Chapter Sixteen
"Do you want to try again?" Edward moved closer to her on the couch, his hands restless on his lap. Bella turned her red rimmed eyes to his face, her shoulders shrugging ever so slightly.
"Could you bear to go through this again?" Bella asked as she turned her face away again, hoping that she portrayed the pain her character had been through the last few weeks, the torments of their loss.
"We came so close this time, so much closer than we ever have before," whispered Edward softly.
"What if we get closer still next time but still don't get our child at the end of it? I…" Bella choked on her words, her eyes tearing up.
Edward immediately took her into his arms, holding her close on his lap. "I can't do it. I can't bear it," she cried, burying her face in his neck.
Bella inhaled deeply with her shuddering breaths, the scent of Edward filling her senses. He smelled so good.
"We have to keep faith, Mary," Edward replied softly, remaining in character as Bella struggled to keep a handle on herself.
Edward might be an ass to her most of the time but over the last week, he'd been fantastic, supportive, kind. She just wanted to wind her fingers in his hair, pull him down to her and brush her lips over his.
She shook her head against his neck, ridding herself of those ridiculous thoughts. She wasn't sure when her opinion of Edward had begun to change. She figured it had always been there, hiding just under the surface.
After all, she'd liked him a lot as an actor; it was only his attitude toward her which had changed her opinion.
She'd had a huge crush on the kind, giving actor who dominated the gossip columns.
And it looked like that man was making a return.
"And cut," Sam called, drawing Bella out of her thoughts. "Great job guys."
Bella raised her head and smiled sheepishly at Edward before sliding gracefully from his lap, smoothing her skirt down as she stood up.
Edward cleared his throat and stood up too, moving beside Bella as they both looked toward Sam, waiting as he looked over the footage to see if they would need to re-shoot anything.
"Okay, it looks like we're all good here. You both have your updated schedules for tomorrow?" he asked, raising his eyes to meet theirs.
They nodded simultaneously.
"Great, I'll see you both after lunch then." He turned and spoke quietly to his subordinate and then, as if on an afterthought, he turned back to the duo, a slow smile crossing his face. "I need you both to be seen in public a little more often, so I have a table booked at The Olive Garden for you both tonight. Dress to impress."
Bella's eyes widened as she turned to Edward who shrugged in response.
She didn't remember anything like this being mentioned in her contract.