Unexpected Co-star

Part 7

I stand by my car, squinting at the sprawling park in front of me, feeling a little out of my element. I wasn't expecting Hugh to suggest this—something as simple as a picnic, just the two of us.

"Over here!" Hugh's voice calls out, pulling me from my thoughts. I spot him a few yards away, laying out a large blanket in a shaded area. A picnic basket sits beside him, and he's looking up at me with that easygoing smile of his.

I walk over, feeling my heart beat faster with each step. This is...different. It's not set, it's not work. It's just us. And somehow that feels like uncharted territory.

"Wow, you really went all out," I say, looking at the spread he's already started arranging—sandwiches, fresh fruit, a bottle of wine.

He grins, brushing his hands off as he stands to face me. "I figured if we're doing this, we might as well do it right. Plus, I needed to show off my picnic game. You've never been to a picnic like this before, I bet."

I laugh softly, shaking my head. "No, I don't think I've ever been on a picnic, actually."

"First time for everything," he says with a wink, motioning for me to sit.

As I settle down onto the blanket, I can't help but glance around, feeling a little surreal about all of this. Just a few days ago, we were in the middle of filming some intense scenes, navigating that weird line between acting and reality. And now, here we are—alone, away from work, and on what feels suspiciously like a real date. Even though he told me it wasn't.

"You okay?" Hugh asks, breaking me from my thoughts as he hands me a glass of wine. He's looking at me with a softness in his eyes, a kind of concern I wasn't expecting.

"Yeah," I nod, taking the glass and offering a smile. "It's just...nice. This. Being out here, away from everything."

He raises his glass, clinking it gently against mine. "To some peace and quiet, then."

We drink, the wine cool and crisp on this warm day. There's a gentle breeze that carries the scent of grass and blooming flowers, and for the first time in a while, I feel like I can actually breathe. No cameras, no crew—just the two of us.

As we start eating, the conversation flows easily. Hugh talks about some of his travels, sharing funny stories about things going wrong on set, and I tell him about the time my sister and I tried camping and ended up getting lost in the woods. He laughs, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and for a moment, everything feels light and simple.

But even with the laughter, there's this unspoken tension simmering just beneath the surface. Every time our eyes meet, it's like we're both hyper-aware of the weight of everything that's unsaid. The chemistry we've been tiptoeing around for weeks now hangs in the air between us, and with every passing minute, it feels more and more impossible to ignore.

At some point, after we've finished eating and are just lounging back on the blanket, Hugh turns to me, his expression softer now. "You know," he begins, his voice quiet, "I didn't ask you out here just for a picnic."

My heart skips a beat, and I sit up a little straighter. "Oh?"

He chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck as if he's suddenly a little nervous. "I mean, I wanted to, obviously. But I also thought...maybe we could talk. About us."

I swallow hard, feeling the tension knot in my stomach again. "What about us?"

Hugh looks at me, his eyes searching mine, and for a moment, he's quiet—like he's trying to find the right words. "Emerson, I know things have been...well, different between us lately. And I think it's pretty clear we have something here. I just don't want to rush into anything or make things awkward, but I also don't want to pretend it's not there."

I exhale slowly, feeling a mixture of relief and anxiety wash over me. "Yeah," I say, meeting his gaze. "I've been thinking about it too. And you're right, there's definitely something between us. But I don't know how to handle it. We're working together, and I don't want to ruin that."

Hugh nods, understanding flashing in his eyes. "I get that. I've been thinking about that too. But I also feel like...if we're careful, if we take things slow, we can figure it out without complicating everything."

I pause, considering his words. "Slow?"

"Yeah," he says softly. "No pressure. No expectations. Just...seeing where things go, you know?"

I smile at him, feeling some of the tension in my chest loosen. "I think I can do that."

For a moment, we just sit there, the silence between us comfortable now, not heavy with unspoken words. The breeze rustles through the trees, and I feel a strange sense of calm settle over me.

Hugh's hand moves, just barely grazing mine, and for a second, I think he's going to pull back. But he doesn't. Instead, his fingers lightly brush against mine, and I feel a spark of something warm and electric shoot through me.

I glance at him, and he's looking at me, his gaze soft and steady. There's no rush, no urgency. Just a quiet understanding that whatever this is between us, it's real.