Chapter 12
“Do you see what I mean?”
Levi jolted at Rachel’s triumphant cackles.
Crewmen zigzagged back and forth. Quite a few props required replacing before the next scene. He’d still be adrift in Captain Evolution’s ship, but the following shots would show it in a demolished state. Hence all the adjustments.
Levi couldn’t get his feet balanced on the footrest. His director’s chair sat beside Fiona’s. They were told to be on standby while the crew did their work. Director Ethan Spike took to the left, discussing shots with their cinematographer. “I hope we’re not forcing hype too early,” he remarked, twisting the lid off his water bottle.
Fiona’s makeup was being touched up by the set’s makeup artist. She clapped for Rachel once the man left with his applicators. “You truly are the number one agent, aren’t you?” There she went with that British accent again. It threw Levi for a loop whenever he heard it.
Rachel skipped over in her three-inch heels—a strange sight for a woman dressed so smartly. “What did I say?” She pushed her phone to Levi’s face. “Trending already. It hasn’t even been long, and we’ve got the masses dying to see you two together. That’s how you do it!” She pushed her cell into the pocket of her blazer. “Am I right, Oscar?”
Oscar’s face was stuffed with food. He’d just returned from the snack table, dusting his hands on his Supreme T-shirt. “Hm?” He was beside Levi in seconds.
The agent rolled her eyes. “Why does no one besides Fiona share my enthusiasm?”
Levi heard Oscar’s efforts to appease her but he didn’t listen long. Without warning, he was back there. Sitting beside Amber. He saw her lush lips stretch into a smile and sensed the warmth of her body on his. The tip of her nose brushed his face when she leaned in for a kiss. The conversations around him faded. Every word on her tongue was like music. Getting in the frame of mind for work had almost been impossible. Luckily, Levi was a professional so he’d managed.
But he had a break now. A break that gave ample room for his daydreams to return, so here they were. All the good times with Amber were back. He wondered if he was on her mind right now. Sunday felt far away. He didn’t want to wait that long. I’ll text her. He had said he’d give her space, though.
Levi bit the nail of his thumb. I hope she’s okay. Had he ever awoken hyperventilating? One or two times following upsetting dreams, maybe. Why had Amber had a nightmare? Had she regretted spending time with him? Her vibe had been different this morning, but he’d still sensed that fondness. Amber… It hurt not to call.
“Levi Marks!” Rachel’s hands waved in front of his eyes.
Levi was once again startled. “Y-yeah, yeah, I’m here. I’m present. Are they ready?” He began to rise from his seat.
He felt Fiona’s inquisitive eyes staring him down. Levi shot her a glance then cleared his throat. “They’re ready, Rachel?” From the looks of it, that was not the case.
Rachel opened her mouth, but her phone cut her off. “Hang on.” In little to no time, she was already across the warehouse, phone to her ear.
Levi had feared the worst. He wasn’t sure how she’d react if she knew. Probably just lecture me about how it’s a bad idea. Which it was. He was so lucky to have not been spotted yet.
“Levi Marks?” Fiona’s chair was hitched to his.
Levi hadn’t seen when she’d moved it. Their seats were of the same making, names printed on their backrests. “Everything okay?” He rubbed his neck with a gloved hand. Sitting around in costume would never feel natural. It’d be worse if I stepped out this way.
“Are you in love with someone?” Fiona asked.
Levi halted. Despite the absence of music, he heard the scratch of a disc in his mind. “What?”
Fiona grabbed his face, using her hands to tilt his chin upward.
To Levi, she gave the impression of a doctor examining their patient’s nostrils. As for why she found this appropriate, he had no clue. “Wh-what are you doing?”
“Oh, your energy is screaming it.” Fiona let him go and smiled with a hand to her mouth. “I didn’t know you were still searching for Mrs. Right.” She leaned in. “What’s her name and when did you meet her?”
As much as Levi found her bright green eyes mesmerizing, he would rather not have them so close. He leaned away and looked at Rachel. Her phone call must have been going well because she was smiling. “I… Fiona, I’m not in love,” he whispered. Oscar was here this whole time, staring. Levi read the guy’s mind like a text message. Yeah, judge me all you want. He and Amber were already happening. “At least I…I don’t think so—how would you know?” Absolutely no one on set gave a damn about their personal lives but it wasn’t impossible for someone within earshot to catch wind of this discussion and relay info to the press for cash. The fake relationship had been organized by his and Fiona’s agents. A few producers and the director may have known it was phony but not the crewmen. According to Rachel, the more people who believed it meant the more real it would seem. They couldn’t take chances here.
Fiona would not let up. “The way you keep getting lost in memories and how your nostrils keep flaring.” She poked his nose. “Who is she? She must be special.”
“I…I don’t know if I can call it um…” Now why was she of all people into this? Talking about Amber with her was the last thing he wanted.
Rachel returned with a smile on her face. “Alright, next date venue is the beach,” she announced, her pointed fingers drawing a circle in mid-air. “After shooting, you two will be seen on a picnic. Try to put those acting chops to work, okay? We want people to get thirsty for more…um…” She held her phone to her face. “Oh, Liona. Ooo, nice power couple name.” She shivered. “Gives me the tingles.”
Levi watched her walk off with Oscar, who for some reason was singing “Jingle Bells” despite the time of year. “Acting chops?”
Fiona put her hand on his knee. “We can give them a fake kiss.”
Levi thought back to his real kiss with Amber. His lips parted and his tongue brushed across them.
“As long as your girlie doesn’t mind.” Fiona’s breath tickled his ear.
Levi leaned back to see her smirk playfully. “Right.” My girlie? How long would Fiona keep up that accent?
In love. How long did it take to fall in love?
* * *
Chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream was an all-time favorite of Amber’s. Eons must have passed since she’d had it. With her spoon halfway out of her mouth, she was visited by distant memories of the better parts of her childhood. The sidewalk outside her grandma’s house and a dozen kids lined up along it. Their reason for doing so was a hot pink Chevrolet truck with ice cream flavors spray-painted on the side.
“Look at that. Inner child unlocked.” Conner pulled out his phone to take a photo. He held an untouched cup of Raspberry Ripple in his free hand while they both strolled slowly along the sidewalk. The sun was just setting on the City of Angels. Obviously, that meant nothing to its hyperactive residents. Street performers were as active as ever and all sorts of people zipped down the sidewalk, heading to various engagements. He could smell the tension from here. A girl a few years under him had just run past with her cell to her ear. He sometimes enjoyed guessing where people were headed. Seventh audition of the day. He shook his head with an eye on the time. Their shift would begin soon.
Amber playfully flipped him off. “You’re too corny.” She put yet another scoop of the delectable ice cream in her mouth. “I can’t believe it’s already over.” She peered up at the blue sky and the single cloud floating across it. “I love working on a big set.” She hopped and clicked the heels of her sandals. That caused one to pop off but Amber hurriedly slipped it back on.
Conner laughed at her enthusiasm. He pocketed his cell and then dug into the treat he’d purchased. “How do you feel? Even more famous after your date with you know?” He wriggled both brows and leaned down to speak into her ear.
“Oh, be quiet,” Amber laughed as they took a bend down a corner past a knick-knack store. Others like it lined the street. She knew why. One of the city’s many beaches lay right across the road. Tourists of all kinds walked the sidewalk to the stairs that would take them there, the sort of people who found pleasure in collecting useless junk from every city they visited.
She laughed good-naturedly at the clusters of people filling the stores. I’d do the same if I was visiting a popular city for the first time. “The date didn’t really leave me feeling famous.” That offensive dream kept visiting her thoughts. “It was…” Levi and those crystal blue eyes of his. “It left me…warm, cozy, at home.” She giggled. “But also kind of uncomfortable because something in me is trying to convince myself that I’m taking a shortcut to all of this through him.” She breathed out and stared wistfully at the oblivious tourists dotting the sand and sea ahead. The beach seemed extra packed today. “But I don’t really want to burden you with all that, Conner. I’m just glad you could make it to the end of my shoot and that you bought me a treat. You’re so awesome.” She tiptoed to kiss his cheek.
Conner stopped walking after her cold lips made contact. “Wait, what? Shortcut?”
Amber slowed down and then stopped altogether. “It’s weird. I don’t know. I just had a crazy dream.” She looked down at her Styrofoam cup. Her ice cream was melting.
“Amber, what the hell do you even mean?” Conner said over a crisp breeze that blew their hair around. It ripped through the happy howls of tourists on the beach. Even the crash of the waves seemed irrelevant behind it.
This was why she’d prefer to not bring up that whole mess. “I just… It’s just my own weird insecurities, okay? But it has nothing to do with my date or him. I’m actually really excited to see him again.” She’d refrain from saying his name. This was all classified stuff. Still don’t know how to feel about that.
“What do we keep saying, though?” Conner spoke with his mouth full. It was hard to understand him, but Amber got the gist.
Amber smiled. “That everyone in the industry had an unfair advantage so it’s totally okay to grab any opportunity you get? Is that what you want out of me or something else?” She stuck her spoon into her ice cream. Some guy on roller skates with a radio on his shoulder came rolling past them. He wore suspenders and a headband. Wow. LA really was “that place.”
“Good girl.” Conner patted her head. “Dating him doesn’t even give you much of an advantage. No one knows, remember? What you did get was more work after a fair appearance on a show with him.” He waved his spoon in her face, some ice cream flying to her nose. “Sorry, Ambs.”
“It’s fine. I’ve always wanted your saliva this close.” Amber pinched Conner’s stomach through his blue tank top. He wore bright colors outside of work. Today was warm so she too had her arms out. She’d rolled up the sleeves of some Green Day merch and tucked the top into her denim shorts. A pair of black sandals completed her look.
“And why wouldn’t you?” Conner joked. “Anyway, if you got an advantage out of dating him, it’s fair. And if you didn’t then…oh well. Just know that you’re getting work because you’re gorgeous and amazing. Now stop acting like your second break is all because of—”
“Levi Marks!” a chorus of screams rose from the sidewalk over the beach.
Amber gave Conner no warning. Her legs just worked on their own. She ran right to the street and was almost hit by a white minivan chock-full of stoners.
“Amber!” Conner yelled behind her.
Amber almost fell in the street. “Sorry!” she said to the van, which had halted at the sight of her. She shook her head and went to the railing over the beach. A group of teenage girls who’d been on their way down the stairs were galloping like horses across the sand.
Conner joined her seconds later. “Whoa, what’s wrong with you? We see celebrities every day and, in your case, you saw him recently. What are you fangirling for?” he said breathlessly.
Amber’s eyes followed the excited teens who were kicking clouds of sand into the air while zooming all the way to the other side of the beach. The same place most of its visitors seemed to take comfort. “He’s here?” she breathed, looking out for him. Why would Levi come out of his shell at this hour? Amber couldn’t find the guy despite searching all corners. There were so many people crowding that area but no— “There he is!” She pointed.
Levi wore sunglasses, a white open shirt, and some swim trunks. His hair blew in the wind as he chewed on some gum and signed people’s arms. He was accompanied by someone else the crowds were fawning over.
This person’s arm was hooked in Levi’s. She wore a pink one-piece under a silky robe. Fiona, Amber thought. Oh, how gorgeously her red hair floated in the gentle wind.
After Fiona posed with Levi for a photo with a fan, Amber grew subdued.
She saw Levi laugh when Fiona spoke in his ear. She wore a smile bright enough to challenge the sun, her hand wrapped loosely around his arm.
“Oop. There go the paparazzi.” Conner’s voice pulled her from the scene.
Her eyes followed the bustling bodies and the equipment they carried. Four men, two women. They blended right into the swarming bodies after speeding to the action. The sun had not yet sunk out of view, but their flashes were visible.
“Uh, Amber?” Conner’s hand appeared before her eyes.
Amber held it away, her eyes glued to Levi and the persona he projected for the people and fans.
“Wow…they look good together, don’t they?” she said absently.
Conner was lost by her words. “Yeah? But it’s all in the name of promo, right?” He leaned closer, befuddled by her reaction. “Wait, are you…jealous?”
Amber crash-landed back to reality. She blinked, her forehead creased with a frown. “What? No.” She strode off.
Conner hurried to follow, right on her heels. A line of tourists sped past them towards the commotion. It was always easy to tell locals from visitors. While residents tended to view LA for the cesspool of superficial wannabes that it was, tourists idolized it and approached every aspect with the wide-eyed wonder of a child.
“Then why are you being…” He made it to her side. “Weird?” He’d known her for a while now. She’d never struck him as the jealous type, but this behavior had “jealousy” painted across it in bold letters.
Amber gave room to the folks just catching onto the fanfare. They’d been leaning against the metal railing over the beach before it hit them. “I’m not. I’ve only had like what? A handful of dates with the guy? We’ve not even labeled anything, and he’s said explicitly that that whole thing with Fiona is just for his movie, so it doesn’t matter.” Even so, her mind swarmed.
Conner wasn’t so sure she believed that. “Wait, you guys haven’t made it official? You said you were going to have another date.”
“Well yeah but…” Amber crossed the street with a hand out to stop a kid on a mini-bike from peddling into her. She made it to the knick-knack stores and turned at the corner. “Okay, I guess we’re dating but, uh, well, it’s not serious yet. I mean, it could lead nowhere, right?” She folded her arms, rubbing them self-consciously.
Conner kept her pace well but was winded with all the chatter. “Whoa…” He stopped.
Amber did too.
A slow grin spread across his face. “Was that last little cheeky date somehow…a moment for you?” He wore a smirk of mischief, his arms outstretched.
“What?” Amber knitted her brows and cocked her head to the left. They were beside a rundown pizza parlor. She wondered briefly if it was set to be demolished.
“Don’t act clueless, come on.” Conner giggled girlishly. He flicked his wrist with a sassy flare—quite out of character for him. “Did you look into his eyes and see a future with him? Is that what happened? Are you crazy in love?”
“Huh?” Amber stepped back, searching the active sidewalks and streets for a clue as to what Conner was talking about. “You mean my second date with Levi?” she whispered, closing the gap between them. She directed a thumb at her back, still catching the squeals and babbles of his countless fans. “You want to know if that made me ‘fall in love’?” She used air quotes.
Conner did not let up. “You were acting pretty jealous a moment ago,” he teased. “Something must have clicked, right? For you to storm off after seeing him with someone you know he’s just working with. You love Levi Marks—”
“Shhh!” Amber held a finger to his lips as idle strollers glanced their way. She held Conner by the arms and walked him to the parlor entrance. “You’re being really goofy right now, okay? It was just one more date that was not mandatory due to some crazy show he was forced into.” She kept an eye out for listening ears. Most who walked past gave them a brief look before minding their business. Did they somehow still recognize her? Had her five seconds of fame not run out? For Levi’s sake, I hope it has. Wouldn’t discussions arise if she was in the same vicinity as Levi and Fiona? Amber, no one remembers you.
“Humph. I read an article last night that said—”
“Here we go.” Amber crossed her arms and turned to the empty pizza place.
“Second dates are when most people fall in love. So, it’s not far-fetched. Mm, not far-fetched at all. You don’t have to keep denying it.” Conner winked. “It’s okay if you’ve fallen already, Ambs. I want you to—”
“Just be quiet, okay, Conner?” Amber was like an overused scrunchie, worn and weary. “I barely slept last night, and our shift starts in like two minutes. You jumping to conclusions is giving me a killer headache.” She used the heel of her palm to soothe the front of her skull.
Conner shrank away. “Okay, sorry, but you were acting pretty wild back there. I guess I got excited.” He hugged her. “This could be your average jealousy, though. You’re seeing him but he’s got to be with someone else in public. That’d make anyone angry, right?”
Amber inhaled the cologne on his chest while they embraced. “No, I don’t do the whole jealousy thing.” She drew back with arms around his waist. “I’m cool Amber, remember? Plus, I totally understand he has to do this.” She smiled.
Conner narrowed his eyes at her. He did not think this would end well.