After lunch, Lizzy and I went our separate ways, and I walked into the Buddies casting room with zero expectations and a stomach still full from my so-called snack with Lizzy.
This mornin’ at Pinnacle had been a whirlwind of corporate chaos, an accidental career move, and watchin’ Rhys Cameron barely restrain himself from committin’ actual assault.
Now? I’d arrived at an audition. Readin’ for the role of “sexy, rugged Australian love interest” in the sitcom, Buddies.
I barely had to act.
A woman with oversized glasses and a clipboard glanced up from her notes.
“Dru Foster… Oh, I see Becca Thompson sent you.” She clicked her pen, already soundin’ busy. “Alright then. Thanks for coming in. This is a cold read, but feel free to improvise. Chemistry is key for this role. The character’s name is Tate. He’s fun, charming, and a little bit of a troublemaker. You’re Jen’s new love interest. Let’s see what you can do.”
Easy. I was born for this.
I stepped up, flashin’ a lazy grin at the lead actress, a pretty blonde with an easygoin’ vibe and eyes that said she was ready for anything.
She tilted her head at me, curious. “You’re new.”
I smirked. “Are we about to have our first fight?”
She let out a breath of laughter, slippin’ into character. “Oh? Why?”
I leaned in, lowerin’ my voice just enough to make the producers lean forward.
“That depends, love. Are you the kind that gets mad when I show up unannounced with flowers and an apology for somethin’ I absolutely do not regret?”
She blinked. Once. Twice. Then, just as fast, she rolled her eyes, playin’ along. “That depends, Tate. What did you do?”
I grinned, throwin’ on my best sheepish expression. “Took your dog surfin’.”
Someone snorted behind the camera.
The actress squinted. “Excuse me?”
I sighed, crossin’ my arms. “Alright, to be fair, I thought he’d enjoy it. Turns out, he’s more of a stay-on-dry-land-and-judge-you kinda bloke.”
She fought back a smile. “I was gone for three hours.”
I shrugged. “Plenty of time for a solid wave session. And bondin’. We’re best mates now.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Where is he now?”
I grinned. “Oh, he’s fine. Got him a steak dinner and a new bandana.”
She paused, then sighed dramatically. “You’re lucky you’re pretty.”
I leaned in just a little, eyes lockin’ with hers. “Coincidentally, someone just told me that at lunch, love.”
The room erupted into laughter.
The director clapped his hands together. “Yeah. That’s him. That’s Tate.”
Before I could step away, the casting agent held up a hand.
“Wait. Chemistry check.” She turned to the director. “Let’s see how he plays off Jen in a more intimate scene.”
The director nodded, but before he could even get a word out, I was already turnin’ to the actress, lockin’ eyes with her.
No hesitation. No waitin’ for permission.
She arched a brow, arms foldin’ across her chest in a way that was both skeptical and intrigued.
I smirked, tiltin’ my head like I was assessin’ somethin’ very, very interestin’.
“Tell me somethin’, love. You always this good at pretendin’ you’re not interested, or am I just special?”
She scoffed, but there was a flicker of amusement in her eyes. “You? Special? I’m still deciding.”
I stepped closer, slow and deliberate, watchin’ as her breath caught just slightly.
Her chest rose a fraction quicker, shoulders straightenin’, weight shiftin’ ever so subtly like she was both bracin’ herself and keepin’ herself from movin’ toward me. Like she wasn’t sure if she wanted to fight this or fall straight into it.
I let my gaze flick down, trackin’ every little reaction.
The way her lips parted just a bit wider on her next inhale. The way her fingers twitched, like she was either about to push me away or pull me closer.
I kept my voice low, smooth. “Go on then. Decide.”
I saw the second my words hit her.
She swallowed, but her throat bobbed unevenly, her pupils flickerin’ just slightly darker. But she didn’t move back. Didn’t break eye contact. Didn’t step away. “You do realize you’re supposed to be playin’ Tate, right?” she murmured, her voice just a little breathier than before.
I reached up, grazin’ my knuckles slowly along the edge of her jaw.
Soft. Warm. Her skin practically hummed under my touch.
“Who says I’m not?”
She sucked in a sharp breath, her body swayin’ toward me for half a second before she caught herself.
But I felt it. And so did everyone else.
The shift in the room was palpable. That kind of chemical reaction that couldn’t be faked. The kind that turned an audition into a moment.
She didn’t speak. Didn’t have to. Her body said everything. The tiny shiver that rolled down her spine, the way her lips parted, tongue flickin’ out just slightly, like it might somehow steady her. The flicker of challenge in her eyes, warrin’ with the undeniable pull drawin’ us closer.
She wasn’t just playin’ the role.
Tension crackled between us like a live wire, heavy and impossible to ignore.
I moved in, slow enough to make her feel every second of it. Close enough that my lips just barely brushed against hers.
“You shakin’, love? Or is that me?”
Her eyes fluttered closed for half a second.
When she opened them again, there was fire in them. She didn’t hesitate. Didn’t let me be the one in control. She stepped forward, threw a hand behind my neck, and yanked me in for a kiss.
The room gasped in concert. Someone muttered a stunned, “Bloody hell.” Someone dropped a clipboard.
But all I registered was her.
Heat. Fire. The soft press of her lips. Chemistry so thick it could have swallowed the whole room.
When she finally pulled back, her breathin’ was uneven, lips flushed and parted.
I let my mouth curve into a slow, knowin’ grin. “Guess you’ve decided then.”
She exhaled a breathless laugh, shakin’ her head.
The casting agent scribbled furiously, barely lookin’ up. “Okay, Dru. Hang tight.”
The director glanced up. “Screw it. You’re our guy. Five- to ten-episode arc, shooting starts next week. Can you be available?”
I blinked, then let the grin stretch across my face. “Mate, for you? I’ll clear my schedule.”
I pulled out my phone and texted the person I wanted to tell first.
Guess who’s about to be America’s new favorite Aussie?
