Page 24 of Deck the Hauls

Charles was standing behind two cameras on the other side of the café.

Goddamnit. I can’t get away from them.

The cameras were aimed at Emily and Austin, who sat at a round table. Emily met my gaze and broke into a wide smile. I lifted my hand in greeting, returning her smile.

“Are you going to make a habit of this?” Charles asked.

“I didn’t realize you were filming here.”

“You didn’t see the sign?” Charles raised his eyebrows.

“What sign?” I frowned, glancing back toward the door.

“The enormous sign on the door saying ‘Filming in progress. Do not enter.’”

“I haven’t had my coffee yet.”

My perfectly reasonable explanation didn’t appear to make any impression on Charles.

“Well, you can either take a seat as an extra or leave. I don’t care which one you pick, just do it fast. We’re on a schedule here.”

“Can I just grab a coffee and go?” I glanced over to the counter. Where was George?

“No, it’ll be too disruptive.” Charles’ expression softened slightly. Could he see how desperate I was? “But if you take a seat as an extra, George will be bringing over some coffee as part of the scene.”

I looked over at my friends. There was a spare seat next to Olivia. Jenny enthusiastically beckoned me over. There was no way I was buying coffee from Dippin’ Donuts, so did I really have a choice? I sighed. “Okay. Thanks.”

“Someone get Dana a release to sign!” Charles barked.

I took a seat next to Olivia, wearing a dress covered in pink peonies. Thank god I’d put on a clean navy sweater and jeans today. A man jogged over with a pen and paper. I squinted at the tiny print on the paper, my head throbbing even harder. I scrawled my name at the bottom without reading it. If it contained something really outrageous hopefully I’d be able to contest it on the grounds of caffeine withdrawal.

“Hey,” whispered Jenny, grinning. Jenny wasn’t usually even up yet at this time, but this morning she was bright-eyed, her long blond hair perfectly falling down her blue sweater. “I’m so glad you could make it after all. This is so much fun. We’re pretending to catch-up, moving our mouths like we’re talking while they’re filming.”

Something in my brain clicked. Of course. This was the café scene we’d practiced on Thursday night. It was also the scene that George had invited me to be an extra in—something I fervently had not wanted to do. And yet, here I was.

“Yeah, Roz is really missing out,” Olivia added, rearranging the red winter berries in the middle of the table.

Blake pulled up the left sleeve of her black bomber jacket and glanced at her watch, and then ran her hand through her short brown hair. “Hopefully the filming will finish soon.”

Jenny shot her a look that was both affectionate and slightly despairing.

I held back a chuckle. Blake was clearly here under duress.

Over at the counter, George now stood behind the shiny red coffee machine, wearing a red apron over a blue button-down shirt. The sound of steaming milk travelled across the café. Oh thank god. Please let that be my coffee. George placed two mugs of coffee on the counter and I sighed with relief. Charles said something to George. She nodded and removed the coffee from the counter. I tensed. Wait, what is she doing? Where is my coffee?

The cameras moved closer to the counter.

“Quiet, please,” Charles yelled. “And...action!”

The cameras slowly scanned the coffee machine and then the counter as George placed the coffees down again. They were filming the coffee? Please let this not be a multiple takes situation. I wanted my coffee steaming hot.

Jenny and Olivia started a silent conversation that they both seem very invested in. Were they lip reading each other or was the whole thing fake? I was too distracted by what was going on with my coffee to pay attention.

Hannah appeared on the other side of the counter in a matching red apron over wide-legged blue jeans and a gray sweater. She picked up the coffees and began to walk toward us. Wow, Hannah had agreed to be on camera? Despite being a best-selling author, she generally tried to avoid public appearances.

As she passed Emily and Austin, my gaze slipped to the actors. Under the table, Austin’s hand rested on Emily’s leg. I narrowed my eyes. Was that really necessary? While I could see under the table, surely the cameras couldn’t.

“Cut!” Charles yelled. “Dana, please don’t stare at the actors or glare directly at the camera. Just act like we’re not here.”