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"Are you okay?"

"I’ as I don’t move at all" He takeshim "Mmm, better" His blue eyes open and he lifts a hand tome forward, into another kiss "Much better"

Chapter 35

REID

I move back to the hotel to recuperate while everyone else continues fil me bored as hell I’ve never had to sit out before--no illnesses, no injuries Dad would be shocked to know I’ able to work

Everyone drops in occasionally to hang out, and Emma keepsand class days Having her near naturally results in us getting physical, but there’s only so far I can go without pain For days noe’ve been kissing and touching for one or two hours straight E my room more breathless after these restrained makeouts than she ever has

Today I went on location to watch her fil the hotel rooht his head would explode He threatened to call ested a cigarette break He spun on his heel and stomped from the room

Emma has been anxious about this scene, which includes Leslie and Tim, both Oscar contenders, as well as Jenna, the perpetually self-confident fifteen-year-old Thehas to be perfect for all of theet the scene done in only two takes plus soo for the day, leaving E ability firsthand, but observing fro a scene, you pay the most attention to your own performance; everyone else’s perfor to do but watch her

In the car back to the hotel, I raise the privacy glass between us and the driver, settle her legs acrossunder the edge of her skirt Her eyes are heavy as she waits for what I’ll do next "You’re a natural, you know," I say Her brows rise and she colors deeply I laugh, squeezing her leg lightly and kissing along her jaw "A natural at that, too, and I’ll convince you of it soon But I mean--you’re a natural on film"

She scowls and I run er over the spot between her eyebrows "Don’t do that, you’ll get a frown crease"

"What do you mean--‘natural on film’?"

Why this observation would insult her is beyond me "Your stepmother told me you’d wanted to do theatre at one time, not film I can relate--I did some community theatre when I was a preteen It was fun But we’re both naturals on fil" The scowl increases ather up again

"I did want to do theatre; I do want to do theatre But if it has to be filnow"

"Serious, like, limited run, indie stuff?"

"Yes, exactly"

Except in extremely rare cases, independent films make little to no money, and hardly anyone sees them They’re the film version of literary fiction "Why would you want that, when you can do so that will be wide-released into hundreds of theaters across the country and across the world, will make you crazy famous, sell a ton of DVDs in a few months, and when all is said and done will earn you a ton of ly rich is worth arner critical acclai porn" She blanches and I laugh Oops "God, you should see your face"

"Yep, I’, I’, that’s all" I pull her closer and kiss her She hesitates for ah under the skirt until raze her hip

The car comes to a stop in front of the hotel and Emma scrambles to pull herself out of , as are a few photographers and fans I wave and s her the chance to sh , "Reid! Emma! We love you!"

Independent fillected studying for the SAT until tonight, when Eht after she tells reed a couple of weeks ago that Emily will check fansites and inform me on a need-to-know basis only Before she took over researching the dirt about h it Bad Idea For instance, some fansite declared that I’ht dating someone as "hot and delicious" as Reid

Definitely not need-to-know Emily is my first line of defense

"There’s a photo of you and Graha whether or not he’s coo for runs right after you roll out of bed… together"

"Wow, great So now I’et a photo of me and Quinton? Or hey, how about me and Brooke? I et that SAT prep book I suggested?"

I’ot it, but I really haven’t had tih it"