Julia
Too much information, Thee.
Theo
I told her we could practice so that when the time is right, we’ll basically be professional.
Julia
I genuinely do not want to know this.
Theo
I’ll stop if you tell me SOMETHING.
Julia
Something.
The view from the top of Prickle Point is as beautiful as I remember. Emmett did not lead me astray with this suggestion. It’s the perfect spot for the show to film. As the crew buzzes around, arranging the set, their excited energy filling the air, I’m more puffed up than I have any right to be.
Glowing reference from Executive Producer Richard Wadsworth,here I come.
Ben, our director of photography, sidles up next to me, arms crossed while gazing out over the valley with a smile. “Your pictures didn’t do this spot justice.”
I grin and nod. “Well, Emmett suggested it. I just went digging.”
“It’s definitely the perfect spot for a romantic date,” Ben says dryly before his gaze lands on where Emmett stands. Richard is talking at him, hands flailing at a rapid pace as he explains… whatever he’s explaining. He carries on, moving around the space, acting out how he wants the scene to go.
“Dick Wad’s really micromanaging this one, huh?” Ben says, not bothering to keep the disdain from creeping into his voice.
I turn slowly in his direction, trying not to laugh at the joke. “Wait, do you call him Dick Wad too?”
The man slides his gaze to me. “Girl, we all call him Dick Wad. Because he is one. Why do you think your predecessor marched away from this gig without a backward glance?”
“Wait, really? I thought she got another job.”
Ben tilts his head, giving me a come-now sort of look. “Yeah, maybe one day. When he decides to take her off his Hollywood blacklist for leaving us with a last-minute opening.”
My mouth opens, but no words emerge for several beats. I was the last-minute hire? All I can think to say is, “I had no idea.”
“Just keep doing what you’re doing and you’ll be fine.” He pats my shoulder and traipses away, chuckling to himself, like I’ve said something funny. But this isn’t funny. This development does nothing other than stress me out. Because I donotwant to have my career ruined by Richard before it’s even started.
With Ben gone, I try to refocus. He said I’ll be fine, and I’m sure that I will. Still, I stand facing out, my back toward the trees so that I don’t take a dazed tumble into a pile of cacti. I refuse to make that same mistake twice.
Last time, this spot was perfectly peaceful. This time, the crew spreads out, placing lights and microphones while setting up a picnic on a red-and-white-checkered blanket. I watch them place a wicker basket filled with snacks in the center, then a bouquet of flowers, and a bottle of chilled champagne.
It’s supposed to appear to audiences that Emmett went out of his way to set this up. But I know he’s had no hand in it. He’s too busy being coached by Richard.
For a beat, his eyes flash to mine so quickly that I doubt anyone else would notice. He turns his attention back to the showrunner, but I don’t miss the flash of uncertainty in his eyes.
It confuses me.Heconfuses me.
When I first found out Emmett was going to be the bachelor onRomance Ranch, my first thought was,Of course he would. He’d be perfect for this.
But that was before I knew him.
That was before I’d had a taste of his biting humor or witnessed the streak of tenderness beneath all the hard edges.
