Chapter 11

chapter

eleven

Damien

Our phones buzz at exactly the same time. Caroline reads her message out loud, which I appreciate because I normally have my phone read them to me. Especially long ones like this.

"I would like to remind the two of you that you're contractually obligated to be on screen for a certain amount of down time in the cabin. You have been off camera for several hours now and it's time to make an appearance for extra footage," Caroline says.

Then she makes a face. "I think we're in trouble."

I pull her to me. "I think you're the best trouble I've ever had."

She kisses me, and I want so badly in that moment to tell her how I feel. To tell her she's my future and I'm hers, but I already know she'll say it's too soon. That love doesn't happen that fast.

But I know it's because she doesn't know what it looks like yet, what it feels like. Because those two mean old hags she lives with have withheld any form of affection her entire life. I'm going to smother her in it. She'll never doubt, for one moment, how I feel about her.

Our kiss ends and she tosses the covers off of us. "Guess we have to get back to work."

"Let's just go out and watch a movie," I say, holding out my hand to her.

"Oh! Scary movies. Might give us some more inspiration for the cupcake designs. Great idea."

I pull her to me, my hands on her hips. Her back is pressed to my front as I lean down to her ear. "I don't want things to change between us when we go out there. Can we be real out there too?

"You mean can we be together?"

"That's exactly what I mean. I want to show the world who I'm with."

She spins in my arms. "Does that mean this isn't a just-while-we're-filming-fling?"

"Not for me it's not. You?"

She shakes her head.

"Trust me?" I ask, again holding out my hand.

"Yes." She threads her fingers through mine, and we head out to the living room.

"I guess it's a good thing we got dressed after the shower escapades," she says in a hushed voice.

I lead her out into the main part of the house, still holding hands. "Why don't you pick the movie, and I'll make some popcorn."

"I do know my way around a kitchen you know," she says.

I kiss the tip of her nose. "I know, Sweetness, but let me spoil you. If even in this tiny way."

She nods and heads to the large sectional couch. I busy myself in the kitchen.

My phone pings and it's from one of the producers asking if Caroline and I are now a couple. I tell her yes, that we are. And she sends back a ridiculous number of emojis and hearts.

She tells me that the viewers are going to "go bananas about a pair up" and I'm a "damn genius" for adding this plot thread.

I'm tempted to tell her that it's not a plot thread, it's my real damn life. But this show is only a week in that real life. Caroline and I will go the distance, so screw the producers. I pocket my phone, finish the popcorn and grab two sodas out of the fridge.

Then I snuggle up next to her on the couch right as the opening of one of the Scream movies starts.

"Oh, solid pick," I say. "This is the first one, right?"

"Yes."

"Classic." Sitting this closely to her I can whisper in her ear. "It's been a minute since I've seen this one, but I'm trying to remember some of the death scenes."

"Morbid," she says quietly. "Oh! You know what might be cute?"

"What?"

"Red velvet cupcakes with white buttercream frosting, then we could make sugared shards of glass and drizzle them with strawberry compote."

I kiss her. I want to deepen it, but I am very aware of the cameras. "Brilliant idea."

We watch the movie, quietly exchanging commentary and ideas as the slasher film plays.

Then the scene with Rose McGowan's death comes. "This is my favorite one," I admit. "Death by garage door."

Caroline giggles. "I don't think we could put that on a cupcake."

Yep. I am head over heels for this woman.