CHANCES ↠ NICK MARA

TWENTY

"Can you guys go closer together?" The director asks, and we both move so that we are—somehow—closer together. It's a bit awkward because we were already so close to one another that there is barely any room to even move, but it's show business and we are trying our best.

"How much closer does he think we can get?" The male lead for this music video asks jokingly. His name is Trevor.

"To him, we're not close enough," I joke back, laughing.

"Perfect!" The director shouts suddenly. "That's it! Stay like that. Don't move!"

We both freeze and through gritted teeth, Trevor says, "This is fun," because we've been working for hours—almost a half day—with this director. We both know that this director takes these things seriously, and we didn't want to ruin his image and have to do it again for another hour.

"Okay, Trevor, rest your forehead against Lexee's." Trevor does just that, and the director claps his hands immediately. "That's perfect. Cute. Then, slowly lift your head up, but only a little bit! Give her a kiss on the forehead." As he's instructing, Trevor is following. "And slowly bend your head and give her a kiss." He groans. "Wait. Not like that."

Trevor pulls away and groans. "After this, we deserve to go out to eat."

Before I can respond, the director shouts for us to do it all over again. "When you come down to kiss her, don't just kiss her right away. Do it slowly, tentatively like you guys are rethinking if it's worth the risk, then after your lips fully touch, that's when you realize that it was worth it after all. So you're allowed to go crazy then."

"We definitely need to go out and eat to distress. What do you think?"

I don't get a chance to respond this time either because the director yells action. We follow through his orders, and when it's time for our kiss, Trevor executes it just as told. When we're done, I find myself unable to catch my breath right away.

"So? Are you in the mood for Chinese or Italian?"

"I—"

"Hey, babe, you ready to go?" Nick asks from behind me, wrapping his arms around my shoulder. He kisses my temple.

"Actually, Trevor, I have plans, but next time for sure!" I say. Trevor nods and walks away. I turn myself into Nick's chest and smile adoringly at me. I tap my finger on his chest. "I know what this is about. It's about the TMZ article saying that Trevor was my new flame, right?" When I say the word 'flame,' I say it in a teasing manner and cock one of my eyebrows.

He scowls. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I know you've seen it," I call him out. "That's why you've been so moody these past few days. I'm not with him. You know I'm not with him. Who cares what TMZ thinks?" I trace his eyebrow and kiss the corner of his eye. When he doesn't say anything, I huff and say, "You know what I think? I think it's cute that you're jealous," I tease him, wrapping my arms around his torso. I just want to make him smile.

He scowls again and turns his head the other way, but it's like he's like he's embarrassed. I am right. He is cute like this. "As long as Trevor doesn't get any ideas. He was getting a bit handsy earlier."

"See?" I say, still teasing. "Cute."

"You're the only person that I would ever let call me cute."