Page 113 of Cast to be Mine

Nothing about this was simple. The press junket for the film hadn’t been announced yet. We had a vague idea and were supposed to keep our schedules clear for the week, but that was a problem for another day.

“What scenes?” I asked, already dreading the answer.

“They didn’t specify. Just said they need some additional coverage. Reaction shots, probably. The usual.”

Reaction shots. I could handle reaction shots. Stand in front of a camera, make faces, go home. I didn’t even need to know lines for that.

“Fine,” I said. “I’ll be there.”

“That’s my girl. And, Grace? Keep your head down. Don’t engage with anyone who tries to stir up drama. In and out. Professional.”

“Professional,” I repeated. “Got it.”

I hung up and sat there on my couch, staring at the wall. Tomorrow I’d be back on that soundstage. Back in Elena’s world. Back in proximity to Micah.

The thought made my heart race in a way I hated. I missed the man more than I could have predicted. I’d told him I’d reach out when I was ready.

I still wasn’t ready, but I had a job to do.

Going through those gates of the studio felt like walking into a memory I’d been trying to forget. My driver had been trying to make small talk but I wasn’t in the mood. I kept my head down as I made my way to the hair and makeup trailer, sunglasses on, baseball cap pulled low. A few people glanced my way, but no one stopped me. No whispers that I could hear. Maybe the scandal really was dying down. Or maybe everyone was just being polite.

The makeup artist was someone I didn’t recognize—not the woman from Hawaii who’d fixed my tear-stained face. This one wasn’t interested in small talk. She stayed quiet, working in silence while I sat in the chair and tried not to think about what was coming.

“You’re all set,” she finally said, spinning the chair so I could see myself in the mirror.

I looked like Elena. Hair styled the same way, makeup subtle but camera-ready. The transformation should have felt familiar, comforting even. Instead, it just reminded me of everything I was trying to leave behind.

Wardrobe was next. They put me in one of Elena’s outfits—a simple blouse and jeans, nothing special. I recognized it from one of the early scenes we’d shot on the soundstage. That made sense. I’d still been learning Elena. In Hawaii, I really got a grip on her.

“Do you know what scene we’re shooting?” I asked the wardrobe assistant as she adjusted my collar.

“Just some reaction shots, I think. They didn’t give me details.”

I wasn’t the only one in the dark.

I made my way to the soundstage, preparing myself for the moment I saw him. I took a deep breath, pushed the door open, and stepped inside.

The set was already busy, crew members moving around and getting things in order. Everything looked the same as it had been. The monitors were set up in their usual cluster.

But no Micah.

I scanned the space, my eyes searching for that familiar figure, but he wasn’t there. Was I relieved or disappointed? I’d been dreading this moment and the first time I’d have to face him after three weeks of silence. But part of me had been desperate to see him.

“Grace! Over here!”

Toby waved at me from near the monitors. I walked over, forcing a smile.

“Hey, Toby. Good to see you.”

“You too! We’re almost ready. Just need to get the lighting dialed in.”

“What scene are we doing? I need to know my lines.”

He shook his head. “No lines. Just reaction shots. We’re going to play you some of Jack’s dialogue and get your responses on camera. Standard coverage stuff.”

Relief flooded through me. I wasn’t sure I was ready to deliver a performance with lines. “Okay. Where do you need me?”

“Right over there.” He pointed to a mark on the floor, positioned in front of one of the cameras. “Just stand on your mark and we’ll get you set up.”