When we get to Leonardo's room, I try not to let the knot inside my stomach form, as the headache is more than enough to deal with.
We sit down on the couch of the miniature living room, and he offers me a bundle of blankets he found in the covers and requests two more from room service along with two cups of chamomile tea.
Given that we were both basically deadbeat, exhausted, and the Advil Leo gave me for my headache was going to knock me out anytime soon, we'd both agreed to let it all out so that we could both sleep in peace. Just in case, we set a time of 5 minutes. Though with so much to say, neither of us knew where the hell to start.
"So…" my voice drifts as I take another long sip of my warm cup, attempting to fill the awkward silence that came upon the delivery of our items. "You needed to tell me something?"
I turn to him as he keeps his eyes on me. They always are.
I used to think it was his way of keeping an eye on me so that when I do screw up, he could take full advantage to mock me right then and there. But as of recent, that perception I had of him had changed. Now, all I can think of is how cautious he has been of me ever since the night I ripped up my beautiful dress and became the reason he had to get his hand bandaged the next day by Sir Stefan.
"Yeah," he throws his head down and motions his mouth to the side with great reluctance. "I talked to Director Jimenez."
"So I've heard." I sip my cup. "Mitch will be the one kissing Georgia under the waterfall tomorrow?"
"Yes."
"Why the change?"
"Hmmm?"
"Why the change, Leonardo?" I try to focus on the warmth of the cup, without letting anything that would indicate too much interest slip from underneath my words and onto my facial expression.
"It didn't feel right."
"Is that it?"
"What do you mean is that it?"
"You've kissed her thousands of times in the past, didn't you? I mean, you two somewhat had a history and were about to fake date before I came into the picture."
"This time is different."
"How?"
"Because this time, I am with you. You are my partner, and I wouldn't want to disrespect or upset you."
Fake partner.
I am not your partner.
I am your fake partner.
We are not real.
"Leo," I sigh. "I'll be fine. Sure, I did get a little butthurt that you sat next to her today, but I'll manage." I quickly say, trying to conceal that I admitted to being upset at him sitting next to her instead of me. "I don't want you to do anything that will jeopardize your career, which includes threatening to murder your other co-stars."
A frown grows on his lips. "He deserves it."
"I'm not saying he doesn't, but what I am saying is that I can hold my own ground without you needing to help or watching me all the time," I say, creating some distance between us, both physically and metaphorically. "The whole reason we had this arrangement is to get our parents off your back and to help promote your role so your agent, the electric Eel, didn't set you up with Georgia, remember?"
"Emille," Leonardo corrects me.
"The electric eel," I repeat defensively, as I have not been a fan of her since day one of this whole fiasco. I had met her briefly at the party, but had yet to have another encounter with said agent. However, I heard enough from Leo and whatever Omar tells me, to know that she has a leash wrapped around Leo's career as well as a family relationship with his parents.
"Speaking of this arrangement, how is the cafe going?" he swiftly takes a sip from his cup.
"Don't change the subject." I scold him, putting my cup down on top of a wooden coaster with the hotel logo in the center, and cross my arms over my chest. "I know how much this career means to you, and I don't want you to risk it all because some asshole has no self-control."
He makes a deep sigh, with a rasp of underlying husk to it. "I would've been worth it."
"I'm serious, Leonardo." I take the cup from his hands.
"So am I," he shifts his gaze from where I put the cup and back at me, swallowing whatever breath I had in my lungs away. "Say the word."
"You can't say things like that, Leonardo." I reason, trying to steady myself.
"Why?" His gaze deepens as my heart races. "I mean it."
"You shouldn't, Leonardo." I shake my head and try to find every reasonable justification before he questions me any further. "Have you been drinking?" I inch closer to smell his breath and accidentally land on his lap.
Suddenly, his face is on mine, the two of us frozen in shock. "Oh, my god. I'm so sorry-" I quickly lifted myself out, but that only put my lips closer to his.
"I- uh-" Words try to form on his mouth, but are abruptly interrupted by the alarm. We both jump, hitting each other's heads, and pull apart from each other on the couch.
"Times up," I say, briskly getting up and tugging the blanket from behind me like a cape, and enter our shared room by hopping into the bed and lying on my side. "Good night!"