by Hazel Parker
“Oh, as if I had any doubts that you were being straight with me,” he rolled his eyes fondly. “Half the time, you’re nothing short of impossible to please.”
Jessica grinned. “A girl’s got to have standards,” she shrugged teasingly.
“I suppose so,” he agreed. “And at first, that really drove me nuts.”
Jessica nodded—that wasn’t news to her. “And now?”
“Now,” he started, “I’ve more and more often been finding myself wanting to meet them—hell, I want to exceed them. I don’t just want to avoid pissing you off anymore, Jessica. I actively look forward to making you happy.”
Jessica quirked one side of her mouth in amusement. “Is that a new feeling for you?” she asked. “Because really, that’s just ‘liking someone.’”
Jace shook his head. “It’s more than that,” he said. “I want to be the person who makes you happier than anyone else. I don’t want the orders to come from Nora or the suggestions to come from—” he cut himself off unwilling to finish the sentence.
“From cameramen,” she realized. “That’s why Adam made you so angry?”
“Yes. I wasn’t mad at you for flirting with him—you didn’t even overstep any boundaries, contractually. I know you were just trying to be friends, and that doesn’t bother me one bit. But… if you’re not invested in me, then our dates are just meetings you’ve got to sit through. And then, if you’re having fun because of something he suggested… I was worried that you wouldn’t be able to see how hard I was working at impressing you.”
“Well,” Jessica gestured to the empty restaurant, the band, the incredible view, “short of taking out a billboard on the side of the road, I don’t think that you could make it any clearer than this.”
He didn’t look embarrassed by that as she might’ve expected him to: quite the contrary. He looked thrilled. “I was aiming for ‘impressive and over the top.’”
“You hit the mark.” Jessica took another sip of wine, needing a moment to compose herself to collect her thoughts. All this was… well, it was a lot, and she didn’t quite know what to make of it. He didn’t seem to want to end their relationship any more than she did, so why had he been so flippant about it back at the hotel?
“You’re thinking about something,” Jace guessed, “and that’s starting to worry me.”
“It’s nothing,” Jessica reassured. “Just—what is this, really? What are you trying to say?”
“Well,” Jace began, “just what I’ve already said. I like you. A lot. And that’s not something that I feel often. Legally, your contractual obligation to me is basically over. Another week and a few days, but that’s negligible; it’s not enough. I keep trying to think about what’s going to happen after that.”
“Any conclusions?”
“I see it going one of two ways,” he explained. “One, you say you want to go with the original plan. You could tell me that you’re done with this whole ordeal and with me, and you go lead a happy, successful life and make a million movies now that Hollywood knows your name.”
Jessica nodded, considering this. It was the original plan, after all, and a month ago, it had sounded like the solution to all her problems. She’d agreed to endure this so that she could come to that ending exactly. Now, though, she found herself wanting to know what the other option was.
“Or?”
“Or,” Jace continued, “you could let me ask you out for real. Right here, right now; screw the contract. There’s nothing in it for you, career-wise, and you won’t have to make any public appearances or do talk show interviews when you don’t want to. The only difference is that instead of leaving me, you stick around. We keep going on dates, maybe even take it further. A new contract I’m proposing, effective immediately, and one in which you’re in complete control of the terms and conditions.”
Jessica leaned in slowly, so close to his face that their lips were almost touching. She could see the lights of both the restaurant balcony and the moon sparkling in his dark eyes, enticing her in further until she felt she wouldn’t be able to control herself for one more moment if she didn’t say something. “How do I sign this new contract?” she asked quietly.
He reached forward and placed his hand gently on her cheek, brushing her hair behind her ear with his thumb gently resting on her jawline, pulling her imperceptibly closer until she let her eyes flutter closed and she leaned in to kiss him. The kiss started gentle, almost as if neither of them were sure that they were allowed to step over this boundary. It was, after all, their first kiss outside of the contract. Though Jessica had kissed him once after the party, she’d been drunk, and the kiss had still existed firmly within the mindset that this would be temporary. That kiss had been almost hedonistic—functioning under the idea that if she had no choice but to be involved in something that was inevitably going to end, that she might as well enjoy it while it lasted.
This kiss was different. As it built in intensity, she could feel fireworks bursting between their lips. They were no longer just having a fleeting moment of fun before the inescapable end: this kiss was building something. In it, she could feel promises. Promises to care for her even though he didn’t have to, promises to be happy to see her even without audience, promises to move forward with one another instead of stalling their engines until they were free from each other. The moonlight illuminated their balcony table and made gentle highlights in Jace’s hair and on his face when they pulled away, breathless and pink.
“So, that’s a yes?” Jace asked, making Jessica giggle and roll her eyes.
“Yes,” she agreed, standing to hug him tightly, “of course it’s a yes.” Suddenly, as if hit with a sudden realization of something as an afterthought, Jessica started giggling again.
“What’s so funny?” he asked amusedly.
“Now that I’m accepting this new contract, I think the old one is nullified. Which means,” she said, coyly wiggling the fingers on the hand that held the engagement ring, “that we need to give this back to Nora, as per the terms.” It sparkled in the moonlight before she slid it off her finger and into his pocket. She smiled at how ironic that felt, but they both knew that Nora would have Jace’s head if he didn’t give back the ring in another week—after all, the agency wasn’t responsible for purchasing jewelry for his actual girlfriend.
“Sorry about that,” he apologized, but she shook her head.
“It’s not my style, anyway,” she admitted. “I like more delicate jewelry. Though I have enjoyed the arm strength that this thing has given me. Every movement is like lifting weights at the gym.” He chuckled, looking almost like he was silently taking note of something, but Jessica didn’t question it. Instead, she just let him pull her into his lap happily. This new contract, she thought, she might enjoy even more than the first. Jace kissed her once more, and everything else melted away.
Chapter Fourteen: Jace
Six months with Jessica flew by for Jace. With private time, they were finally able to spend time together out of the public eye and just enjoy each other’s company. After they’d finished shooting their scenes for the film, they decided to take a bit of time away from the spotlight to focus on their budding relationship. It had been good for both of them, he thought, and allowed the tabloids to calm down a bit from their relentless scrutinizing. New trends came and went, new couples grabbed the headlines, and Jace had Jessica, so he didn’t care about any of it. He’d always liked to take some time after each role to decompress, but Jessica, who had never done anything but live paycheck to paycheck making commercials, hadn’t experienced a break like this before, so he was eager to make it as enjoyable as possible.
As always, though, Jessica enjoyed the simpler things in life. He offered to take her back to Hawaii so they could enjoy it just as tourists and as a real couple, but she’d declined. He’d told her that he could take her anywhere in the world, but she’d told him that she’d had enough sweeping gestures for a while and just wanted a mundane, borin
g life with Jace for a little while. So, instead of filming movies and having wild exotic adventures, they just spent time together. They went on small dates in local restaurants and bars, went to parties with Jace’s co-workers—she’d actually encouraged him to reach back out to Missy and Kirk and they’d begun hanging out on a regular basis—and watched movies at home quite often. It had been quaint, more mundane a lifestyle than he’d ever experienced but one which had been fun because Jessica was there.
They both agreed to end their working vacation after the premiere of the movie. Normally, he’d skip out on a party like this one in favor of staying home and not socializing with anyone, but it was Jessica’s first cast party, so he couldn’t say no when she’d asked if he’d wanted to go. This would be the first time that the movie would be previewed to a select audience and those involved in its making, subject to critical review so that any final edits could be made before it was released in theaters early the next year. Despite this not even being the official version of the film, Jessica was excited. She’d spent most of the week talking about it, shopping for a dress with Marissa (her +1 guest, naturally), and just counting the minutes until it started.
Jace had spent the week shopping, too, but not for an outfit to wear at the premiere party. He’d let Jessica handle that, promising that he’d wear whatever tie she bought him that matched the dress she picked so long as he wasn’t forced to go shopping with her and her friend. Eventually, though not without some complaint, she’d agreed to spare him the mall trips if he wouldn’t complain about the color of his tie even if he hated it. Though making that promise made him a little nervous, he’d said yes so that he could have time to focus on a much more pressing issue: buying an engagement ring. He’d taken Kirk, now strangely his closest friend (and incidentally his +1 to the premiere, since Jessica was in the movie as well and had her own invitation), to help him select the perfect ring. After he’d looked through her jewelry box, feeling only slightly guilty for snooping on her things without her knowledge, he’d headed to almost every jeweler in town, insisting that none of the rings he saw were good enough for her.
His eyes were always drawn to the biggest rocks in the shops, the shiniest ones with the most karats, or the ones with the most stones embedded in the bands. However, he thought about what Jessica might want and decided against those options, knowing that she hadn’t particularly liked the ring he’d used for the fake engagement, saying it was too big and that she’d thought it was a bit gaudy. In Hollywood, unfortunately, most of the jewelry shops tended to stock only the biggest of rings, so he’d had to branch out to some of the smaller areas around the city before finding a tiny jeweler owned by a little old woman and her husband. He’d only just had to lay eyes on it once before deciding that it was perfect. The raindrop-shaped diamond was held in place by two elegant silver bands, with a few smaller diamonds nestled within the crevices. Understated yet classy, stunningly beautiful and unique: just like Jessica. He hadn’t even needed Kirk’s approval (which he’d gotten resoundingly) before putting his credit card on the counter and purchasing it.
That had all been yesterday, and now, at six in the evening, he was sitting on his downstairs sofa watching television while Jessica and Marissa got ready in the room that was technically Jace’s but now contained enough of Jessica’s things in them that they called it “theirs.” Getting ready always took longer when there were two girls instead of one, but since he could barely even focus on the sports program he was watching over the giggling of the girls in his room, he was willing to let it go. After what felt like forever, he heard the door to his room open and stood to watch Jessica walk down the stairs. She, of course, looked gorgeous. Marissa had put her hair up in elegant curls and done her makeup more boldly than he was used to seeing on Jessica, with dark, sweeping eyeshadow and a bright red lip.
“Woah,” he breathed eloquently, unable to even form a complete thought at the sight of her, trying to wrap his mind around the idea that a woman like her was going to a party with him, that she woke up in his bed most mornings and came over just to spend time with him and that she, after spending so much time with him, actually chose to love him as much (if that were possible) as he loved her. “You look—I mean, you’re always—but you just…”
Jessica looked amused and slightly concerned. “I hope that the endings to those sentences are flattering,” she suggested, and he nodded.
“You’re stunning,” he finally managed to spit out. “As always.” He found himself frozen in place staring at her until another set of footsteps cantered down the stairs behind her.
“Doesn’t her makeup look great?” Marissa interjected, allowing him enough distraction to control his dreamy-face and actually stick out his arm to escort her to the car. “I told her she should wear it this way all the time.”
Jessica laughed, a melodic sound that always managed to make him fall a little more in love with her even when he thought he’d tipped the scales. “Absolutely not,” she dismissed, pressing herself warmly into Jace as they walked outside into the cold December air. She stopped him before he closed the door, a habit that she had—likely born from her slightly flighty nature—of double-checking to ensure they had everything they needed before they left the house: wallet, keys, etc. “Are we ready?” she asked in the same familiar, casual tone as always.
Jace looked into her eyes deeply, probably a little confusingly considering she had no idea what he was planning. “Born ready.”
Chapter Fifteen: Jessica
The party was smaller than the cast party for Code Blue had been, and much classier in nature (in that no one was drinking to excess or singing karaoke). Tables were set up all throughout the banquet hall that had been rented, all facing a stage with a large movie projector screen resting on top. People were talking quietly amongst themselves, most of them already seated despite the fact that they’d showed up right on time, and drinking the champagne being handed out by waiters in tuxedos. The room was dimly lit and a little cool for Jessica’s liking, but she forgot about that as soon as she saw Kirk already sitting at a table waiting for them. Jace led them his way and pulled out her chair for her.
“Jessie!” Kirk greeted excitedly. “How have you been? It’s been a while!” It had only been a little over two weeks since she’d spoken with him, what with all the preparations for the party and being busy making arrangements to end their vacation and find some roles. She’d been back out on auditions, however this time, they weren’t for commercials, but for a few drama series and a film. Jace kept telling her that Nora had been the one setting them up and that he had no hand in it, but when she’d woken up to an email about her audition slot in an upcoming romantic comedy, she knew that he wasn’t being as laissez-faire as he wanted her to believe.
“Things are really, really great, Kirk,” she replied honestly. Jace had his arm around her shoulders to keep her warm and close, and she could already see Marissa ushering a waiter over to get them all champagne. She couldn’t imagine a more beautiful night. Before she could ask Kirk about his own recent life, the feedback of a microphone cut them off.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the announcer greeted, whom Jessica recognized as the director of the film, “thank you all for coming out tonight. I’ll keep my speech short since I want to give the cast members a chance, but this movie has really been a personal journey…”
“Wait,” Jessica whispered to Jace, trying not to panic loudly enough to interrupt the woman’s speech, “we have to speak?”
Jace shook his head. “Not if you don’t want to,” he reassured. “It’s not a requirement or anything.” Jessica visibly relaxed, feeling some of the tension easing from her shoulders as the microphone was passed from the director to the male and female lead, who both made short speeches about what a great opportunity this had been and gave shout-outs to a few family members. Eventually, the microphone was passed to her, and when she shook her head to decline, she was shocked to feel Jace reach over her to take it
. Making a speech at an event like this was definitely off-brand for him—hell, even attending an event like this was unusual.
“This movie has been a blessing for me,” he said. All eyes were on him, but none more keenly than Jessica’s. Had he ever regarded an acting opportunity that way before? She hadn’t even known that he’d enjoyed the film, really. “Not just because it was fun to shoot—which it was,” he placated, garnering light laughter from the crowd, “but because it gave me the opportunity to work with the most amazing actress I’ve ever met, Jessica Owens.” The crowd cooed, and Jessica used her hands to cover up her blushing cheeks. “She’s not only a talented actor, but a beautiful, loving person, and my best friend. I don’t think we’d be together here if it weren’t for this film, so for that, I want to say ‘thanks.’ To the cast and crew, you all did a great job. Jessica—you’re stunning in everything you do. I love you.” Jessica barely even registered the applause over her spinning head, filled to the brim with emotion. She kissed him on the cheek with tears in her eyes as soon as he passed the microphone back to the director, who took it and dimmed the lights in preparation for the movie to begin.