Chapter Twenty-Three- Poster Shoot

So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable. ~ Christopher Reeve~ Lia "Lia, stand in front of Maxwell", the photographer said. I did as instructed, "yes, like that. Now bend your knee on his thigh, your right hand on his shoulder, and the left on his bicep." I looked at Maxwell with an awkward smile as I did exactly as I was told. "Now, Maxwell, put your hand slightly below Lia's ass." I could hear the thudding of my heart when I felt his hand on me. "Perfect! Now look like you're in love with each other." This was getting out of hand; I thought as I moved my eyes to Maxwell's face. The corner of his lips twitched, and his eyes gleamed with playfulness. "You smell good," he whispered, and I smiled down at him, wondering how long this ordeal would take. I couldn't help but notice that he was enjoying this way too much, the way his hand felt on me, the humour in his gaze and the way he was biting the corner of his lip. "You don't smell bad yourself," I told him. And I heard the photographer say, "good. I like your interaction with each other. I think I've got enough of that. Now show me love or l**t. I will take either." While I was sprawled on Maxwell's lap, I could hear the clicks of phone cameras. Part of me knew Serena or Zion was taking them so they could send them to the rest of my family, making me panic because I had not told Luc about it. By design, of course. I wanted to tell him when it was fait accompli, which meant it was time to do so. "Good, Maxwell. Lia, come on, girl, give me the same." the photographer repeated, and Maxwell raised his right eyebrow as if to challenge me. I still couldn't find it to summon either of those two emotions. "Have you never been in love before?" Maxwell asked in a low tone; I closed my eyes for a second, running my tongue on my bottom lip. Maxwell's breath hitched, reminding me of what Luc had said about him having a thing for me. Thinking of Luc in this situation helped. "Look at him like you would at someone you l**t for." Shaking my head once, I cleared my tone, closed my eyes for a heartbeat and then opened them again, fixing my gaze on Maxwell, but instead of him, I saw Luc, his hands on me, his breath on my face, whispering naughty suggestions in my ear "Perfect!" the photographer whispered as he proceeded to take more shots "Wow! Who is he?" Maxwell asked when the shoot ended, I gave him a blank look. "The guy you were looking at instead of me?" I give him an even more confused look. "I was looking at you," I told him with a conviction that wouldn't have been questioned. "If you say so." "I happen to say so." I move away from him, putting my strained leg on the floor. I groan, and I feel Serena's arm anchoring me as she helps me to a chair. "That was great. But Luc will hit the wall when he sees those images." I knew that. But this was my job; it's not like I was in love with Maxwell. "Yeah, then I will remind him of that Gucci commercial with the front of his shirt opened and Liu Wen's hands on his chest." I whispered back; Serena chuckled, "or the one where Kaia Jordan Gerber has her long legs over his shoulders. I groaned. "Don't remind me; I hated how his hands comfortably rested on those smooth thighs. " "You were jealous? Really." I nodded, then added, "murderously." "I know he will feel it for a while because he's just human, but he will get over it. It's just part of my job, and it's not like I'm attracted to Maxwell." "Not even a little bit?" Serena whispered when one of the staff stopped to give me a water bottle. I shook my head. "I think he is hot." She told me; I scowled at her, which made her chuckle, lightly touching my hair. I shrugged, " that he is, but Luc is hotter." I said, stopping to look at where Zion and Sebastian stood. "Have you talked to him?" She threw an intimate look at Zion, then returned her gaze at me, "no. We will after this." When the shoot ended, I said goodbye to everybody and then left. I couldn't help but like everyone involved in making this series. They were good people, maybe because I had not spent much time with them, or perhaps they were genuinely good. Anyway, I will eventually find out a week from now when we start shooting season two. I slid into the car after Serena, sighing loudly, taking out a crunchy to tie my hair in a ponytail. "I can't wait for those images to be released," Serena gleefully said. I smiled, leaning back on the seat. I was tired; I couldn't wait to shower and sleep. Once I closed my eyes, I didn't wake up until I heard Serena saying we'd arrived. I had not slept well yesterday. My body got used to lovemaking and being tucked into Luc's arms while we slept; now, it had to relearn how to survive without that. "Are you excited about talking to Zion?" With a shy smile, Serena nodded. She might look shy and sometimes timid, but she was a force of nature. I left her outside the house, hurrying to my bedroom. First, take a shower, call Luc, and sleep, in that order. I showered and wore silk pyjamas trousers and a long-sleeved shirt. I knew Serena wouldn't be sleeping with me today, given that Zion was around. Once I was done, I set my alarm for 8 pm so I could talk to him immediately after he woke up. I could have napped until the alarm went off, but I needed something to eat. So I padded down to the kitchen, rushing first to the fridge to see if we had any leftovers. "What are you looking for?" Sebastian a asked; he was holding a can of beer. "Something to eat. I'm famished." I replied. He was a beer man, just like Zion, which is why they thought of going into a brewery business together. "I could make something for you." "Splendid!" I said, clapping me hands with delight."what do you need me to do?" "Nothing. Just sit and talk to me." "I can do that." I mumbled, watching him take out everything he needed from the fridge. He had strong, capable hands. Tattoos drawn on both his hands; the left hand had a spider web, while the right had a star on the knuckles, and a lowercase 'a' on the ring finger. "What does it mean?" I asked, pointing at it with a fork I was using to eat a small piece of watermelon. Sebastian lifted his hand, still holding a knife, looking at it as if he had never seen it before. "Nothing, really." his voice sounded far like he wasn't standing before me. I accepted his answer. The alternative was to probe him further, but people are entitled to keep their secrets, and I respect that. "What are you making?" I asked to change the topic. He seemed to like that because he lifted his head, smiled and said, "pasta and chicken." my mouth watered when I heard that. "I can't wait to taste it. It's a go-to recipe in my family.” I watched him cook while I sat comfortably in my pyjamas, enjoying his hoarse voice. He could talk for hours, and I wouldn't get bored. "Have you ever thought of doing voice adverts or voicing audiobooks?" He laughed, peering at me as if I had lost my mind. "No. And no. That is not my cup of it." "It could be." I insisted. " He shook his head. "No, thank you." "You have a sexy voice," I told him, taking the final piece of my melon. He bit the top of his lip, then rolled his tongue on it before he looked at me. "If I didn't know you, I would think you're hitting on me." "Thank God you know me," I mumbled, leaning back on my chair. I watched him wash the chicken, put it in a clean dish, and then proceeded to cut onions, tomatoes and parsley. "How did you learn to cook?" "From my father," he answered, stuffing half a raw tomato in his mouth. He looked so cute, I thought when he kept talking while chewing. Maybe Jessica wasn't wrong, he was cute, but that ended when he got mad, spooked, or baited. He became lethal—a sight an average person wouldn't know how to react. I found that I enjoyed talking to him too. He was easy to talk to; he had these funny, self-deprecating jokes that made me throw my head back with laughter. I was so caught up in his web of stories that I didn't hear my alarm ringing until he pointed it out. Suddenly, I stopped laughing, sobering up quickly, like pouring water into a flame of fire. “Why do you have an alarm for 8 pm?” he asked. I pressed stop on the alarm, feeling excited that I was about to hear Luc’s voice and dreading his reaction to the posters. “I wanted to talk to Luc before he starts the day.” “You want to tell him the world is about to see his woman sprawled all over another man?” Seb smirked, putting another piece of raw tomatoes in his mouth. “I was not sprawled all over him, don't exaggerate. “ I told him. He lifted his right eyebrow, giving me a mocking glance. “Fine.” I grudgingly relented, “but not in those words. And quit eating those tomatoes; at this rate, you'll finish all of them.” I said as I scurried out of the kitchen. I heard him chuckle, but I ignored him, dialling Luc's number. “Hallo,” I said, feeling the beating of my hear accelerate with anticipation. “Lia, hi.” Oh, the way my name calls on his tongue. Magic. “What are you doing?” He let out a short laugh. “There is something you want to tell me, isn't there?” Damn! He knows me too well. “Yes. “ I said in a soft voice. I figured this was for the best. Tell him the bad news first so the rest can be of us flirting. “What is it, Lia?” “Im going to be a regular for the show,” I pronounced, my voice explicit. “For children of blood and oil?” the excitement in his voice filled me with so much gratitude and love for him. “Yes.” I confirmed, pushing the door of my bedroom open and then locking it behind me. “What? Congratulations, babe. This is such a great opportunity. You're halfway through your dream.” “I know. I was so happy when I heard it; I wanted to tell you immediately.” “Why didn't you?” I went silent for a bit, sitting on the edge of my bed, listening to Luc’s breathing through my phone from the other side of the world. “I didn't want to jinx it. It was like I was afraid to say it out loud in case Estelle called back to tell me the show had chosen another person. Let's face it; I don't have much experience; there are millions of people more qualified for this role than I am.” “Don't put yourself down.” “I'm not; just stating a fact.” “It's not a fact. I grew up with you, remember?... I have heard your dreams; I carry your voice from the first time you told me you wanted to be an actor. The thrill of discovering what you wanted to do, the joy in your eyes. You deserve this as much as everyone else does.” I brushed a tear from my eyes, making sure not to whimper, so he didn't know I was crying. “Thank you,” I told him. “Don't mention it. Now, tell me why you sounded so uneasy at the beginning.” “I wasn't uneasy?” “Lia,” he warned. “Serious, I wasn't in...” “Spit it out before Matteo bangs my door.” “We shot promotional posters today, and Maxwell and I are in a kind of intimate stance,” I said quickly, breathlessly. “Oh. Is that all?” “Yap!” “Do you have feelings for him?” I frowned, wondering what in god’s green earth he was on. “Is that rhetorical, or do you need an answer? “The latter,” he stated “No. I do not have feelings for him.” “Are you attracted to him?” Good grief. This boy was driving me nuts. “No.” I almost shouted. “Im only attracted to you. I only have feelings for you. Are you happy now?” He laughed, “yeah. Good night, Lia. I have to go to practice. “ “Okay,” I responded in a faint voice. “And Lia,” “Yes,” “I’m crazy about you too.” That lifted my spirit. It brought a smile to my face.