When I took you to Considerit.
LEXI
The doughnut shop? That’s when you knew you were in love with me?
Delaney mouths Lexi’s line along with her, then glances over her shoulder at Nick.
Nick winks and Delaney beams back. She turns to watch the end of the scene, but Nick can’t take his eyes off Delaney.
Which is exactly how it’s been for the past year.
It often strikes me how incredible it is that Delaney and I are together, that we met by happenstance and are making a life together. It may not look like other couples’ lives, but it’s ours and we’re a formidable team.
On set and off.
‘Cut! And that’s a wrap, everyone,’ calls Chloe Chang, our director.
I’ve been so in my head that I missed the actors saying their final lines. All good – I’ll see their exchange a dozen times or more in post-production.
The crew breaks into spontaneous applause and I clap along while Delaney shouts, ‘Woo-hoo!’ and pumps her fists in the air. Chloe shoots me a grin.
Another reason to pinch myself – my film’s being directed by an Oscar-nominated director. Chloe, with her impressive track record of thoughtful, critically regarded filmsandher reputation as an actors’ director, was our first pick. And the moment she finished reading the script, she called Delaney to sayyes. Well, what she actually said was that she’d never forgive us if we went with someone else.
Delaney played it cool on the phone, but when she hung up, we both jumped around my lounge room like kids on a bouncy castle.
This is my life now.
I’m in love with an incredible woman, my debut film premieres in the summertime, and I’m already in talks about the next project.
So, like I said, pinching myself.
* * *
Delaney
The crew starts packing up and our leads, Roddy and Maya – currently unknowns, but soon to be household names, I’m positive – hug it out, laughing and crying at once.
They’ve been fantastic as Finn and Lexi, believably falling in love right before our eyes. And more importantly, the camera.
Nick and I finally agreed on a more upbeat title, andBetween Here and Therewill open in movie theatres across the globe next summer. There’ll be a press junket and appearances on late-night TV – not only for the actors, but also for Nick if I can convince him he won’t suck at it (I’m still working on that). But seriously – super hot and talented stunt coordinator turns screenwriter and producer – the media will lap it up.
Nick comes up behind me and envelops me in his arms, and I sink into his embrace.
‘That’s a wrap, babe,’ I say. ‘How do you feel?’
‘I’m still pinching myself.’
‘You’ve said that every day since we started shooting,’ I say with a laugh.
‘It’s been true every day.’
Chloe jogs over, her eyes lit up. ‘Hey, you two, we did it.’
Nick releases me to hug Chloe, picking her up and swinging her around.
‘Hey, I’m afraid of heights!’ she squeals and he sets her down.
‘Thank you, Chloe,’ he says earnestly. ‘Truly. Everything I envisioned – you not only brought it to life, you’ve sent it into the stratosphere. It’s going to be a beautiful film.’