THE BREAKFAST KISS
1325 Words
My eyes squeezed shut for a few seconds, shaking off the thoughts. I moved back towards the kitchen.
Four cameras were on tripods already. Two sound guys with boom mics, lights everywhere that turned the whole space more brighter and almost too clean. Priya stood behind the monitors, her hand under her jaw.
”Okay, lovebirds.” She clapped her hands once. “This is simple. You’re making breakfast together. You’re talking, laughing, just being adorable. Got it?”
”Got it,” Reeve said quietly.
Priya’s eyes narrowed. She looked at Reeve, then at me, then back at the monitors. “Reeve, I need more energy. Like—enthusiasm. And Zane, stop looking at her like she killed your dog.”
I scoffed slightly, moving towards the counter.
“Positions,” She called loudly. “Camera one, wide shot. Camera two, close up on their hands when they touch. Camera three, faces. Sound , make sure you catch every word.”
She turned back to us. “You’re making eggs. You’re comfortable with each other. This is your routine. Now, go!”
The red lights blinked on instantly.
I moved to the coffee machine. Reeve went to the fridge. We moved around each other in careful circles, never getting close.
She pulled out the eggs. Her hands were shaking slightly as she set the carton on the counter. I grabbed a mug and she reached for the pan the same second I reached for the sugar.
Our hands stopped, hovering inches apart.
I could feel the heat radiating off her skin, the small tremors in her fingers, and the way her breath held. I pulled my hand back first.
She grabbed the pan, her knuckles turning white around the handle.
The silence between us stretched. Only the sounds of the coffee machine hissing and the quiet crack of eggs against the bowl could be heard.
”Cut!” Priya’s voice sliced through it. “What the hell was that?”
We both turned.
Her gaze burned into us like we personally offended her. “You look like roommates who hate each other.”
”We are roommates.” I snickered.
”Who are in love?” She snapped. “Jesus, watch a goddamn movie.” She left the monitors, moving towards us. “Talk to each other, say good morning. Ask about her coffee. For f***s sake, say anything.”
Reeve kept her eyes on the eggs. “Good morning.”
”Morning, Callahan.” I muttered.
“Interesting. Except, if my husband wished me good morning like that, I’d be divorced. Well, I am. But still.” She mocked. “Again. This time look at each other when you speak. Camera get ready for the close up.”
We tried again.
And again
And again.
By take four, Reeve stopped looking so terrified. When Priya asked her to smile, she did—small at first, then wider. One of the crew guys made a joke about burnt toast and she laughed.
Like actually laughed while moving around the kitchen like she’d done this before.
I found myself watching the way she tilted her head when Priya gave her directions. The way she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. How her hands steadied as she plated the eggs, not shaking.
She was good.
Really good.
Since when was she good?
”Better.” Priya called from the monitors. “Reeve, that’s exactly it. Zane, you’re still too stiff. Relax your shoulders, soften your gaze.”
I gave a curt nod, rolling my shoulders back and unclenched my jaw.
The morning light caught her profile —catching the curve of her neck, the line of her jaw, the way her lashes looked longer without those heavy glasses. The white sweatshirt the wardrobe had given her now made her eyes lo—
“Zane, I like the way you’re staring.” Priya’s voice cut through.
I tore my eyes away sharply. “No, I wasn’t.”
Priya’s brows furrowed slightly. “Relax, you sound like I caught you cheating.” She glanced back at the monitors. “Actually, keep staring like that. It reads as affection. Like you can’t take your eyes off her.”
I want to take her off this planet completely. Cause why the f**k am I staring?
Reeve’s hands went still on the plate. Her jaw tightened but she didn’t look at me. I looked away.
We finished the breakfast scene and moved to the couch for ‘morning coffee’. Priya directed us to sit close—very close. Our thighs pressed together, and I felt every small shift she made.
”Reeve, hands on his knee. Zane, arm around her shoulders. You’re getting cozy now. This is normal.”
Except, nothing about this was normal.
Her hand settled on my knee. I felt the warmth of her palm through the fabric. I slid my arm around her shoulders and she went completely still.
”Relax, I don't bite.” I muttered under my breath.
”Don’t tell me what to do, Zane.” She whispered back.
Was that a—-did she just talk back?
Every time she shifted, I felt it. The brush of her hair against my neck—-that damn cheap shampoo. The rise and fall of her breathing. The way her hand trembled slightly against my knee, like she was forcing herself to keep it there.
The way she laughed for the cameras was bright and fake. It was nothing like the girl who’d been crying this morning.
”Okay.” Priya checked her clipboard. “Last shot. Zane, you're about to leave for practice. Reeve, you’re walking him to the door.”
We both stood, my arms dropped from her shoulders. She pulled her hand back sharply, like my knee had burned her. We walked towards the door, cameras following us.
”Perfect,”Priya grinned. “Now the kiss.”
That was when everything stopped.
Reeve’s eyes snapped to mine with panic filling them once again.
My pulse spiked. “What?”
”The good bye kiss. “Priya groaned like it was obvious. “You’re a couple. He’s leaving. You kiss, this is basic. Stop making everything a big deal.”
It is a big DEAL!
“We didn’t rehearse th—“ Reeve started.
”I don’t care what you rehearsed. “Priya cut her off. “The audience needs to see affection. So kiss, make it believable and make it so good that I would want to get my ex husband back.”
Geez—-I see why he left.
The crew went silent, only the cameras were humming slightly, mics above us and everyone watching.
I looked at Reeve.
She looked at me.
Her eyes were wide, with that same look she’d had right before throwing up yesterday. If she threw up in my mouth, I would kill everyone on set.
But something else was there too. I just couldn’t read it.
”Any day now, love birds.” Priya called.
I watched Reeve’s throat move silently. I stepped closer and her breath hitched. So close now, I could see everything. The gold flecks in her brown eyes. The faint birthmark near her temple I’d never noticed before.
The way her pupils dilated slightly when I moved into her space.
Her lips parted slightly.
’This is just for the cameras, your reinstatement. Get it together, Zane.’
“Action!” Priya said.
I leaned in, she stood frozen, barely breathing.
We were closer now, that I could smell vanilla mixing with her shampoo. Close enough to see the exact moment her eyes fluttered shut and the warmth coming off her skin.
I hesitated, inches away.
Because somewhere between last night’s fight and her pushing back now, something was starting to change.
I knew exactly what it was. But I refused to name it.
Then my lips collided with hers.
- Writer
