica had been onto something after all. Now that the world had been introduced to Lee and seen the two of them kissing, exactly the sort of opportunities he’d hoped for were flying his way.
He just had to keep up the illusion that he and Lee were more than friends.