Delilah

Staying just friends with Nic was proving to be a lot harder than I ever imagined. From the instant spark when we first met at that café, to the undeniable chemistry during our first table read, it felt like we were drawn to each other in ways I couldn't explain. And now, as fate would have it, we were roommates for the next six months. It was like the universe was pushing us together for a reason, but I wasn't about to give in that easily.

I understood the reality of our situation. I knew what would happen if we crossed that line—if we let our feelings get the best of us. Someone would inevitably get hurt. And this time, it wouldn't be me. Not ever again.

As the rest of the cast arrived, Nic played the perfect co-host, refilling drinks and keeping the conversation flowing while I went to grab more snacks from the kitchen. Will, one of our other castmates, came in to lend a hand.

"It's really awesome that they're continuing the legacy of this film," he said, popping open another beer and leaning casually against the counter while I arranged the food on the plates.

"I know, I'm so excited to get started. Jennifer Love Hewitt is such an icon, and to get to play her daughter—it's truly an honor," I replied, turning to face him.

"Well, you two definitely look alike. I mean, both gorgeous," Will added, taking a sip of his drink. I smirked at him.

"Well, thank you, Will. You're not too bad yourself," I teased, sipping my drink in return.

"Delilah..." Nic interrupted, his tone almost too casual, like he was waiting for an opening. "Need help carrying that stuff? I'm thinking of grilling some burgers, too," he added smoothly.

"Amazing, Nicholas..." I responded, handing him a plate. "And Will, can you carry this one for me?" I passed him another plate, before walking out with just the drinks in hand.

A few minutes later, I walked over to the grill where Nic was focused on the burgers. I placed a hand on his shoulder, feeling a little too buzzed, but I kept my composure.

"Can I help?" I asked, my voice light.

"I'm good, but Will might need you to open his beer for him," Nic teased, glancing at me with a grin.

"Jealous, Lavender baby?" I raised an eyebrow, playing it off with a smirk, hoping my words would come out light.

"Me? No..." Nic's voice was smooth, but there was a subtle edge to it. "We're just friends, Lilah. But I can tell you like playing games, and I don't." He shrugged, his tone still playful, but beneath it, there was something else—something I couldn't quite place. A flicker of frustration, maybe even a touch of disappointment. Damn it. Why did that look in his eyes make me feel so... guilty?

He needed to understand, though. This wasn't about him. It was about keeping us both from getting hurt. I had to make him see that.

"My games aren't for fun, Nic," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant. "They come from hurt. And trust me, you don't know what it's like until you've been in my shoes. Everyone gets attached, but I don't. It's better this way, like I said before."

I could feel his gaze on me as he turned to face me fully. His eyes, dark and intense, felt like they were piercing straight through me. I wanted to look away—didn't want to feel what I was feeling. His gaze was too much, too deep, too familiar. It was like the first time I looked at Chase... but this time, the feeling wasn't the same. It wasn't sweet—it felt like a raw wound was being opened again. A pain I thought I had buried.

I tore my eyes from his, hoping I could bury that feeling before it could take root. "It's easier this way, Nic," I muttered, but the words felt hollow even to me.

"What?" Nic asked, his voice laced with confusion as he noticed the shift in me, the way I turned away so suddenly.

"I just got a head rush... need to lay off the margs," I lied quickly, hoping he wouldn't notice the crack in my voice, the real reason I was pulling away.

But then I felt his hand—warm, firm—settling on the small of my back, grounding me in a way that made everything inside me stutter.

"Let's find you a seat. You need to eat," he said, his voice soft but firm as he guided me toward a lounge chair.

"Protective... but not into me," I muttered under my breath, not meaning for him to hear, but the words slipped out before I could stop them.

"Protective because we have a 9 a.m. call time, and you're my screen partner," Nic said with a laugh, the sound of it easy, like he hadn't heard what I just said.

"You're not wrong. Looks like the party's winding down anyway," I replied, my eyes scanning the scene. Everyone was starting to filter out, the energy fading.

Nic and I made our way back inside, silence settling between us as we found our way into my room. The bed was soft, welcoming, and I sank into it next to him, the two of us talking quietly until sleep overtook us.

But even as we spoke, I couldn't shake the thought that had wormed its way into my mind: what would it feel like if those hands of his weren't just there to steady me? What if they were holding me in a way that wasn't so... friendly?

I tried to brush it aside, but as my eyes closed, the dream that followed wouldn't let me forget.

"Lilah, Delilah Jane! Wake up, we're going to be late." Nic's voice cut through the fog of sleep, shaking me awake from a dream where he was the star—and his hands were definitely not being used for "friendly" business.

"Woah..." I blinked, my eyes snapping open and instantly locking onto his face.

"Well, good morning to you too, princess. Let's go, I got you coffee and a bagel to soak up all the margaritas." Nic said with a grin as I sat up, still groggy. I gave him a thumbs up, then rushed into the shower. Fifteen minutes later, I was ready for our first shoot day in full workout attire.

"So you and Will?" Lola asked as we sat in the trailer, getting our hair and makeup done.

"Me and Will? Nothing ahaha" I laughed, sipping my coffee.

"I just assumed, after the way his jaw dropped talking to you in the kitchen. I mean, he was obviously flirting with you, Ly." Lola teased, raising an eyebrow.

"He was, but it was so obvious and awkward and..he's not really my type." I trailed off, staring down at the Starbucks cup Nic had brought me.

"Princess Ly" was written in sharpie on the side of the cup. A smile tugged at my lips when I saw it.

"Yeah, you're more of the 6'2, dark hair, dark eyes, chiseled body, hates everyone but loves you type," Lola said, her eyes narrowing as if she were putting pieces of a puzzle together. "By the way, who brought you that?"

"Nic... he knew it was the only thing that would wake me up," I tried to brush it off, but Lola wasn't buying it.

"He was pissed when he saw Will in the kitchen with you." Lola laughed, clearly hoping I would catch on to her obviously stereotyping Nic.

"Lo... what are you implying... hmmm?" I winked at her cheekily.

"I'm just saying, as fate would have it, you've become accidental roommates, and sooner or later, two beds will turn into one, Ly," Lola laughed, shaking her head.

"It's not like that." I rolled my eyes. "I mean, I'd be lying if I said Nic wasn't hot. I watched Monsters and was practically drooling. Him in that pink polo... come on, Lola!" I shrieked, still gossiping as she turned around behind me. Trying to signal me to stop talking. But it was far too late.

I knew before he spoke that he'd overheard at least part of the conversation. Nic's laugh echoed through the silence.

"Drooling, huh, Ly?" he teased, leaning against the doorframe with a grin. "Well, hell, I guess I'll have to bust out the pink polo this week just to wear around the house."

"Nic! Don't get full of yourself. If you start walking around in that pink polo, I'm just going to wear a bra and panties at the breakfast table," I shot back, smirking at him. "And you know how I love games." I stared him down, not backing down.

"Fine, Martin," he said with a mock sigh. "You know I don't like them myself. But for you, I just might play. Though, I should warn you... I play to win. And as the record shows... I never lose." His voice dropped to a whisper, his breath hot against my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.

"Alright, Chavez... you're awfully confident for someone who's never played with a pro before," I shot back, locking my eyes with his. Instantly, the dream from last night flooded back—his hands all over me in ways I could only imagine. The heat that started to rise between us made it harder to focus on anything else.

"Delilah! Nic! You're needed on set in five!" The PA's shout cut through our playful banter.

"Game on, Ly..." Nic said, giving me one last teasing glance before heading out the door. Lola just shook her head with a knowing smirk, like she'd seen this all before.

Nic and I walked toward the set, ready to dive into the day with no distractions. Or at least, that was the plan—until our first scene together turned out to be a hookup in my character's bedroom.

As we approached the set, the director met us with Tina, the intimacy coordinator. I glanced down at the call sheet, realizing that the schedule had been shuffled. The scene that was supposed to come later was now our first.

"Sorry for the sudden change," the director apologized, looking slightly stressed. "We had a problem with permissions for one of the locations, so we had to switch things up. Tina will go over how the scene will go, and you both can discuss how you feel comfortable moving forward."

Nic and I nodded, exchanging a glance. I could feel the tension building, though I wasn't sure if it was from the sudden change or the scene we were about to shoot.

Tina smiled warmly, sensing our tension. "Alright, guys. This scene is at the start of the movie, the opening sequence where you meet the two main characters— Iris and Noah. They've been together for nearly four years. You meet them at the beginning of their senior year of high school. Iris is the captain of the cheer team, her life looks perfect from the outside, but on the inside, her family is hiding a dark secret. Noah, the star quarterback, is the closest person to Iris—her rock and the only one she truly trusts. Or does she? This scene happens before all the drama starts. It's lighthearted and playful. Noah walks into Iris' room after being welcomed into her family for years. She's there, waiting for him in just her sports bra and shorts. The chemistry is strong, and while the sexual tension is clear, their playful, easy banter is just as important."

She paused, looking between us. "For this scene, what's your comfort level with kissing? It's supposed to look natural, like you've been together for four years."

Nic gave me a confident smirk. "We can definitely make it look natural."

I smiled back, trying to stay focused. "Yes, we can. I understand the character dynamic, and I'm comfortable with where this scene needs to go."

As they set up the bedroom scene, I took my place on the bed, barely dressed. I knew Nic was just on the other side of the door, but even with all the preparation, I felt the nerves start to rise. This was real, and for some reason, it was harder than I imagined.

With Chase and I, the chemistry didn't just happen. It took time to build. But with Nic? Fuck. The connection was instant. It was like we had been playing these characters for years, even though we had just met.

"And... action!" the director called out, snapping me back into character as Nic walked in. In that moment, it felt like we really had been together for four years. The way he looked at me, how his hands gently touched me, the quiet confidence of someone who knew me inside and out. Even when I climbed on top of him, teasing him in a playful straddle, we moved together like we were a couple. Everything felt so real, and I couldn't help but feel a flutter of something deep in my chest, even though I knew it was just pretend.

"Noah, what happens after we graduate?" I asked, my voice soft. Nic kissed my forehead, then my nose, his lips moving slowly down to my neck, as he tugged my bra off.

"We have a year to worry about that, Iris. All I care about right now is you... and showing you just how much I love you." His words hit me harder than expected, and I could see it reflected in my eyes, in the way I responded. Without thinking, I pulled him into a kiss, smiling into it as we both melted into the moment.

"And cut! That was incredible, you two! Take five while we reset," the director called out, a smile on his face. Nic pulled away first, his eyes on me as he smirked.

"That kiss... wasn't in the script," he teased, his voice low.

"The others were," I replied, shrugging nonchalantly. "But that moment felt like it needed one more."

Nic raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "You're good, Martin. You almost had me there."

I grinned, ready for round two. "Plenty more where that came from, roomie," I said, giving him a playful nudge as we both prepared for the next take. But the truth was...that kiss hit me hard. After the first one my body reacted in way that needed more. I didn't act out of what I thought was best for the characters...I acted out of what was best for me. Because Nic's lips on me...felt better than anything Hallmark had ever advertised. And it scared the living hell out of me.

Over the next week, Nic and I started to settle into the chaos, and the lines between our characters and our lives off screen began to blur. Noah's hands all over Iris, we're starting to feel a lot more like Nic's hands all over me... and I couldn't get enough of it. Every moment of it felt electric. Then there was our downtime back at the house...

Whether I was sunbathing in a bikini that left little to the imagination or Nic was strolling around the kitchen in his boxers, the temptation was constant. And Nic? He was getting pretty good at being a tease.

Our publicists made it clear: playing up our close friendship wouldn't hurt. Any buzz surrounding the movie was good publicity, especially if it involved the two leads flirting.

But that's how it all started with Chase and me... and that's exactly how it all came crashing down too.

"Come here..." I called as Nic tossed his shirt at me. He saw my phone in my hand and immediately knew I was trying to set up for a thirst trap photo for instagram.

"Delilah Jane... you're not taking a picture in that," Nic teased, pulling on the strings of my bikini bottom. "You're basically wearing dental floss," he sighed dramatically.

"Protective of me for someone who's not my boyfriend?" I raised an eyebrow and crossed my arms.

"I may not be your boyfriend, but I think we're becoming pretty good friends... and I'm protective of my friends too," he countered, giving me a playful look.

"Fine, I'll put your shirt on... but only if you do the dishes," I said with a sly wink.

"The things I do for you..." Nic sighed as he started heading into the house. I quickly snapped a picture of his arm as he turned to leave. Not thinking much of the media frenzy this could start.

I posted the photo and instagram went crazy in a matter of seconds. Nic's comment was the only one I paid attention to though. And that alone made me feel like I was playing a losing game.