I couldn’t look at her. Or anybody. I just shook my head once, focusing on one of the screens that showed a slowly rotating star cluster.
“Christ,” Charlie mumbled. “Kate.” He was in front of me again. “I’m sorry, okay?”
I gave him a watery smile. I wasn’t the actor here, but I did my best. “It’s fine. I understand.”
“No. You don’t.” He glanced up to Sally. “Yes. Kate and I are friends. And have been for some time. I read her stories online and I sent her a message to thank her because she’s bloody brilliant.”
The truth at last. Loud and clear. Little gasps and “aws” echoed from all around us. My hands were holding the cards in front of my face. Emma gasped at my side. Harrison whispered, “Fan fiction?” to himself. Sally’s chin lifted. Her eyes narrowed as an understanding passed over her features.
Charlie turned back to me and grabbed my hands. “I’m sorry to have told you like this. I’m sorry it took me so bloody long.”
I swallowed and tried not to sway.
He shrugged and gave me a sweet smile. “It’s me. I’m your RC.”
Your RC.
He held perfectly still, waiting for a reaction. Light clapping broke out but abruptly cut off when Charlie turned and glared. I couldn’t believe he confirmed it. He didn’t have to. I would have waited.
And yet, I was thrilled. I didn’t think. I broke out from between his friends and jumped at him. He had just enough warning to catch me as I wrapped my arms around him.
“I know,” I repeated from last night.
He coughed out a laugh before lowering his forehead to mine. He let out a long shaky breath, and I squeezed him tighter. I’m not sure how long we stayed like that.
When Emma cleared her throat, he slowly lowered me to the ground.
He shook his head but had half a smile on his face. Before he turned around, the smile fell, and the angry man was back. He glared as he looked at every person on set, from the catering crew to the gaffer. “And it’s nobody’s bloody business but ours.”
* * *
Charlie
Well,damn. That wasn’t how I wanted Kate to learn the truth, and I certainly hadn’t wanted all these bloody people around. I knew Sally would do something like this. She had been pushing Kate to more personal questions. I had seen the worry and doubt warring across Kate’s features. It was an impossible position that Sally put her in. I should have never agreed to any of this.
I shot a glare at Sally, but she just crossed her arms and lifted her chin.
I felt a hand and turned to face Kate. The way she looked up at me, fighting a smile, eyes wide and gleaming. Okay, so that smile made all the drama worth it. When Kate jumped into my arms, nothing else mattered. I may have been upset at first, but now my fears felt so ungrounded. I wouldn’t waste the time we had together.
“I had been hoping,” she whispered just so I could hear.
My blood hummed at her soft confession. I leaned forward and whispered, “We have more to discuss. But first—”
I looked around the set and raised my voice loud and clear. “And if any of this ends up online or in the show, I will contact my lawyers.” I focused on Sally. “Especially on the show. I mean it.”
She threw up her hands, but there were mischievous wheels turning behind her eyes.
“That’s a wrap,” she yielded. In a lower tone, she said, “I think we got everything we needed.”
I ground my jaw.
“Charlie, it’s fine.” Kate squeezed my arm.
“No. It’s not. Someone on set is trying to use you for ratings and I won’t stand for it.” She frowned, and I realized I’d snapped at her. She nodded and stepped back. Emma threaded her arm through Kate’s as she gave me a cautioning look.
“Fine, no worries,” Sally said. She turned to leave, already talking into her headpiece again.
“Cheers. I’m starved,” Harrison said, looking between the ladies and me. “I still can’t believe I didn’t make the connection sooner. How silly of me.”
