I shake off the thoughts of his lips against mine. Trailing up my neck, making my knees weak, and…focus.Today is about acting. Proving to myself I can give the best performance of my life regardless of the state of my heart.
If Mr. Saltzman wants chemistry, I’ll show him chemistry.
We run through the first half of the play in a breeze. We’ve done this so many times, I can practically recite the wholeperformance in my sleep. And per Mr. Saltzman’s request, I do my best to clear my head and give an amazing performance.
But now, it’s time for the moment I’ve been dreading. I’m standing onstage with Zayne, dressed in a romantic Catherine Earnshaw look—a burgundy silk gown, complete with a corset, laced boots, and white gloves. The backdrops behind us are finally complete and perfectly painted, so detailed I feel like I’m on the set of a period drama TV show. I can’t help but be impressed with the set crew’s skill in painting the elegantly arched windows, the heavy gold drapes framing them, and the expensive-looking furniture of Wuthering Heights.
I ground out the lines I’ve said in front of him thousands of times now. “You returned on my wedding day, only to punish me.”
But Mr. Saltzman cuts in. “Come on, Dot. Say it like you mean it. I need to feel more emotion from you.More.”
I blink in surprise. Am I not giving my best performance? There’s no time left for mistakes like this. I should be on my A-Game right now.
I let my eyes bore into Zayne’s, returning his intense gaze. And my toes feel numb in response.
In this particular scene, his expression is always intense, but I can’t help but notice it’s different this time. As if, for once, he’s having trouble pushing his real feelings aside to stay in character.
So, instead of shoving mine down, I do the complete opposite. I let myself feel the heartbreak I’ve been trying to ignore since the dance, allowing it to fully slice through my chest like a knife.. “You returned on my wedding day,” I say, “only to punish me.”
His eyes fall to my lips. He places his hand on my waist, holding me firmly in place, but there’s a subtle tremble in hishand, like he’s afraid to break me, and his lips are against mine in the next moment.
The kiss starts as planned. Nothing more than a single, close-mouthed peck. But neither of us breaks apart. His mouth is soft and hot against mine, and when I part my lips for him, I taste mint and the familiar coffee signature of Zayne.
I don’t let go right away, gripping his costume shirt in my fists, and he kisses me like it’s the last time he’ll ever be allowed to, like in a moment, I’ll vanish into thin air.
He’s an even better kisser than I remembered.
My knees threaten to buckle as I try to find my way out of it, but I can’t.
I am lost. And I want to stay lost.
The kiss lasts several more stretched-out moments, and then we finally come up for air, breaking apart but not letting go of one another. I catch Mr. Saltzman’s smile from the corner of my eye. Zayne breathes like he just finished running a marathon, and I try to ignore the incessant thudding in my own chest.Too much. This is too much for me.
But I finish the scene because I have to. I need to prove that I can do this. That he doesn’t affect me the way he thinks he does.
Mr. Saltzman doesn’t give us commentary, which means we did a good job, and then Carlton is brought onstage, displaying one of the most generic performances of his I’ve ever seen. We run through the entire scene, and then the next. After that, the three of us are allowed backstage.
I rush past Zayne without a word.
“Dot!” His voice is as wounded as I feel, but he has no reason to be upset.
I spin around and glare at him. The entire backstage cast is watching us, but I don’t care. “You shouldn’t have kissed me like that.”
“I’m sorry.” He holds up his hands. “You’re right.”
I wipe the corner of my eye, and a strong arm drapes across my shoulder. Carlton.
“It’s alright, Dot,” he says, making a show of rubbing my shoulder as he stares at Zayne. “Let’s go find a seat.”
Zayne’s eyes harden into ice. “Take your hand off her.”
“Both of you, stop it.” I shrug out from Carlton’s embrace and roll my eyes. “Just leave me alone.”
I leave them both standing there and find a chair in the corner of the green room. I sit in it, ignoring the blatant stares and whispers buzzing around the room. Rue and the twins have a scene together right now, so I have no one else to sit with. But I don’t even care. I’d rather not talk to anyone. In fact, I can’t believe I have to do this all over again tonight.
But if there’s one thing I’ve learned in theater, it’s that the show must go on.
After rehearsal, Mr. Saltzman informs us all on what a good job we did today. “I couldn’t be prouder,” he tells us. We’re seated backstage, and he stands at the podium with a proud smile on his face. “It went even better than I expected. Now go home, take a nice long break, and I’ll see you all back here tomorrow for opening night.”
