Page 31 of Cast to be Mine

The difference was immediate and stunning. Grace delivered her first line with the same fire she’d brought to our private rehearsal. Sharp. Confident. No hesitation.

Jack blinked, clearly not expecting it. He recovered quickly.

They ran through the scene, and Grace held her own. Better than held her own. She matched Jack beat for beat, never once looking at the script pages Toby held nearby just in case.

When they finished, I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face. “That’s what I’m talking about. That’s the energy we need.”

Grace shot me a smile that had my body reacting very unprofessionally. I told myself it was pride in my actress. Nothing more.

“Again,” I said. “From the top. This time, Jack, I want you to push harder on the threat. Make her feel cornered.”

We ran it again. Each time, Grace got better. I noticed Jack’s demeanor changing. Pouty. He knew he was up against a star and it made him feel a little something. He just realized he wasn’t the only star in the room.

“Water break,” I announced after the fifth run-through. “Fifteen minutes.”

Grace walked over to grab her water bottle, and I couldn’t help noticing the way Jack’s eyes tracked her movement. He said something to his assistant, who scurried off, then made his way toward where Grace stood.

“So,” Jack said, positioning himself directly in her eyeline. “You’ve really improved since Saturday.”

“Thank you,” Grace said politely. “I appreciate that.”

Jack leaned against the wall in what I assumed he thought was a casual pose but looked more like a cologne ad. “You know, if you ever want to run lines outside of rehearsal, I’m available. I’ve got a great setup at my place. Pool, full bar, completely private.”

I felt my jaw tighten.

He didn’t mention his wife.

Grace’s smile didn’t waver. “That’s kind of you, but I think I’m good with the scheduled rehearsals.”

“You sure? Because I’ve been doing this a long time, and I could really help you.”

We got through a few more scenes. Jack was overacting. Making sure everyone in the room knew he was a big star. Grace obviously noticed.

She glanced at me, and there was that smile again.

Just friendly, I reminded myself.

“Let’s move to scene thirty-seven,” I said. “The interrogation room.”

We blocked out the scene, and I noticed Jack positioning himself in Grace’s eyeline at every opportunity. When she moved left, he shifted left. When she turned to ask me a question, he somehow managed to be right there in her peripheral vision.

It would have been annoying if it wasn’t so transparently needy.

“Jack, you’re going to be over here,” I said, pointing to a spot stage right. “The camera will catch you in profile.”

He moved, but not without shooting Grace a look. He was two seconds from popping out his bottom lip.

We ran the scene. Jack delivered his lines perfectly, but every time Grace had a beat, I caught him doing something. Adjusting his stance. Running a hand through his hair. Once, I swore he flexed.

“Cut,” I said. “Jack, can you hold still during Grace’s lines? You’re pulling focus.”

“Was I?” He looked genuinely surprised. “Sorry, just trying to stay in the moment.”

“Stay in the moment without moving.”

“Sure, sure.”

He did not like the attention being pulled from him. He was going to light his hair on fire soon just to pull the spotlight back.