Page 75 of Camera Stays On

“Andi!” I called, throwing doors open. Room after room was empty, until I finally got to the part of the house where we’d be filming the movie. I tried the door, but it was locked. Something told me it’d been locked from the inside. Digging into my pocket, I pulled out the keys and unlocked the door, yanking it open. Stepping onto set, I moved through the rooms, finding them in the living room on the couch, inches away from each other, Andi’s dress pulled up past her thighs.

Rage flooded my veins as I stared at them. Sawyer, seeing me first, smiled. His entire expression filled with triumph. I realized why he’d told her only now. He was trying to pit her against me.

Had it worked?

“It’s okay, baby. We’ll make it right,” he said to her, wrapping her leg while still looking directly at me.

I cleared my throat, trying to quell my anger. I didn’t like these childish games. Andi pulled back. She hadn’t just been crying—she’d been sobbing. Her face was swollen and red, her hair a wild mess.

“Oh, great. Now we’ll have to wait until her face goes back to normal so we can do her makeup.” Juliet groaned, coming up behind me. “Get up. You look pathetic.”

Andi shifted uncomfortably. She looked at me, but then quickly looked away. “Sorry, I—I just got some bad news.”

“And you took to your director for comfort?” Juliet snapped. “I thought he was just supposed to be changing your bandages.”

“Fiancé,” Sawyer corrected. “Things have changed. We’re going to get married on screen.”

“Fiancé?” Juliet’s mouth fell open. “But—we—” she stammered.

“What do you mean, things have changed?” I asked Andi. Her eyes dropped to her lap, where she played with that obnoxious ring. It felt like we’d been dropped back in time, where she’d been stuck without a voice. Sawyer had taken over again.

No. Never again.

I never wanted her to be that woman again.

“Andi, what things have changed?” I repeated, calling her out directly.

“She realized hiding and sneaking around with the wrong brother wasn’t what she wanted. She’s back where she should be, and that’s all that matters.” Sawyer stood and left her side, walking over to stand toe to toe with me. “Try me.”

“You can’t force her to love you,” I said. It was what I should have said five years ago, instead of telling him Andi had cheated. I waved my hand in her direction. “Just look—did she agree to marry you because she wants to or because you trapped her?”

“No one’s trapped.” Sawyer laughed. “Purdy can walk away at any time. Or do you forget, the only reason she walked away the first time was because of you, not me.”

His words were like a clap of thunder. He was right. She’d had every intention of marrying him, even though she didn’t love him. My gaze flickered to Andi, who’d stood up. She was slowly walking backward, looking around, as if trying to find a place to hide. With the new bandages, she was steadier on her feet.

“Andi.” The word escaped my lips in a whisper.

“So, what then?” Juliet snapped. I’d all but forgotten she was there. “We’re gonna film you really getting married to your childhood sweetheart?” She spat the words. “As if you didn’t have me in your bed just last night?”

“That’s irrelevant,” he shot at her so fast she closed her mouth with a yelp. “If you have an issue with my vision, then you can leave. Take Bea with you.” He cackled before turning away and going to Andi, who’d shrunk into a corner. “Come on, sweetie. Go clean up, fix your makeup. We’ll start shooting in an hour. We’re gonna finally make you my wife.”

He pulled her to him and tried to kiss her, but she turned her head so that his lips touched her hair instead. That small gesture did wonders for my soul. While she hadn’t said she was rejecting him, her body language told me enough. I took a step toward her, and Sawyer spun around and glared at me.

“Stay the fuck away from her. You’ve damaged her enough.” A look of utter disgust turned his lips downward. “We’ll deal with that later.” His fingers twitched, his arm jerking toward his suit jacket, but he caught himself.

He had the gun in his belt.

Was he really going to shoot me because I’d slept with her?

Well, he shot Andi—so yes, he would shoot me too if it came to it.

She wasn’t damaged. The fact he considered her so just because she’d been with someone else disgusted me to my core. My jaw ticked as I fought back a snarky remark.

“Purdy, go on. Get cleaned up. I gotta go talk to Mick and see about the licensing. It’s short notice, but we can pull some strings. The county clerk loves me.” He strode past us, shoving my shoulder with his as he left.

I turned and watched him, then looked back at Andi. She sat back down on the couch and slumped her shoulders. I took a step and Juliet caught me, putting her hand on my forearm.

“I wouldn’t do that. He’s made his decision.”