earlier were sitting like lead in my stomach, and I really wished I could chug back a too-sweet mimosa or two.
Maren squeezed my fingers and shifted next to me. She hadn’t reached for the flute of champagne in front of her, either out of sympathy for me or because she wanted to keep a clear head while having such a serious discussion. I wanted to tell her it was fine for her to drink, that she didn’t have to baby me, but I didn’t get the chance. The director dropped the bomb about changing the script almost as soon as we sat down.
“What kind of changes do you want to make, exactly? The character arcs are so dramatic and heavy as it is. I don’t know that we can justify throwing more at the audience.” Her hazel eyes flicked in my direction. I knew she was worried about how I was taking the feedback since every word of that script hit so close to home. “And I don’t think the female lead is stupid. I think she’s hopeful. She’s seen the worst of the male lead, yet still believes he can change and be a better man. A lot of women will relate to her, letting him back into her life. They’re more than a back-and-forth romance. There is something about them that feels destined.”
The director snorted and stopped tapping long enough to reach for his glass. He was looking at Maren like she was naïve and foolish. Which was honestly how I used to see her. Now, her words touched me in a way I couldn’t put into words, and I realized how strong and admirable she was for still being able to see the good in people. It was hard to keep calling the way I felt about her a crush. That seemed so superficial.
Love, on the other hand… that took root and settled deep. It was much harder to shake loose and break free from love. Love made more sense. Love would explain why I couldn’t forget her and why I found any excuse to be with her as soon as I started to heal.
Love was terrifying and could send me spiraling into a dangerous pit of despair if I was the only one feeling it. It was so scary, I couldn’t say the word aloud or give the idea much room to grow inside my heart.
“I strongly feel that we should kill her.” There was no holding back the sounds of surprise that both Maren and I made. “That’s the kind of twist no one will see coming. Everyone will anticipate the addict relapsing and ruining the relationship or overdosing. If we tweak the ending so our main couple has a moment of reckoning, if we give them a glimpse of love and happiness, then rip it away... that is an ending with teeth. That balances the karmic scales.”
Maren gasped and put a hand to her chest as if his scenario would actually bring about the end of her life. It was my turn to give her fingers a reassuring squeeze as the director and I stared at each other, unblinking, for a long moment.
“I know it is a big change, but I really want you to consider it.” Heinrich reached for a glass of water on the table and lifted his eyebrows as he shifted his gaze between me and Maren. “I wondered if the rumors of the two of you being involved were true or not. I can tell by both of your reactions that there is at least a smidge of truth to them. Real-life couples can have great chemistry on set. Or they can fall totally flat. Seeing how horrified you both look at even the mere thought of one of you dying, I’m even more convinced this is the way to go for the most emotional impact. I don’t want to say it’s a deal-breaker, but it is a deal-breaker. I have to have full creative control in order to bring my vision to life.”
Maren tried to twist her hand free under the table, but I refused to let it go. Instead, I sighed and returned to slumping in my seat. “Can I think about it? I’m a good actor, but I can honestly say, I don’t know if I have the range to pull off the kind of devastation that would hit if something bad happened to the woman I loved. I have firsthand experience of everything else in the