“These scenes were the first ones that Lawson shot, and despite voice lessons, his British accent iswaytoo prominent. It became less so as the shoot progressed, so the studio executives made the call to have these redone to match the later footage.”
I nod in understanding as she tucks her left foot underneath her butt and angles around to face me. She taps her script with her index finger. “You can start there. Third line from the top.”
We manage to get through the first scene – a generic get-to-know-you scene between the male and female leads – without any drama, but as we begin the next one, I notice Emmy fidgeting.
“What’s wrong?”
She grimaces and rises to stand, extending her hand out to me. “This is the scene where the couple breaks up. I know it might be difficult considering… And the fact I demanded we don’t talk…umm…about it…uh…I can absolutely skip it if you prefer…”
As she trails off uncomfortably, I place my hand in hers, forcing myself to ignore the shock that travels up my arm to land inside my heart, setting it to pounding at top speed. I stand up, towering over her much smaller form, and give her a reassuring smile.
“I told you. I’m a quick study. These words are just a scene, and I promised to help you in Hayley’s place. Okay?”
She shoots me a grateful smile before dropping my hand and moving to the farthest side of the living area where she gives me her back.
I check the script, skimming the lines that scream of our history. My stomach lurches as I read several sections, but I push down all emotions, focusing on keeping my word.
“What do you mean you can’t do this, Finn?”
Having switched into acting mode, Emmy swings around, her blue eyes spitting angry flames. “I gave you everything.Everything! And you can’t even give me simple honesty.”
Tears fill her eyes, cresting her dark lashes to stream unheeded down her cheeks while her voice rises to a cry that is so damn convincing it cleaves my chest in half.
“You promised me…yousworewe were forever…” She hiccups on a sob, and I feel my brows knit together as she whispers brokenly, “What changed between us? At least give me that… Give mesomething…”
My eyes are riveted to the performance before me, so much so that I don’t realize it’s my turn until Emmy clears her throat and nods pointedly at the script in my hands. I scramble to find my starting point, stumbling over the words in my rush to get them out.
“I-I-I changed, Lainey. Webothchanged. And I?—”
She cuts me off when she strides into my space, her middle finger poking my chest as she stares up at me with accusing eyes. “If you don’t love me, then just fucking say it.” Then her breath hitches as her shoulders drop defeatedly. “Because I’m done fighting if I’ve already lost.”
I quickly skim to my section, my stomach dipping as I read the words that are scarily accurate to my own reasons for leaving this woman the way I did.
“I’m no good for you, Lainey. I could never deserve you, don’t you see that? Keeping you would be like trying to lasso the sun.The closer I get to roping you, the deeper the burn. If I stay, we’ll both go down in flames.”
Emmy’s gaze shoots back up, her nostrils flaring before she shutters the emotion on her face.
“You’re right.”
Her eyes flicker between mine, the blue of hers swirling and churning, darker than I’ve ever seen them.
“Youdon’tdeserve me, Finn. But you’re wrong…I’m not the sun. I’m simply a woman whose heart is breaking right before your eyes, andyou?” She wrinkles her nose in disgust, those tumultuous eyes far too convincing as she spits, “You’re just acoward.”
It echoes silently between us.
Coward. Coward. Coward.
And maybe that’s what I was that day five years ago. Maybe I should have come clean and told her something, but the truth is, when it comes to Emerson Hart, I’m weak.
She’smy Achilles heel. All she’d have had to do was ask, and I’d have given her the whole entire truth, which would have done more harm than good.
Or maybe that’s what you told yourself, you coward.
I swallow past the ball of emotion that’s lodged in my windpipe, my voice deep and hoarse when I read the response.
“I’ll never stop loving?—”
Her palm flies out, connecting with my cheek as Emmy cries out, “You don’t get to say that to me, Finn. Not anymore.”
