Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
CAITLIN HAD TO HEAVE HERSELF out of bed that morning to get ready for filming. She hadn’t been getting much sleep ever since Gemma had come back into her life, but the previous night had been the worst so far.
Today, they would be shooting Kate and Sarah’s first kiss. Caitlin stared at her reflection in the hotel bathroom mirror, anguish etched across her face. She squeezed her eyes shut, her mouth twisting in sorrow. It had been nine years since her lips had met Gemma’s.
An hour later, Caitlin arrived on set and headed straight toward the glam trailer, needing all the help she could get.
“Take this, sweetie.” The makeup artist handed her a transparent sheet with two golden half-moons.
“Thanks.” Caitlin peeled each off, placing them underneath her eyes while her hairstylist went to work on her bedhead.
Once Caitlin was ready, a production assistant escorted her back to her trailer, where she found McKenzie Ryan already waiting.
“Caitlin—Gemma will be here soon so that we can have a quick chat before we get started on the day.”
Caitlin took a seat on the couch across from where the director leaned against the trailer’s long countertop. Within a minute, Gemma had joined Caitlin on the navy upholstery, facing Mrs. Ryan.
The setup reminded Caitlin of a particular day during their senior year of high school when a teacher had caught them skipping class and making out behind the stadium bleachers.
They had ended up in the principal’s office, shamefully wedged into two chairs opposite the broad walnut desk.
Caitlin hoped this talk would go better than that one had.
“Ladies, today is pivotal, so I wanted us to go over a few things. We’ll start with a shot of Sarah receiving the audition callback in her apartment. So Gemma, you should be brimming with excitement as you run over to the phone to call the one person that you want to share the news with most.”
The director shifted her words toward Caitlin, barely taking a breath in between sentences. “Then we’ll move on to Kate as she answers Sarah’s phone call. You’ll ask her out for dinner to celebrate. Any questions so far?”
They both answered “No,” at the same time.
Mrs. Ryan flipped through the script, her eyes quickly skimming each page.
“The night will be fun, flirty, laughing, drinks flowing, et cetera, et cetera. Then Kate accidentally mentions that her friend is the director of Sarah’s new play.
Gemma, when you ask if that’s the only reason Sarah got the lead, make sure you’re pissed off.
Caitlin, your job is to reassure her. Kate will explain that she had only put in a good word because of how much she cares about Sarah. ”
She shifted her focus back toward Gemma. “I want a wave of emotions to hit your face. First, you’re angry. Kate went behind Sarah’s back, and it stings. But then I want to see you soften at the realization that Sarah isn’t the only one catching feelings.”
Mrs. Ryan looked back and forth between Caitlin and Gemma. “Are you still with me?”
They both nodded, listening intently.
“After dinner, Kate will insist on giving Sarah a ride home. Caitlin, you’ll walk her to her apartment door to say goodnight.
That’s the moment—the first kiss. I know this isn’t your first rodeo, so I’m not going to micromanage the mechanics.
But I want it to sizzle. Let the passion drip, I want to see sparks flying!
The audience needs to feel this chemistry in their bones.
” Mrs. Ryan balled her fists into the air as she spoke, seeing the scene play out in her mind.
“We will bring it all to the screen for you,” Caitlin promised, Gemma abnormally quiet beside her.
“Great. Okay, I’ll let you two finish getting ready, and I’ll see you out there.”
Mrs. Ryan left, Gemma following her out of the trailer.
“Gemma, wait!” Caitlin yelled, stopping Gemma before her foot hit the pavement. “Are we going to be okay doing this?”
Gemma turned back up the stairs, letting the door close behind her. “I don’t know.”
“We need to figure this out. This is our job. The kiss has to feel real, like we actually like each other. Not whatever that just was when Mrs. Ryan was describing the scene. You looked like you were going to puke.”
Gemma sat back down on the couch, throwing her head into her hands and curling over until her elbows hit her knees.
“How the hell am I supposed to kiss you and mean it?” She spoke softly before looking up at Caitlin, sadness filling her eyes.
“I’m what, supposed to just fall into your arms as if nothing ever happened between us?
Kiss you like you first kissed me thirteen years ago?
For a movie?” Each word was laced with more anger than the last.
Caitlin didn’t have an answer. This wasn’t exactly a situation she’d trained for, either. UPenn hadn’t offered a class on how to kiss your ex-girlfriend for a role.
“I’m not sure, Gemma, but this is hard for me too, you know.”
“Hard for you?” Gemma jumped to her feet, angrily waving her arms as she spoke. “How is this hard for you? In case you forgot, you’re the one who fucking left. You left, and I’m the one who spent the better part of a decade trying to figure out why I wasn’t good enough for you to stay.”
“I didn’t forget,” Caitlin murmured, her voice breaking. “I’m sorry, Gemma. I’m so sorry. What can I do to help you forgive me?”
Gemma paced the trailer, feeling caged, before her eyes locked back onto Caitlin’s. “Why couldn’t you have said that nine years ago?”
Caitlin watched Gemma as the hard exterior started to fall away, catching a glimpse of the gentle, caring girl she had once known.
“You know it always took me a little longer than most to figure things out.” Caitlin hoped that a bit of self-deprecation might ease the tension, but Gemma looked just as miserable and exhausted as she was.
Gemma scoffed. “Trust me, I know. But going silent for a summer is a little bit different than a decade.”
As teenagers, it had taken Caitlin more time to accept her feelings for Gemma than visa versa.
“Do you remember the first time we kissed?” Caitlin asked.
Gemma shot her a look that said, Seriously? You have to ask?
Caitlin should have known better. After she had left, the memory probably cut Gemma like a knife.
“I was so scared and still trying to figure myself out, but that night…” Caitlin trailed off.
“I just had to kiss you. It was as if a force had overtaken me, and I felt like I would die if I didn’t do it at that exact moment.
And I had never been happier than when you kissed me back.
I know after everything we’ve gone through, this feels terrifying too.
But it’s just me out there with you. Just like the first time. ”
“There’s no just, Caitlin.” Gemma’s voice cracked. “It’s you. That’s the problem.”
Caitlin could see the years-old heartache engulf Gemma. Before she could stop herself, Caitlin strode over to where Gemma stood, wrapped her arms around her shoulders, and held Gemma like they used to as young girls.
Caitlin tried to ignore the way her body tingled with electricity at the points where their figures connected. This wasn’t about her at the moment. It was about her first love, whom she had completely broken apart. But Caitlin hadn’t realized just how much she missed Gemma until that moment.
After a few seconds, Caitlin felt the tension drain out of Gemma as she relaxed, moving her arms around Caitlin’s waist.
“I got you,” Caitlin whispered next to Gemma’s ear. She wanted to hold Gemma forever. “If there’s anything I can do to help make this easier for you, please let me know.”
Gemma only nodded before detangling herself from Caitlin’s arms and fleeing the trailer.
Minutes later, Caitlin’s wardrobe team burst through the door with her first scene’s outfit, leaving her without time to process Gemma’s words.
The first look had been simple. Caitlin had worn a long, light-pink satin robe as she received the call from Sarah with her good news. They had gotten the shot in only two takes.
After, Caitlin had changed into a second outfit for the dinner scene. Her character’s wardrobe was exquisite, but this ensemble was her favorite so far.
The pieces were vintage Chanel from the seventies, complete down to the last accessory.
The knee-length dress—sleeveless and patterned in black and white—was layered over a tucked silk camisole.
A matching jacket draped casually across her shoulders.
A petite pebbled caviar leather purse hung at her side, and gleaming gold jewelry reflected the set lights as black patent slingback heels added the final touch. Caitlin felt timelessly elegant.
As Caitlin waited on set, she sipped from her water bottle, rehearsing her lines in her mind.
The moment she saw Gemma slip through the side door, a ragged cough burst from her throat, drawing glances from all directions.
She waved them off, eyes brimming yet locked onto the stunning woman striding across the floor.
Gemma wore navy-blue high-waisted pants with four gold buttons down the center that hugged her body perfectly, flaring out just below her calves.
A white cotton button-up shirt with a large collar was left open to reveal Gemma’s bare chest, and Caitlin’s eyes followed the neckline as she approached.
A throat cleared nearby, yanking Caitlin back to reality and away from the fantasies of Gemma’s red lipstick smudged across her own. She turned to find Mrs. Ryan staring at her with her eyebrows raised.
Shit. How long had she been standing there?
Gemma reached them just as the director began to open her mouth, cutting off whatever observation she’d been about to make regarding Caitlin’s blatant staring.
“Places, everyone!” Mrs. Ryan shouted instead, taking her seat in the director’s chair behind the video monitor.