“Civilized? Funny, I don’t remember you being so civilized when I caught you in Lettie’s bed. Fuck this! That bitch gotta answer to me!”
The rest of the scene consisted of me storming out of the bedroom, still waving the gun around. Ezekiel would chase me and pull me back into the room, where we would wrestle as he tried to pry the gun out of my hand.
We briefly practiced that part, but we didn’t put much energy into the physical part of this scene because we were trying to preserve our energy for when we started our actual filming.
TAP. TAP. TAP. TAP.
We broke away from our characters when we heard the knocking. I glided over to the door and swung it open. It was the production assistant (PA), Wynn. There was no greeting, no smiles, only a “Here, these are for you.”
I stared at the colorful bouquet of roses and a medium-sized holographic color box that had a note attached to it. “They’re from your husband,” she added.
“Thanks,” I said dryly, taking the gifts from her hand. Reason loved showering me with presents, but he was always extra when he thought I wasn’t feeling my best.
Wynn turned around to walk away, but just before she disappeared from sight, she glanced back.
I could’ve sworn she smirked.
I brushed it off.
Everyone knew she’d auditioned forSins of Miamiand didn’t make it. She already had PA experience, so that’s where she ended up instead.
So, yeah. She was bitter. Whatever.
I read the note on the box.Open outside, Beautiful.
I smelled the roses as I stepped a few feet away from the dressing room. The velvety petals grazed my nose, tickling me. Reason knew how much I loved roses from Khésha’s floral company, so these gifts were always a delight. I set the bouquet on a nearby lunch table and unlatched the lock on the box. Thebox popped open, and a flutter of butterflies danced around me. The sight was dreamy. Romantic.
Man, he’s so thoughtful. I smiled. My heart warmed, and my kitty purred. Shit, maybe I should give him a baby.
I picked up the note after noticing something was written on the back.
My wife, my lover,
You haven’t been yourself these past few weeks. I see it all, baby, even when you try to act like everything’s fine.
On your worst days, you’re still everything good to me. Even in the moments that try to break you, I need you to remember who you are and how much light you bring into my life.
I’ll do whatever it takes to brighten your world. Every day. Even if that means finding a hundred butterflies just to lift your mood and see you smile.
I love you, Saje.
Your Husband.
A single tear slid down my cheek.Why am I so lucky?
I dried my face before turning around and running into Ezekiel. I jumped. “Shit, you scared me.” I brushed past him and walked back into the dressing room.
Ezekiel entered and closed the door behind him. He stared at the roses before tossing them into the garbage.
“Ezekiel! What the fuck. Why did you do that?” I glared at him, suddenly feeling overheated.
“You know the drill. I ain’t fuckin’ you next to a bouquet of roses the next nigga gifted you.”
I cocked my head to the side. “The next nigga? He’s my husband.”
“Is that right? I thought you forgot you had a husband. I’ve been the one dickin’ you down before and after rehearsal.”
I swallowed before speaking. “You get on my damn nerves, Ezekiel.” The nigga was right, though; he was the one fucking me when we had downtime on set. It all started with us helping each other study for the first time to us fucking each other for the first time the same day.
