Page 80 of Camera Stays On

To myself, really.

Who knew what would happen once we’d escaped? Maybe we could… The idea of a relationship past sex with Ash drew butterflies from my belly.

“Do we have the rings?”

Asher dug into his pocket, pulling out two bands and handing them to Sawyer with a smirk. Sawyer gave me his black band and, with shaky hands, I slid it onto his finger. It was the one I’d picked out for him five years ago. Sawyer went to do mine but paused, bringing it close to his eyes.

“Something wrong?” Ash asked. The look on his face said yes, but Sawyer stopped scrutinizing it and shook his head.

“No, I guess not.” He took my hand and pushed the ring onto my finger. Despite the ring not being overly large, my hand felt the weight of Sawyer’s intentions. He didn’t want this to be a fake wedding. In his eyes, we’d just gotten married.

“You may kiss the bride,” Mick announced. My breath caught as Sawyer closed his eyes and leaned in. My eyes locked with Ash’s, and his neutral expression helped me calm enough to purse my lips and let Sawyer’s mouth connect with mine. I’d gone for a chaste kiss, but Sawyer shoved his tongue past my lips, causing me to whimper. I’d been caught off guard, and the feel of his tongue trying to tangle with mine soured my stomach hard and fast. I pulled away and gasped for air. I stepped back, forcing my arm to stay put and not wipe away his spit.

“Are you okay?” Sawyer asked, reaching for me.

“Yeah, just...it’s a little hot out here.” I forced a laugh.

“Let’s get you inside.” Ash came forward, bending down and scooping me up. “Come on, let’s get her some water.”

He hurried away, saving me from Sawyer trying to kiss me again.

“You did good,” he said, keeping his voice low as he took me back to the house. “We shouldn’t need reshoots.” I looked over his shoulder and saw everyone else following. Sawyer didn’t seem perturbed at all. Probably happy to have gotten a kiss. He was delusional.

Like a real husband would do, Asher carried me over the threshold. I pushed the thought away and returned to the escape plan I hadn’t heard yet. He set me down, and I thanked him.

“What now?” I asked. He shook his head and nodded in the direction of the living room. “Let’s go check on Bea.”

I turned and walked away, heading to the other room. Bea was still on the couch. Her eyes opened when she heard us, and my heart rejoiced.

“You’re awake!” I exclaimed.

“Barely,” she croaked. “What’s happened?”

Everyone slowly joined us around Bea’s couch, minus Sawyer and Juliet. They had glanced into the room and muttered something about getting the next scene ready before taking off toward the other side of the house. Once the sound of their footsteps had disappeared, Mick gave Bea a quick rundown.

“He’s making us film the movie, making things up as he goes. We just married him and Andi, but we’re working on a plan to get out.”

“What’s the plan?” Bea’s eyes widened, and she tried to sit up. I reached over, placing a pillow behind her back to assist. Everyone turned to look at Ash, but before he could speak, Juliet returned, and we quickly switched back to talking about the movie.

“Are we done here? We need to film the next scene,” she said, holding up a folder. “The wedding license. Sawyer had to go reset the cameras for the dinner scene. We can film Purdy signing the marriage license while we wait.”

Everyone turned her way but said nothing. We were at Sawyer’s mercy. If we didn’t do as we were told, we wouldn’t get out. Juliet might not be holding a gun, but her reporting back to Sawyer was almost as bad.

“You got this?” Mick asked Darius. “Let’s just get this scene out of the way.”

“The license is a prop, right?” I looked to Juliet, but she looked away, not answering. I stood, brushing my skirt down. “I’m not signing anything.”

“Sawyer wants it shot,” Mick muttered.

“Sawyer wants a lot of things shot,” Gavin muttered. Normally, he was just as enthusiastic about Sawyer as Juliet, but whatever Ash had whispered rattled him. He hadn’t smiled since.

“He’s not even here right now,” Darius argued. “How are we supposed to film him signing something? I’ve read the script back to back, there’s lines for both Cleo and Ethan.”

All of us turned to Juliet expectantly. She opened and closed her mouth.

“I don’t—” She huffed. “He just told me to get the scene filmed.”

“What if we say no?” I swallowed hard, feeling brave. Her eyes darkened.