SCRIPTED LOVE | DREW STARKEY.

ON SET

The set was buzzing with energy as the cast and crew prepared for another day of filming. The salty breeze from the nearby beach carried the hum of conversation and the clatter of equipment. Romy walked toward the makeup trailer, her stomach twisting in knots. She'd barely slept after last night—her thoughts looping endlessly around Drew and that moment outside the diner.

"Romy! You're here early," Madison called, jogging over with a coffee in hand. Her bright smile immediately put Romy at ease, even if only temporarily.

"Yeah, figured I'd get a head start," Romy said, smiling back as naturally as she could manage.

"Good call. They're filming the big group scene first, so we're all in it together. It's gonna be chaos," Madison said with a laugh before heading off.

Romy exhaled, trying to steady herself. She was about to head into the trailer when she spotted Drew standing a few feet away, chatting with Chase and Rudy. His hands were tucked in the pockets of his hoodie, and the way he tilted his head back to laugh at something Rudy said made Romy's heart stutter.

Before she could duck into the trailer and avoid him, Drew's gaze shifted and locked onto hers. His easy smile faltered for half a second, replaced by a flicker of something she couldn't quite read. Then he gave her a small nod, like nothing had happened.

Romy nodded back, her face heating up as she quickly stepped inside the trailer.

The awkwardness only grew when they were all on set. The scene involved the whole cast standing on the docks, arguing over some made-up treasure map prop that Rudy kept jokingly trying to steal between takes.

"Romy, you're over here," the director said, pointing to a spot near Drew.

Of course.

Romy moved to her mark, acutely aware of Drew standing less than a foot away. He glanced at her, his usual smirk in place, but there was something a little more cautious about it now.

"Morning Romy," he said softly, his voice just loud enough for her to hear.

"Morning," she replied quickly, looking straight ahead and fidgeting with the hem of her jacket.

The silence between them was palpable. It wasn't hostile, but it wasn't exactly comfortable either.

"You good?" Drew asked after a beat, leaning slightly closer so the others wouldn't hear.

"Yeah," Romy said, forcing a smile. "Totally fine."

"You sure?" He tilted his head, his expression unreadable but just amused enough to make her heart race.

"Positive," she said, the word coming out a little too quickly.

Before Drew could say anything else, Rudy sidled up beside them, holding the fake map and squinting at it dramatically. "Okay, I've cracked the code. The treasure is hidden in craft services. Who's with me?"

Madelyn rolled her eyes from across the dock. "You're insufferable."

"You love me," Rudy shot back, grinning.

The group burst into laughter, and Romy was grateful for the distraction. She focused on Rudy's antics, trying to forget about the way Drew's presence made her chest feel tight. The rest of the scene went by in a blur of instructions and laughter, but every time Drew's voice cut through the noise or his laugh echoed too close, Romy felt a jolt, as if she were hyper-aware of him in a way that made her want to disappear and be seen at the same time.

When the director finally called for a break, Romy darted off the set to find a quiet spot. She perched on a crate near the props table, trying to steady herself. Drew wasn't even doing anything out of the ordinary, and yet it felt like he was taking up all the oxygen around her.