AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We can’t do this to her,” I reply in a breath, running my hand through my hair. “We just can’t.”
“Yes, but you have to be true to yourself, Elaine.”
I spin around and glare. “She’s dying, William.”
“But you’re not,” he pleads, stepping closer. “You’re living. And I know you want me the same as I want you. We can’t continue pretending like we’re not miserable keeping up this charade.”
I look up into his eyes, then at his lips. I can’t believe we’re about to do this. “Are you miserable?”
“Endlessly…” he responds with an exhale.
For a moment, I stare at him. For some reason, my mind takes me back. Not to the night in his hotel room, but the night he walked me home from the Christmas party. His eyes were kind that night. There was no mischief there, only genuine friendliness. Yet, for some reason, that night has me yearning for him to be more than a friend.
“William, I hardly know what we can do,” I say quietly, shaking my head and turning away again.
Kai grabs my hand, warm and resolute. He pulls me back to him, spins me into his arms, and presses his lips firmly against mine without a beat. My plans to remain emotionally detached are thrown out the window the second I feel his mouth against mine, hungry and full of passion. It’s almost more instinct than Sarah’s direction as I grasp the back of his neck and pull him closer to me. The warmth of his breath mingles with my own, and I sink deeper into the kiss. Because I can. Because Elaine allows me to.
I don’t want it to end. I want to keep pretending there could be something real between us. But just as quickly as it began, Kai is pulling away to look down into my eyes. “I survived the war so I could come home to you,” he says, breathlessly. “It’s so clear to me now. And I’m never going to let you go.”
I’m floating. I try to bring myself back to Earth, but I can’t. I hate it, but kissing him is my absolute favorite thing. The script has Elaine lay her head on his chest next, and it’s all I can do to not kiss him again. I curl my arms into myself and lean into him. He wraps his arms around me and presses his lips to my hair. It isn’t in the script, but I don’t care. He smells like spice and honey, and I close my eyes, lost in his embrace.
“FANTASTIC!” George shouts as we finally step apart. “Did anyone else see that kick-ass chemistry?”
Sarah claps in agreement.
I glance at the seats around the perimeter of the room and see that Nick is watching. He smiles lightly at me and then turns his attention back to his script.
My lips still tingle from the kiss, much like they did when I rode away from Kai’s hotel room in the taxi. The memory is settled deep within my skin, and now it has resurfaced, making me ache for more. I look up at him again. He continues to watch George for direction as he licks his lips and presses them together. I wish he would look at me.
“That was perfect. I have no notes. Let’s start from the beginning of the walk again,” George instructs. “I think we can skip the kiss for the rest of the day though. You nailed it.”
We run the scene four more times. Each time, Kai embraces me, but we don’t kiss again. I ache for what I’m now missing.
When George calls lunch, Kai turns and leaves without a word. I nervously tuck my hair behind my ear and make my way to the catering table. I grab a boxed salad and a water bottle and turn around to look for Kai, but he isn’t anywhere in sight. Nick is, but he hasn’t spotted me yet. I clench my teeth. I don’t have enough energy for him today, so I tuck my salad under my arm and wander down the hall, hoping to find a better place to eat.
The third door on the left is open. I peek in. I’ve been here with Nick to run lines already. It’s the props room. On the left are rows of shelves full of on-hand props that the studio owns for the purpose of rehearsals. There are plastic swords, rotary telephones, hats and scarves, worn-out books, and countless other random items. At the back of the room are a few long tables set with more boxes of smaller pieces, and on the right is a round table and four chairs surrounding it. In one of the chairs, sits Kai.
Before he notices me, I watch him for a moment. Maybe he doesn’t want to be bothered. I look back down the hall. Unintelligible chatter drifts from the catering room. I know Nick will be waiting for me there. I really don’t want to eat with Nick.
So, I take a deep breath and walk into the room.
“Want some company?” I ask tentatively.
Kai jumps slightly and quickly looks at me.
“Sorry,” I giggle. “I don’t mean to scare you.”
He smiles and shifts over. “No, of course you can join.”
I take a seat next to him and open my lunch. “Have you ever seen so many props?” I gesture toward the shelves.
“Probably not,” Kai concurs, taking a bite of his own lunch.
Silence. Too much silence. I’m not sure why.
I frown. “Sorry, I’ve probably ruined your peace.”
He shakes his head. “Not at all.”
