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KYLA
What was happening?
One minute, I was sitting at a table in the cafe inspecting the ridges on my fingernails and the next, Preston was offering me the lead role in his movie.
Me… a movie star?
I didn’t know what to say, especially with all these people watching. What happened to Brooke? Why couldn’t Preston have called me into another room and made this offer in private?
“Um… I — I’m not an actress,” I stammered.
“Doesn’t matter.” Preston looked almost bored. “You’re hot, you’re in your early twenties, and you know the lines. That’s all that matters.”
My face burned at the compliment. Dean, Isaac, and Wyatt were behind him, within earshot. I’d seen them talking earlier and Dean had gestured in my direction. Had this been his idea? Didhethink I was hot?
A million thoughts swirled in my head: the image of myself on screen at the cinema, being on stage at the Oscars, receiving a giant novelty check for an obscene amount of money that would buy my dad a new house. But they were closely followed by a vision of people in a theater, watching my movie and laughing.
I had no idea how to be an actress. Sure, Brooke had started her career as a model and Dean had been discovered by an agent in a shopping mall, but I assumed they had received intense training as actors before landing starring roles. They hadn’t been thrown in the deep end like this, had they?
“Can I have some time to think about it?”
“Time is money,” Preston said. “These people,” he gestured at the crew, “are being paid by the hour. Every minute you waste costs thousands of dollars.” He looked at me, his expression stony. “It’s not that hard. What is it? Yes or no?”
I looked at April, unsure of what I should do. This washerdream, not mine. She’d come to this set hoping to be discovered by a casting agent — I came here to hang out with my friend, make some extra cash, and perhaps meet a movie star or two. This wasn’t what I’d expected at all.
The room was unnaturally silent.
Do it, April mouthed.
“Okay.” This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. How could I say no? My voice sounded thin, but it was enough for Preston. He gestured to the assistant director.
“Allan, get her into hair and makeup.”
Background sounds returned around me as Allan gestured for me to follow him. I felt like I was on one of those rollercoasters that had plummeted to the ground, and now the car was careening around a dizzying bend.
“Now?”
Preston nodded. “Now. Time is money, remember?”
Allan’s legs were longer than mine, and I had to jog to keep up with him as he led me to wardrobe and makeup. It made me feel like a kid… and like I was even further out of my depth. What was I doing? I wasn’t an actor. I’d starred in one school musical and had a one-line speaking role in a community play. I’d never acted in a movie, and not only would I have to do somethingunfamiliar, but I’d have to do it in front of Dean Hart, Isaac Williams, and Wyatt Cole. On camera.
If I screwed up, there would be nowhere to hide.
And since I’d read the entire script, I knew there was a scene where Daisy and Tom had sex. Yep, that’s right: I, Kyla Wright, would have to make love to Dean Harton camera, and would somehow have to do it without having a stroke.
I waswayout of my depth. The best thing I could do would be to turn and walk out of here before Allan noticed. But it was too late — we were in a room lined with mirrors that were bordered with glowing light bulbs, and Allan tapped the shoulder of a woman with frizzy brown hair, who was in the middle of a conversation with someone else.
“Kyla, this is Crystal. She’ll get you camera ready.”
Run, my instincts told me, but my feet wouldn’t move.
The woman was at least ten years older than me, but her skin was flawless: if she did my makeup even half as well as she did her own, I’d lookexactlylike a movie star.
Crystal surveyed me and tapped one finger on her chin.
“As long as you’re not hungover.” She gave Allan a half-smile. “There’s only so much magic I can perform.”
“Why would I be hungover?” I wondered aloud, earning a chuckle from both her and Allan. She wheeled a chair toward me. “Take a seat.”
