Page 31 of Double Standard

u/okayamethyst

Ana Barlow is ruining the movie before it even comes out

Before you jump on me, I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt. Ngl she’s been funny in her best friend / dumb blonde roles, and I even thought she was pretty good as a lead inMatch Made in Heaven(don’t come at me, I watched it on a plane). I was surprised and kinda disappointed when they cast her for Athena but I figured Francesca or someone at the studio must’ve known what they’re doing. Now I’m not sure I’m even going to see the movie because I know she’s gonna piss me off the whole time.

Her showing herself off with selfies at the gym and hiking and whatever is completely self-absorbed. It’s like every chance she can get, she’s putting herself on display. Meanwhile, Coltis lying low, like someone who actually gives a shit about the movie. She needs to give more attention to the film and less to her image. And this sudden, super convenient relationship with the stunt double? The timing is sus. Idk, it’s just rubbing me the wrong way.

u/cheaptrickery_18For me the last straw was thePeopleinterview where she whined about the tabloids. Girl, shut up—they’re the ones giving you publicity!! It’s like she thinks she’s too good for it which is wild because until now she’s literally only had like two starring roles, whereas Colt’s an effing legend. She’s a notoriously hard to work with rom-com B-lister, and he’s action star royalty. They’re such a weird pairing for this movie. And agree about it being suspect with the double. Make it make sense!!

u/okayamethystOPYou’re so right about Colt

u/cheaptrickery_18Thx for the upvote

u/georgiamindseyeDont know if anyone is still following this thread, but jic: did you guys see the Deuxmoi post? That the Ana stunt bro relationship is for real fake? Someone at Swole in LA said they were putting on quite a show before filming and that no one was buying it. Ridic.

XX

Ana

Emily is trailing me, spouting encouraging platitudes as I pace the living room of this rental house, back and forth between a linen-covered sofa and built-ins that hold a massive TV I’ve never turned on. “It’s fine. You’re fine. We can figure this out.”

“Nothing about this is fine.” Agitation claws up my throat and puts my voice in a vise grip. Every word comes out like it’s being squeezed through a fist. “Is Levi coming? Please tell me he’s coming.”

“Any minute now. He left as soon as I texted.”

At that moment, the doorbell chimes with a cheerful little ditty. It echoes through the house, bouncing off the walls and windows like a personal affront. Emily runs to answer it.

“Hey, Em,” comes the voice from the front hall. It’s deep and comforting and a bit winded.

A shuffle of shoes being removed and placed by the door buys me one more moment to compose myself.

Levi rounds the corner and finds me stalking back and forth, marking a path in the silk rug. “Hey, sweetheart,” he says, his brows pulled tight.

Emily does jazz hands behind him to get my attention, mouthing,“Sweetheart?!”with wide eyes. I shake my head. Now’s not the time.

Levi steps in front of me, blocking my path, and places two heavy palms on my upper arms. The warmth of him seeps through my shirt and blooms on my skin. It acts like a tether, restraining my panic. I take a deep breath.

“Can we sit?” he asks, even though he’s spinning me around and guiding my shoulders from behind before I have the chance to answer. We drop onto the couch, and I wonder, briefly, how anyone decides linen is the best material with which to upholster a sofa.

“How are you doing?” he asks, as though it’s not abundantly clear by my pacing and breathing and overall demeanor.

“Been better.”

Levi nods and wraps an arm around my waist to pull me into his side. Resting my head on his chest feels easy, natural. My cheek rises and falls with each of his breaths. “Emily said...” He rubs his fingers along my hip. “Want to tell me about it?”

“Fucking Deuxmoi got a tip about us. Everyone thinks—everyoneknows—we’re pretending.” I tilt my face to meet his eyes, which are soft. Mine are bloodshot.

“I’m sorry, Doo-what now?”

“Oh my God, Levi, it’s a celebrity gossip page. You’resucha farm boy.”

He ignores my dig. “But we’renotpretending, right?”

I clock the way Emily clears her throat and excuses herself from the room, mumbling under her breath about retrieving a dress from the seamstress. She holds my eye contact for a beat before turning into the hallway.You’ll be fine, her look says.You always are.

I have no such confidence.

“Was I wrong to think we agreed last week at the Finch that something real is growing here? Maybe we should keep showing up like we enjoy spending time together—because we do—and wait for people to move on to their next conspiracy theory.”