Chapter 52 The Cherry On Top

• I can’t confront Anya right away because Chris and I are called in for the chemistry read.
• The read itself goes… smoothly. Better than I expected, honestly. There’s always been an effortless comfort between Chris and me. He was my first co-actor, my first on-screen partner, and a friend despite the detachment over the years. Sliding into our roles together feels natural, as if we’ve done this a hundred times before.
• The scene is heavy — raw emotions, unresolved tension, a life-or-death moment between our characters — but somehow, we make it work. When the final lines are spoken, the room is still, save for a few murmurs of approval. From the looks on everyone’s faces, it’s clear they enjoyed watching us. That sense of accomplishment washes over me, momentarily lifting the weight I’ve been carrying.