Page 121 of Love Unscripted
“I’m not asking you to.”
His eyes flicked back to hers.
“I’m asking you to decide if you can forgive it.”
That landed.
Not defensive. Not pleading.
Just… true.
Before he could answer, a handler appeared at the door, waving them inside for the next segment.
~*~*~*~
The host, Ray Jay, didn’t help.
“Camille, you are absolutely stunning in this film,” Ray Jay said, leaning forward across the console, his voice dropping a register. “But I have to say, in person? You are dangerous.”
Camille laughed. “Thank you.”
“No, seriously,” he pressed, his eyes lingering a second too long. “If Xerxes didn’t fall in love with Esther, I would have questioned the man’s sanity. Aaron, you had to work real hard pretending this was just acting, huh?”
The studio erupted in chuckles. Aaron smiled—tight, controlled. “We stayed focused on the story.”
Ray Jay grinned, clearly enjoying himself. “Mm-hmm. Focused. I’m sure. Camille, after this press tour, if you ever get tired of these intense biblical kings, you can come hang out in Chicago. I’ll show you the real city.”
Camille laughed prettily. “I think I’ll take you up on that.”
Aaron glanced sharply at her, his jaw clenched so hard it ached.
“Aaron,” Ray Jay continued, oblivious or pretending to be, “you’re okay with that? Sounded like a yes to me.”
Aaron’s gaze shifted slowly to him.
“We’re here to talk about the film.”
The temperature in the room dropped a degree.
Ray Jay blinked—then laughed it off. “Fair enough. Fair enough. Focused man, like you said.”
But the tone had shifted.
And Aaron didn’t bother hiding it.
~*~*~*~
The silence on the way back was thick enough to choke on.
Camille stopped at her door and slid the key card in. The light blinked red, then green.
“Goodnight, Aaron.” Her tone was even. Controlled.
He didn’t move.
“What was that?” he asked.
She turned slowly. “What was what?”
